The Macallan at Soho Grand

This was a quick event I photographed for MBooth and The Macallan when I was in New York last week. The view from West Broadway was grand.

Taking the Fujifilm x100s Out for a Spin at a New Orleans Wedding

"You see if you don’t take money, they can’t tell you what to do, kid." -- Bill Cunningham

Just over a month ago, my wife and I were invited to a wedding here in New Orleans. I'd been wanting to shoot a wedding with my Fujifilm x100s since I got it just to see how it would fare in a situation with a lot of moving parts. I was able to experiment with this camera because I wasn't the hired photographer. In another scenario, I'd have brought my Nikon cameras since I know very well how well they handle under these high octane situations.

I was very satisfied but unsurprised by the x100s' performance. It handled the rain with no problem and the autofocus worked wonderfully. I could very well see this being the only camera I shoot events with in the future. It was fun, compact and easy to work with and due to its quiet shutter and size, I went mostly unnoticed when I needed to be.

The Soft Moon at One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans

This was one of those nights.

One of those evenings in which you wish you could fully pay attention and photograph something important, like a favorite band's performance. But when you're dancing your ass off, holding a lens in one hand and a camera in the other, making pictures becomes messy. 

Add whiskey. Add beer.

I admit that this wasn't my best work but it was a great memory. I hadn't danced that hard in a long time and hadn't seen The Soft Moon perform even longer. It was a perfect performance from beginning to end. Although One Eyed Jacks wasn't crowded, the people who were there erupted into a vibrating dance ritual that is usually reserved for the typical New Orleans jazz/funk fare. 

It was great seeing one of my favorite bands perform in my new city and seeing a lot of people discover music that is really special to me and to a lot of other people. 

Enjoy the photos.

Burlesque and a Helluva Dance Party at Spitfire, NOLA

Combining the classic dance party and burlesque, a raw, fun party went down during the early-ish evening hours in the French Quarter at Spitfire. DJ Bunny and co. played a great set and Gogo McGregor and Roxie le Rouge of Big Deal Burlesque provided the fleshy entertainment. 

I hadn't considered doing a mini photo essay while I was there so I'm just going to leave these photographs right here for every one to enjoy.

Email info@carlosdetres.com for questions or photo requests.

More performance photography with the Fujifilm x100s

To say that I'm obsessed with this camera could be an understatement. I often carry it with me even when I'm not taking pictures. While I love the Nikon D800, it's mostly used for work which relieves any stress I have taking it out at night, especially with the crime we have in New Orleans. 

What I like to show is the capabilities of this camera under low light, fast paced situations as well as the quality of the dynamic range of the camera and photographing musical performances is the one of the best methods of showcasing the Fujifilm x100s' ability. 

The photos below are from a rehearsal I shot with LODRO last year at their studio in Brooklyn, NY. The band has great energy and are natural performers on the stage. The performances match the intensity of the music. Although the lineup has changed slightly, they're still great. If you get the chance of checking them out, do so!

Roof climbing in Astoria, Queens

It was a Friday night in Astoria last year that was otherwise ordinary except that it was foggy. The end of the week brought forth the usual congregation of drinks and chatter, which, this time, led to the rooftop. Somewhere between the drinking and the beauty of the fog, blanketing us, we climbed the roof where I got one of my favorite pictures I've yet shot in Astoria (last one). 

ADULT. at Verboten...last year

I didn't do a whole lot with these photos when I shot them last year, despite getting some work after the first time shooting a show with a mirrorless camera (Fujifilm X100s). When I've shot shows in the past, it has always been with a DSLR, however I really enjoyed the look while limited to a fixed 35mm lens. 

I love this camera. I love this camera so much that it's probably my favorite one to shoot with. I enjoy the limitations of a fixed lens. I've recently acquired a 50mm equivalent lens for it and am debating on whether I made the right decision. Again...the factor of limitation really expands creativity. Do more with less.

So, last year, I went to see ADULT. with some friends and my wife at Verboten, a wonderful and newish music venue in Williamsburg. It was an ideal location to test the X100s' ability to perform under low light. 

Will pictures look Rolling Stone quality on this thing? I don't know but I love the aesthetic that I'm able to achieve with the Fujifilm X100s. I highly recommend playing with one.

An Old Organ

I love seeing this kind of thing: A beautifully made machine, weathered and worn, cast into the context of a yard or sidewalk to ruin with time and the elements. This was photographed on St. Claude near the St. Roch Market. Fortunately, finding these kinds of items in New Orleans frequently happens. The wet grass and leaves really made the colors pop.

A short walk through Treme

It's been strange to see tour guides coming through here with a gaggle of tourists on Segways or bikes. Although I moved to New Orleans just this last July, I've been familiar with the neighborhood for a while. If you've never been, it's a colorful area just outside of the French Quarter with a history of bringing up legendary local musicians and artists. It's colorful, bright and has a clear creative energy that runs through it. 

I chose to go a black and white route with these photographs, which shows the neighborhood in a different light (no pun intended). It's not the best representation of Treme...it's actually a TERRIBLE one but I've been into the idea of making photographs of New Orleans that appear to look like vignettes from distant dreams during long, sleepy nights.

Most of these are barely in the area of Treme but I hope to return soon to get more of this beautiful neighborhood that also includes Louis Armstrong Park (seen below). 

Turning Your Brand into a Lifestyle Photo Shoot

View fullsize

How to highlight what you do

The photos in this post were commissioned by ProHairKit.com to display the looks that can be had through the use of the hair tools they sell. It was a smart decision because it allowed them to broadcast beautiful, inspiring imagery through a story they could share with their network. It is one part portraiture and one part documentary, which is also how I photograph for clients such as Brugal, The Macallan and emerging artists.

My specialty in providing consultation and photography for social media marketing is bookended by my belief in the power of a photograph and its story. Many artists and companies are catching onto this, which is why this is such a HUGE part of my business. 

In recent years, I have had the freedom to make my professional work my personal work and as a result, I have gained new clients in New York City, Miami, North Carolina and New Orleans. Whether you're a musician or a business, I will work with you to develop a concept that is true to the heart of your brand through artistry, technical and marketing knowhow.

Inquiries are FREE so email me at info@carlosdetres.com and let's see if we can build the right project for you. You can visit my site to view more samples of my photography.

You can view the rest of the photo story HERE.

Walking Among the Ruins

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.

One Month Later

View fullsize

It's been a month since Mardi Gras. This is my first post of photos from March 17, 2015. The day, the entire season was overwhelmingly wonderful. So much that I've barely had anything to drink since. My typical fun nights had been food, some booze and music, which is all out of my system due to Carnival. My entire existence has been consumed by photography since.

I didn't take many photos during Mardi Gras because of how much there was to photograph (I kinda short circuited) and it was my first one. I wanted to really enjoy every bit of it without a camera slung around my neck. I broke my seemingly weightless Fujifilm x100s and carrying around a bulky, expensive DSLR just seemed like a bad idea. 

If you were in New Orleans, I hope you had a great time and if you weren't, I hope you didn't freeze to death.

Super Sunday

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.

The Antiquated Charms of the French Quarter

View fullsize

I enjoy the dreamy quality of the French Quarter and how the modern world clashes with its antiquated appearance. I really need to do more of these studies.

There's probably a bit too many photos in this post but I hope that you enjoy them anyway.

Please feel free to leave questions or comments below. 

A Time Lapse of the Photo Essay Sequence for "Die and Let Die"

This is me sequencing a photo essay with a working title of "Die and Let Die" (it was scribbled on the side of a tomb) about spooky humans haunting the dead of St. Louis Cemetery #1 in New Orleans. It's part dark humor and part sincere commentary.

This is me sequencing a photo essay with a working title of "Die and Let Die" (it was scribbled on the side of a tomb) about spooky humans haunting the dead of St. Louis Cemetery #1 in New Orleans. It's part dark humor and part sincere commentary.

I've posted several blogs dedicated to the process of photographing this series. The project changed during its course and has now become two distinct collections. The rest of the posts with plenty of photos inside, can be found HERE.

Should we not wake the eff up...

View fullsize

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.

The End of One and the Beginning of Three

View fullsize

Well, that's it for St. Louis Cemetery #1. From here on out we can only go with tour guides so there's a solid chance that I'll never see it again but I've made so many photographs of it. Hundreds. It's conceivable that one day I will have life sized prints of it in my home. I even made audio recordings at the site throughout the day. Other than a few exterior shots of the cemetery, principle photography is over.

On to the next...

My current projects, one of which I will begin are currently without names but here's a list of subjects that I'll be covering with slight future adjustments to theme and coverage. One or two of these may be vague while the others are more clear:

1) The economic impact of wetland loss throughout southeast Louisiana. 

2) The borderlands in New Orleans where the realm of the living blurs with the one belonging to the dead. It's a very strange, difficult one to photograph being that it will be done documentary style. How does one actually photograph something like this? Months of research and location hunting has already been done. It's based on several books that I've read in the last six or seven years. This is the project that, if done successfully, I can leave this planet happily.

3) Ruins of New Orleans will cover just that. There's a dilapidated house on Esplanade below the I10 expressway that reminds me of the house in Interview With the Vampire where Louis returns to Lestat at the end. It looks exactly like it. I decided to build this project because I am always wondering what neighborhoods must have looked like before that ugly expressway was built. This is the one that I'll be starting this week. 

Below are a few other photos from yesterday's very fun shoot. 

Please feel free to comment, ask questions or whatever in the comments section below. If you'd like to chat with me, go ahead and email info@carlosdetres.com.

More posts about this project at this LINK.

The Haunting Tourist

View fullsize

What is the tourist's role at Saint Louis Cemetery #1?

This is what I'm considering today as I finish up shooting at Saint Louis Cemetery #1. The biggest challenge of shooting at one of the most essential visits of anyone's vacation to New Orleans is this cemetery, which leads to the inevitable, "Shit! They walked into my frame!" At some point, I said, screw it, I'm going to photograph them away. The first time I did this, I returned home, uploaded and scanned through my photographs and found that the tourists who walked into my shot actually gave the scene an eerie feel...as if they were the ones haunting the site.

I've never felt or seen any spirits at the cemetery. Who'd want to linger with such massive crowds? Nope. What has happened, however is, on a few occasions, a tourist would walk past a corner I was shooting from, not expect me and become frightened. I've seen other tourists do it to each other, too. It's an old, crumbly cemetery and beside stories of hauntings it used to be a huge problem for safety. The crime used to be so bad that not even family members of those deceased would visit. Much of the reason why the cemetery looks as it does is because of the lack of upkeep due to the dangers associated with criminals. It's now relatively safe but I digress.

It's not certain whether these shots of tourists will end up in the final collection. I vacillate, considering whether it would be a distraction or enhance the narrative. In the pictures below, you'll see how the scene looks with and without the tourist. Which do you prefer? 

I'm off to prepare for my last shoot day. Thanks for reading.

Any questions can be emailed to info@carlosdetres.com. You can read more posts and see more photos HERE.

One More Day To Go!

View fullsize

I waited at the gate of Saint Louis Cemetery #1 before it opened. I was both excited for the days prospect of shooting and also a bit bummed that I could count the number of days left to freely visit one of my favorite locations in New Orleans. But then there was another feeling, one of accomplishment because, no matter what, principle photography was almost over.

After tomorrow, with the exception of one more day of shooting exteriors, I'll be in the process of sequencing and sorting through hundreds of photos. I've learned a lot of a lot in the last month since this project began. Every minute provided was filled with complete joy and concentration. I met a lot of people and discovered the cemetery's most intimate corners. 

The purpose of this project is more art than historical. It is a showcase of years of decay, architecture, loss of life and the preciousness of every moment. When this project is completed and showcased, no one single tomb will be identified. It is, in a way, a collective of people who lived and traversed these streets, painted the city's character with a wild brush, and perhaps even wandered through Saint Louis Cemetery while they lived. New Orleans began and continued with those laid to rest within its walls and it grows within us who live and purvey the old traditions and create new ones. This is obviously a passion project and I can't wait to share the completed vision.

Here are some select photos from today. These were made with a lot of joy, love and sheer curiosity and persistence. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at info@carlosdetres.com or leave a comment below. 

The Last Week

View fullsize

After a very short work trip and an amazing shoot with Brugal and an hour and a half of sleep, I rushed to St. Louis Cemetery #1 to get what I could today. The temperature sucked and the sky was gray but I was glad to get an extra couple hours to work.

Since I have only have a few days to shoot this project before the cemetery closes for good, I took out my Lensbaby kit to see what kind of inspiration would occur. Well, it worked. It helped me find a mood that would underline my theme of a "haunting portrait of the ruin, mystique and beauty...". 

So here's what I got today. In the photo directly below, I had my shutter open for about 25 seconds and caught this interesting, anomaly undoubtedly caused by something in the lens. Either way, it was a very nice, eerie effect. 

My goal for this project has been to create a unique photographic experience that takes the viewer through an intimate journey into the heart of New Orleans' oldest and one of its most unique cemeteries (Holt Cemetery is probably the other one that comes to mind as far as uniqueness). If you'd like more photos and info, click HERE.

Please feel free to forward any questions to info@carlosdetres.com. 

Thanks for visiting!