NOTES
An Old Church Along Plantation Alley
Why I had to make art from this old church on Plantation Alley.
Not far outside of New Orleans is a meandering road that follows alongside the levee dividing the Mississippi River and the vulnerable land often referred as Plantation Alley. This place feels eerie to me. Is it the cypress trees? Is it the air that doesn’t seem to move with a breeze? Or is it the ghostly relics of the past? These plantations, these places of opulence and tragedy, murder and hosts for agonizing souls sent down the river as chattel, raped and made beasts of burden from black human bodies bewitch me. And it’s quiet here and there is a lot of time; nothing but time to reflect the haunting of a suffering past from which the belly of American cruelty continues to reverberate between the ancient trees of oak and cypress.
It is along this road where I drove past an old church. This place of worship has hosted its sinners, the descendants of an antebellum billion dollar industry that relied on the whipped backs of black people. The suffering is all I could think and I wanted to leave yet compulsion ruled me. A man watched from his tractor lawn mower as I parked my car along the road to photograph what drew me to this small white church enclosed by tiny white flowers.
The resulting image took less time than most of my work. I had felt something here that I didn’t like, which quickly guided me through the process of expressing emotions that escape words. I know nothing else of this church but the context of its location provided me the way through.
I have yet so many projects to pursue but I’m held fast to my temptations to return to this unscheduled series to see what more stories emerge. It’s a witchy 100+ miles of land of ruin, poverty and history that festers like a boil but is pretty too with its trees, and old structures and ruins. I used to enjoy staying and visiting these plantations but a lot that was unknown to me just a few years ago has stained my memories. I’ll eventually return to finish what I’ve begun.
It is my hope that you enjoy this finished piece and have a feeling akin to the one I had. It is printed on metallic paper and is available at 20% off if you sign up for my mailing list.
The Old Church Along Plantation Alley
2022
The most preserved plantations in the U.S. is just outside of New Orleans. A drive heading west, upriver on River Road are examples of antebellum mansions where slave masters resided, hosted guests and made their fortunes from the forced labor of imprisoned human beings. There are legends associated with these properties that also beg inevitable question: “Is this place haunted?”. In a way, yes. I’m unsure of the age of this chapel but it lies between a pair of plantations. I’m not a fan of this area yet I’m still drawn to it. It could be a desire to explore the roots of evil in America or more simply the eeriness of this region. Despite the dark history of the South, I can’t imagine working anywhere else (the exception being the arid regions of the western United States). In the South, you can find the ugliest and most beautiful aspects of humanity, which represent to me a nation in constant struggle and flux. This old chapel is a place for people to worship God and to make peace with their sins.
This unframed print is signed and reproduced on a heavy weighted 300GSM glossy luster photography paper.
Autumn in the Swamp
It's not New Hampshire but it's still pretty!
In one of the few nature outings I did this past fall, I focused on the dying leaves and other evidence of seasonal change that occurs here in Louisiana (yes, THAT Louisiana). It's not the rust colored beauty of the mountains in Vermont or New Hampshire but it's still nice to look at.
I photographed this short series in the early evening. The croaking of frogs and the crunching sound of squirrels scrambling across a blanket of orange and red colored leaves resting on the cool ground accompanied me as I set up my camera on the tripod. I love these moments, being alone, breathing in the cool air and listening to nature doing its thing undisturbed by my presence.
*Click on photos to view full frame.
Email info@carlosdetres.com
The Oak Alley Plantation Road Trip
Just one of many must-see locations outside of New Orleans. Get a car or read this post.
Aryn and I gathered some friends and went on a road trip to Oak Alley Plantation, about an hour outside of New Orleans. The site was beautiful, with old, looming oak trees and the Mississippi River just on the other side of the street. I love going to these sites but it always feels like I'm stepping onto the scene of an old and terrible crime. There are old reminders everywhere, from the slaves' quarters to the big white house.
We parked ourselves on the other side of a field, sat for a picnic. After eating my lunch, I laid on the roots of a large tree, staring up into its branches, watching the swaying motion of leaves.
Die and Let Die VIDEO
"Die and Let Die" is a video photo project about the haunting of St. Louis Cemetery #1 by people.
I compiled a video from a previous photography project I completed called "DIE AND LET DIE". I had recorded audio while I was shooting at St. Louis Cemetery #1 that was intended to be included in this project. The calliope from the riverboat, Natchez, can be heard from the Mississippi River as well as the mutterings of cemetery visitors and car horns from Basin Street.
The project was inspired by seeing how much vandalism had occurred at the cemetery that, in my opinion, was perpetuated by some of the myths surrounding the cemetery, such as marking tombs with three Xs so that a wish could be granted. I photographed people in this project as incidental subjects such as one would find in a supposed picture of a ghost. One could be taking a picture of a living room and find a spirit when the image is reviewed so that's how I shot this project. A little tongue-in-cheek joke that addresses a serious issue at the cemeteries of New Orleans.
If you're interested in learning more about the local cemeteries, check out the website of Save Our Cemeteries. They're doing very good things.
Email me if you'd like to use this video or just chat: info@carlosdetres.com
Walking Among the Ruins
Black and white New Orleans cemetery photography shot with Lensbaby and Totally Rad! preset.
On March 14th, I led a tour photo tour for a photographer in town from Arkansas. Since St. Louis Cemetery #1 has been closed to the public, we only had #2 to walk around. I really like this cemetery because there's a lot of space to roam around, there's still grass on the ground (unlike #1) and the tombs that are there are just as old as #1's. We spent at least an hour walking around and both of us captured some really nice images.
The photographer and I are fans of the Lensbaby optics system, which I used heavily during the tour. I enjoyed how the lens would allow me to alter the image in camera. Since I was happy with my exposures, I applied a Totally Rad! Tri-X 400+ preset on all of the images so the post process happened in only one click for the entire batch. Life made easier.
If you get a chance to check out this cemetery, do so! It's not as famous as #1 but it's an excellent alternative. Give yourself a couple of hours to roam around. Hardly anyone goes there so you'll likely have it to yourself.
For any more info or questions about the photos, feel free to email me.
Super Sunday
I quickly put together a photo essay of the event that highlighted the indians, neighborhoods and music that embody this New Orleans tradition.
Super Sunday at A.L. Davis Park in Central City
Yesterday was my first Super Sunday and I wasn't fully aware of what to expect. I was looking forward to seeing the Mardi Gras indians in their beautifully colored, embroidered suits, which they spend up to nine months planning and creating. Speaking with some of the indians, I learned more of the origin of this tradition, however NewOrleansOnline.com does a better job of explaining than I could:
"To most Americans, "Super Sunday" connotates the Sunday on which the NFL Super Bowl is played. However, in New Orleans, Super Sunday has a different, totally unrelated meaning. It is a day for the city's Mardi Gras Indian tribes to put on their colorful suits and "strut their stuff" while marching in a procession through the streets of their neighborhoods."
The article continues to explain the history HERE.
I quickly put together a photo essay of the event that highlighted the indians, neighborhoods and music that embody this New Orleans tradition.
Should we not wake the eff up...
Louisiana is losing more natural territory than any region in the world and I am fascinated by that. New Orleans could be the next line of defense against major storms. Fun times.
The cemetery project is being sequenced. After reviewing all of the photos, it was very clear that two projects were in there. One about the dead not being safe from the living and the other a work dedicated to the admiration of the beauty and decay. The former is a photo essay and the latter a book.
Anyway...
Now that photography is done with those projects I'm on to the next thing(s) which is a work about the economic impact of wetland loss in Louisiana. Our region is losing natural territory faster than any in the world but unfortunately the news doesn't get a whole lot of national press. It happens a lot in this state.
Oil companies such as BP are certainly not the only ones to blame, however the industry is the biggest factor for preventing extended losses, of which is currently about a football field a day.
The goal of this project is to provide the visual ammo for non-profit organizations to use as a way to inspire others into action or at the very least, awareness like that small rock in your shoe -- you'll feel something wrong. It will take me through bayous, small towns, abandoned oil wells and polluted coasts. I'm not sure how long this project will take but I imagine quite some time. At least a few years.
I don't expect drastic changes but any little bit of awareness can go a long way, especially in this beautiful state.
It really is pretty.
Below is an image posted by NOLA.com that depicts a more accurate outline of how Louisiana currently looks.
And this incredible article by Brett Anderson from where I got this image.
