Almost There...

Well, getting closer to the end of my St. Louis Cemetery #1 project. I lingered a little longer than usual, realizing that I'm closer to the public closure date. Anyway, I'll keep this short because it's Lundi Gras and I have some partying to do.

If you're curious to see how the other photos look, I posted more HERE.

The photo directly below this is Nicholas Cage's ostentatious, pyramid tomb. It's actually pretty cool.

Songs To Shoot To

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I was a DJ in New York City for a bunch of years before my old love of photography eclipsed everything. I'd prepare mixes like one would prepare a book: "What do I want to say? What's the mood? Theme?" I've found the same methodology while preparing and shooting projects so music is a HUGE part of my work. My photographs sound like the music I used to mix and make.

Here are the songs that are constantly played during my work for my St. Louis Cemetery Project.

1) The Soft Moon "Far" (Deeper 2015) -- I've been a HUGE fan of Luis Vasquez's work since the  release of The Soft Moon's self titled debut in 2010. I took the album with me on a trip to New Orleans (prior to move) and spent the day traveling throughout New Orleans, making pictures and getting my brains blown by the subtle and not-so-subtle intensity of this great work.

So now it's 2015 -- another year and another release by The Soft Moon and it has once again accompanied me on trips to the cemetery. The new song "Far" is fucking great and if the rest of the album is like this then it will be on repeat and at +11 until I'm forcefully removed from my home. The full release is coming soon but you can preorder on iTunes and from Captured Tracks.

Whatever...forget my words. Just listen:

2. The Prodigy "The Day Is My Enemy" (The Day Is My Enemy 2015) -- These guys have never made a bad album. They don't know what it's like to put out shit and that's because of Liam Howlett's intense productions and obsessive work ethic (which inspires me tons). I don't know if it's because of hearing New Orleans music all over the place due to the local Mardi Gras action but the intro of "The Day Is My Enemy" reminds me of the percussion of "Iko Iko" or some similar tune. The song is powerful and exhilarating and adrenalin pumping so if I need kamikaze-like courage to ask someone on the street to do their portrait, I'd maybe play this beforehand. The album is coming out soon and I'm sure it's going to be another piece of excellent work...as always. 

NEW ALBUM 'THE DAY IS MY ENEMY' OUT 30TH MARCH 2015 - http://po.st/ProdigyStore3 Pre-order 'The Day Is My Enemy' now from The Prodigy Store (for Exclusive Bundle and Gig tickets) or iTunes and get the new track 'The Day Is My Enemy' to download immediately along with the single 'Nasty'

3. The Black Angels "Bad Vibrations" (Phosphene Dream 2010) -- A seductive, tour through the questionable recesses of the human psyche but enough about me! (Womp womp.) But seriously, this hypnotic treat entrances me and it actually changes the way I shoot. It's like a sacrifice to a dark lord who, in turn gives you the gift of creative insight. This is an older tune but it has never been off my iPhone or iPod. The song stands in defiance of time.

4. Dinowalrus -- "Wake Up The Void" (Complexion 2014) -- I really liked this band when I saw them perform at Grasslands (R.I.P.) in Brooklyn this past November. So I got the album and have listened to it over and over. If you get the chance to check this band out, please do so. 

In relation to how it affects my work: I walk through the French Quarter to get to my destination. No photos. Just walk and then there's the bright sun, blue sky and multi-colored homes with the prospect of another great day of photography. So while I don't really listen to the song while taking photos, it puts me in that excitable place of picture-making time.

I couldn't find the song on Soundcloud but I found another one that gives you an idea of their sound.

5. Missing Persons "Walking in L.A." (The Spring Session 1983) -- I got real cute with this one -- instead of "L.A." it's "LA"...like Louisiana. I know. This is the oldest song on this list and it's a proven and tried classic. Instant good mood and fun for a walkabout. That's what it's for, right? 

Well, that's it, folks. The new A Place To Bury Strangers album just arrived in the mail so I'm sure it will be added to my playlist. Happy Valentine's Day!

Chaos and Muses

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Last night I stumbled through the parades on St. Charles. It was a long, eventful, fun walk through  a bedlam of mass revelry, debauchery and fun. My opinion of parades has always varied, most of the time, I'm not too crazy about it but then there's New Orleans and no city puts on parades like this one. 

If you weren't privy to my burst of Instagram photos last night, here are the highlights. 

All photos made with the iPhone 6.

New Endings

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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.

Decadent days ahead -- Mardi Gras is here

"New Orleans -- what a country!" 

There's a Russian comedian named Yakov Smirnoff who was famous in the 80s and would often say "America -- what a country!" About once a day, I find myself saying the same thing about New Orleans. It really is different -- different in the way that Key West is different. New Orleans is its own republic, separate from the rest of the country, allowed to be it's own weird self, mostly unmolested or uncared for by the rest of the nation, pumping culture with music, food, film, art, etc. And then comes Mardi Gras...etc., etc., etc. What a friggin' country.

The Krewe du Vieux parade, party, after party, after after party, after after after party was amazing, incredible, wonderfully overwhelming and being someone who has DJ'ed a lot of Brooklyn renegade parties back in DUMBO and Williamsburg and throughout Downtown Manhattan that's saying a lot. Anyway, I won't babble on with details. Kinda still piecing it together but if you don't live here and you get a chance to check out Krewe du Vieux, do it. It's for your own good -- maybe health. 

I didn't get too many pictures. I tried to just enjoy what was happening but I managed these. 

Day 2 of the St. Louis Cemetery #1 Project

I returned today to St. Louis Cemetery #1 to photograph as much of it as I can before it closes to the public on March 1, 2015 (you can still go with an Archdiocese approved tour guide). Since this may be my last chance to see it, I'm getting as much of it as I can. This is one of my favorite places to visit in my new home city of New Orleans but unfortunately some sick, twisted vandals and thieves decided to piss all over the city's heritage by kicking head stones, ripping through brick, grave rob, desecrate old tombs, etc. 

My goal with this project is to photograph the beauty of St. Louis Cemetery #1. Much like its host city, it's beautiful, dilapidated and full of character and history. Here are a few of the several hundred shots I did today (I still have at least two more days to fulfill my goal of covering nearly every ground). 

P.S. I wrote more details about the closure of St. Louis Cemetery over HERE. 

PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHTED 2015. If you'd like to reuse these images, please email info@carlosdetres.com.

This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

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News came in yesterday about the closure of St. Louis Cemetery #1 to visitors starting in March. Two ways around this: 1) Tour guides/companies approved by the Archdiocese or 2) If you have family there.

I qualify for neither. 

This was obviously a bummer since this was one of my favorite places to visit on my down time but the vandals were at it again, desecrating crypts, including pouring pink latex paint on the tomb of Marie Laveau last year (it's since been restored at the cost of $10,000 -- yow!). I agree that the Archdiocese had to make a move but I wonder how effective this will be since most of the vandalism likely occurs at night. 

Today I thought I'd go over there to take as many pictures as I could. (Maybe I'd blow them up to life size and decorate my walls?) Two hours later and several hundred frames, I had only covered maybe a 1/6th of the cemetery. I plan on continuing photographing the rest, as often as I can until it's covered.

Here are a few of the snaps I took today. If you want to read more details about this new policy, check out this LINK

P.S. St Roch Cemetery and St. Louis Cemetery #2 are next.

PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHTED 2015. If you'd like to reuse these images, please email info@carlosdetres.com.

New Stuff HERE!

Hi all,

This section will include a lot more information regarding behind the scenes work, new projects and Instagram mini photo stories. Until then...

Thanks,

Carlos