NOTES
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.
New Endings
A dramatic title for sure but it was the only one that described my feelings.
A dramatic title for sure but it was the only one that described my feelings. I started this photography project on St. Louis Cemetery #1 as a way to preserve the experience of my many visits. Right now, here in New Orleans, we're in the midst of our last week of Carnival, which also means we're nearer to the end of casual visits to my favorite cemetery.
This photography project is the first one that I've dedicated, planned and executed. It's a project that perhaps no one could care about except me but I'm proud of it. I think I've captured some beautiful, timeless images. Some time in March I will begin to methodically piece the photographs to share the story of the ruined beauty of a wonderful place. I hope the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be able to refurbish, clean and preserve St. Louis Cemetery #1 so others can be inspired by its architecture and timelessness.
