We had a great day with a long-time, good friend who opted to do a scout-and-shoot day with us. This is not the first time he has done this, and we always have a great time. Once the owner of one of the first really good photo galleries in the country, he has a wealth of knowledge and appreciation of photography and its history. Conversations are always good!
We walked out of our hotel, centrally located for where we love to be, and the fill light from our hotel added wonderful light to the house across the street. Some people walked by, one from our group, in fact, and I grabbed the shot. I was hoping something like that would happen, and for me, it could not have worked out better.
I have long spoken French with a degree of competency, but I feel like an idiot in New Orleans. Between the Creole and Cajun, I am never sure how to pronounce anything. Vieux Carré, for example, is pronounced more like … well, I’m still not sure I have it right!
This area is the high spot in the city, and because of its modest elevation, it did not suffer the devastation from Katrina that plagued most of the area.
The colors are wonderful. No, they’re not Caribbean colors, nor those found in most Southern cities and towns; they are N’Awlins colors. Beautiful, sometimes subtle, sometimes bright, but for me, always charming. The exterior colors are supposed to remain the historic ones for that particular building. No color changes are permitted without first passing muster with the powers that be. It works. And for those who have a problem with that, don’t move into an historic area. It goes with the territory!
We heard music … first a tuba, then trombones, drums, etc. all in a catchy, New Orleans beat. We hurried along. Music first thing in the morning means a minimum of others trying to photograph it. It the band played on, an enthusiastic group following, waving kerchiefs and dancing up a storm. There was also a film crew … videographer, sound man, large reflector. Arnie asked, and it turned out to be the filming for an ad. You never know what you will come across!
That natural fill light from across the way that I was describing above also provides a beautiful sheen off the paint on these charming houses. I found a great collection of patchwork-quilt colors that begged to be photographed.
We meandered to a more touristy part of the city and heard more music. We naturally followed it and found a wedding celebration. Shooting into the light, I caught the bride leaning over to her new husband for a kiss, edge lighting on their faces and the parasol glowing.
The costumes created for Mardi Gras are fantabulous. Anyone who followed the TV series Treme knows what I mean, or anyone who had been to Mardi Gras for that matter. I met this gentleman, part black, part Seminole, who had made this elaborate confection. I got up close and personal, as we say.
And speaking of elaborate costumes, the masks are equally beautiful. After supper, we hit the streets again. This stunning one caught my eye.
It was a good day. Those who joined us are beginning to get a feel for the city and are getting less intimidated by the prospect of photographing people.
Next: The official start of our workshop, although for most of our participants, it started last evening … a photographic gallery, and some music …
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