Sunrise to Sunset

As Becky already shared, we were up early with most of the students. This was the first time we've done an official sunrise trip on foot through the quarter. It was actually inspired by an unplanned journey Becky took on her own last year when somebody didn't show for his ride. She was already up, and found purchase in a Quarter somewhat vacant, but magical in it's quiet (distracted only occasionally by odd fellow who'd not quite found his sobriety or hotel from the night before). Well it didn't disappoint. We started at the foot of Iberville or by the river, then or to a jammy orange light on St. Louis Cathedral, a half-sleeping, kind of huggy brawl between drunks, smells I refuse to relive long enough to describe, Bourbon Street, and some good coffee and bignets. Good pictures were made.

Sunrise in the French Quarter

(Above: Sunrise on the Mississippi)

The sunrise shoot this morning was in the French Quarter -- once again, the students learned learned lessons in humidity and spent time waiting for lenses to defog. It was an early morning for the students considering that many of them were working late last night in the French Quarter. (No, really -- shoots included the House of Blues and a burlesque show.) After that, it was a busy, productive day. We took the New Orleans Hurricane Katrina Tour again. This time with bus driver Dian Silva who volunteered after the storm to stay and transport evacuees and brought an interesting perspective to the 3.5 hour tour.

After the tour some of the students headed to the Lower 9th Ward while I took Adam over to Frankie and Johnny's where he is working on documenting their family restaurant. (The food, by the way, was excellent. However -- no oysters! Frankie and Johnny's always buys local seafood and the market has been tumultuous since the oil spill.)

More shooting happening tonight and potentially a second line tomorrow! Can't wait!
Be sure to check out the students' blogs for updates and samples of their work.


(The view from the Claiborne bridge looking back at the Lower 9th Ward and the Industrial Canal from our Katrina Tour. The Make It Right Foundation has rebuilt many of the homes in this portion of the neighborhood.)

We're Here

My laptop died. So until over an iPad sometime today, I'm doing this from the iPhone ....

Location:St Peter St,New Orleans,United States

Are Your Bags Packed??!

Mine are not. After three semi-successful loads of my little backpack, I'm breaking out the big guns. Do you remember that movie with Gina Davis and William Hurt? The Accidental Tourist? Well I remember there being something in that movie about never bringing more than one book, because nobody ever has time to finish even one on any given trip. I wonder if the same holds true for cameras. I have the one that makes square pictures, the one that makes rectangular pictures (thanks Chris), and the one that makes pixels. Oh, and I have the little one that makes pixels! I don't remember if the film had anything in it about packing.


The students are getting very excited. People are very well prepared, having made/found contacts for their projects, and many already have firm appointments. The diversity of projects is terrific, and with the addition of the film students, I'm very excited to see what will turn up this trip! Some of the highlights of my day today were hearing from Whitley that she's made contact with Meena Magazine, and with professors at both Tulane and Loyola for her documentary film project on Muslim culture in Greater New Orleans; Krystal was in a while ago and let me know that not only had she finally heard from people she had been trying to reach for her project on the children of Katrina (I envision a great typographic book cover that looks something like KIDS + KATRINA +5), but she even made a conneciton for Devin, who has also been a busy bee making contacts and plans!

I want to give a shout-out to two wonderful women who have been helping all of our students with amazing contacts and helpful introductions, Jennifer Shaw and Jennifer Zdon. The Jennifers rock! Well, I have laundry to do; and just in case there's a hard freeze while I'm away...some pickling to do as well!

Guest Speaker: Aaron Richey

Special thanks goes out today to director and producer Aaron Richey, who stopped by to share his expertise on documentary film making and photojournalism with the students.

Remembering Katrina Five Years Later: Vincent LaForet

More pictures.

AiM New Orleans Partner makes New York Times Front Page!

Jennifer Zdon, a New Orleans photographer and friend, had a photograph on the front page of The New York Times yesterday! Way to go Jennifer! And thanks for all of the story leads you've been giving our students. You rock!