NOTES
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.
Yes, Yes to the Levee!
I scouted the levee for a photo shoot.
"The End of the World?" I repeated as a question when Chloe Rose, a head piece designer, mentioned this area at the downriver end of Bywater. The name she had given this place was intriguing.
She and I met at the Orange Couch last week to discuss a photo shoot that we'll be doing together. Chloe designs extravagant head pieces with flowers, sometimes skulls and with a color palette reminiscent of the hues one would see at the end of Fall/beginning of winter -- in other words, the same color palette that's often used in photography. When I first saw her designs just a week or so before Mardi Gras, I knew that I wanted to work with her.
Yesterday morning, I put on my Nike long-hiking shoes and headed to the furthest end of Bywater where the levee rises from the land. The dark, puffy clouds overhead loomed, slowly drifting in the wind. It took about a half hour to get there but there it was, at the very end of Bywater.
Aside from a person or two walking on the levee, I was alone with my wife's small compact camera. I immediately started clicking at the scene, aiming, click and moving down the path toward the corner of the strip where the Industrial Canal and Mississippi River meet. There was remnants of a smoldering campfire and a few empty cans of beer. I remembered to keep my eyes down on the ground to avoid any other unseemly things left behind.
To the left of me was a patch of dead trees and large stones that sloped down into the River. I picked up my phone and texted Chloe, "Yes!!"
To see Chloe Rose's head pieces, go HERE.
Email for more info: info@carlosdetres.com
11 Months to Go Until Mardi Gras 2017
Photos and thoughts of Mardi Gras 2016. We'll sure miss you.
I had a conversation the other night about whether a "New Year's Resolution" in New Orleans should actually begin after Mardi Gras to coincide with Lent. With all of that binge and purging that goes on throughout the months of January and February, it feels appropriate to give or take up that thing you'd normally reserve for that "resolution".
The photos below are a mish-mash of parades and celebrations throughout the city. Some are from Chewbacchus, Krewe du Vieux, Hermes and on and on.
Email for info: info@carlosdetres.com
BLACK INK in the French Quarter
A BLACK INK portrait session with Amber in the French Quarter. This post is probably NSFW.
I've been working on my latest photo project BLACK INK since September 2015. I knew that when I started it that it would be a long endeavor, which is great because I have this to look forward to for at least the entire year of 2016.
The story of BLACK INK began with my fascination with tattoos. Although I don't have many of my own, I'm interested in the stories people have about their work. It's been fascinating. More often than not, people have tattoos that represent their relationships with family or friends, such as an old frigate tattooed across the chest to represent a grandfather's occupation as a sailor or a nickname given by a spouse etched onto a lip.
Amber, who is featured in this post, is comfortable with her body. She's proud of her body art and its symbolism. There are references to her family, struggles, her light, spiritual beliefs and more. I am so very grateful that she allowed me into a private world and let me photograph her. I tried my best to totally capture Amber in a portrait. I felt very excited when she exclaimed, "Oh my god! You got me! That's me!" It's like music to my ears.
The final process of these images is printing them using platinum and palladium to continue the theme of permanence.
For information, email: info@carlosdetres.com
Read more about BLACK INK
Florida -- It's Where I Grew Up
We're #1 at pina coladas and crazy.
Anna Maria Island, Florida
Florida has, rightly so, been the butt of many jokes (kinda like Jersey but without that awful smell when you cross under the tunnel from Manhattan). The state is a complex one. Much of the central part of the state, where I grew up, is as conservative Southern as it gets. South Florida is one of the most ethnically diverse and vibrant regions of the country. There’s THIS parody Twitter account accurately correctly curates many of us Floridians’ head shakes. It’s also home to the most serial murders in the country and a governor who has had “climate change” removed from all official documentation and Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and the theme park Holy Land.
Florida is also home of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Key Lime pie, legendary death metal bands, great natural vistas, the oldest city in the country, and a history that’s tied into the colonial era of the United Kingdom and Spain.
I’ve been wanting to begin a project based on my home state of Florida. Just a loose collection of photos that reflect the memories of my childhood as well as my many return visits to see friends and family. As I continue going back, I’ll add more to this collection.
My 10 Photos of 2015
10 photographs that I had a lot of fun making in 2015 with clients ranging from liquor brands to hair salons.
Two thousand and fifteen was the year I experienced the most creative growth of any year throughout my career as a photographer. Maybe it was the gris-gris bag I had especially made (to help with "creative insight") in February or just months of diligent work and study or maybe a little of all of the above. These images are a bit better than what I did in 2014 but not a complete representation of the work I did with so many talented stylists, models and makeup artists or projects that were shot from November-December.
Clients and projects featured: De La Mer, Brugal, Die and Let Die, Black Ink
A Letter Found in a Little Shrine at St. Roch Cemetery, New Orleans
A prayer to Saint Roch from anonymous writer.
I shot these three photos at St. Roch Cemetery, inside a little chapel. It made me think of the Pope’s message and in what ways it inspires others. St. Roch is the Catholic patron saint of dogs and is said to heal people who are ill or disabled in some way.
People who have claimed to been healed by St. Roch leave items behind in the small side room on the right of the cathedral. Items include notes, prosthetic legs, braces (some from Polio-related disabilities) and replicas of ailed limbs.
The note in the diptych above, on the right reads:
St. Roch,
This is my friend Danto, but y'all know each other. Basically my prayer is this:
I light this candle so that we may, men of the earth
Heal each other
To not be afraid of each other
To grieve together
To protect each other
To come together to protect the sanctity of the divine feminine, Santa Barbara, the fountain of eternal nectar.
To have sex with condoms
To help create infrastructure for refugees, alle Fluchtlinge!
Email: info@carlosdetres.com
My Photo Shoot with Yui Tsuchida in New York
A shoot with pianist, Yui Tsuchida in Astoria Park, Queens.
I had a set of great shoots during my recent trip to New York. Yui Tsuchida is a pianist from Kyoto who moved to Astoria, Queens a couple of years ago. She and I were on the same page throughout the shoot. I love working with creative people because we can bounce ideas back and forth and the result is something they and I both want.
Email info@carlosdetres.com
New Street Photography: New Orleans
Street photography on the rocky asphalt of a city beat down by the sun. Let's go, go, go.
Wet and hot. New Orleans is the stuff my photography dreams are made of. Weird and fun. The city contains much of what inspires me to pick up the camera.
So here's some new stuff. If you haven't seen the old stuff, look HERE.
Photos by me, Carlos Detres. Email: info@carlosdetres.com
Jusepe de Ribera
Chasing the de Ribera one light look.
I can't remember how I ran into Jusepe de Ribera's (b. Spain 1591-1652) but somehow I did. I was immediately impressed with his use of light and how the direction of the light caused shadows to form from the brow over the eye sockets, to, in my opinion, emphasize the shape of the skull, reminding of death (maybe). I then began seeing this everywhere from The Godfather to random TV shows, which made me wonder where the hell have my eyeballs been all of these years.
What I enjoy about this lighting scheme is that it's a simple, one light technique that expresses much. I err on the side of simplicity. It's elegant and one can focus more on subject than technical diagrams (unless you have a crew. If you have a crew working with you, use the crew). Much of my photographic method has become simpler. One light. One lens. One camera.
What I wanted to learn to do was how I could artificially achieve a de Ribera look while out in the street. When this was first attempted, it was difficult to hold the flash at an angle over the subject's head. I could rely on street lights but they're not always around. Indoors is good but there's usually a lot of light bouncing around. The problem I had with the flash was that the light was too harsh. I found that putting a small diffuser could do the trick. Maybe take it old school and place a napkin over the flash head (oh the things you learn with zero budget).
For the shot below, I ended up using a Westcott Apollo Orb, which functions as a Octobox. I liked how the light wrapped around the subject's body while also casting a deep shadow over the brow. It was, again, a simple one light setup and it worked. The light was placed almost directly above her head, angled toward her body.
Voila.
Check out some of de Ribera's paintings:
You can email me at info@carlosdetres.com
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
St. Louis Cemetery #1, a New Orleans necropolis just outside of the French Quarter, recently closed to the public due to vandalism. It was rumored that a tour guide invented a Voodoo "tradition" of marking tombs with three 'Xs' to make a wish, which has led to symbols and graffiti written and carved on many of the crypts. In addition, people have removed bricks to grave rob or view the remains of the interred. The purportedly haunted St. Louis Cemetery #1 is a natural tourist draw, however I've found that the only thing haunting it are the living. Like ghost photography, I photographed people as incidental subjects. I wanted to make a statement with this project that not even the dead are safe from the living. I completed this photography project in March 2015. Recorded audio from a shoot at the cemetery was used as the score for this video. Photos by Carlos Detres
White Linen Night 2015
Black and white photography from White Linen Night 2015.
An amazing night on Julia Street for this year's White Linen Night. I brought out the ol' 24mm lens and Nikon SB900 Speedlight just like I used to do. Shooting this event reminded me of the days of when I photographed for UrbanDaddy. Good times. Beautiful people, inside and out.
Email me at info@carlosdetres.com
One Month in New Orleans: July 2015
Here are some of the things that happened last month. Friends, pool, cemeteries, graveyard leave-behinds and more.
Here are some of the things that happened last month. Friends, pool, cemeteries, graveyard leave-behinds and more.
For more info about my pictures, email me at info@carlosdetres.com
One Year in New Orleans Part 3
Photos from one year in New Orleans from April-June 2015. Burlesque, Weddings, Crawfish Boils, Street Photography and more.
What One Year in New Orleans Looks Like Part 2 (January-March 2015)
These include Carnival (Mardi Gras, etc.), Super Sunday, St. Louis Cemetery #1 and #2 and more.
What One Year in New Orleans Looks Like Part 1 (July-December 2014)
1 year in the life of a new Orleanian.
My dream had been to move to New Orleans. Last year I finally got the opportunity to make it happen...rather I took the opportunity to make it happen. I've met a lot of great people and had some of the most amazing experiences of my life. In just one year. Here are some of my favorite photographs I've made.
This is Part 1 of 3 and includes July-September 2014. Enjoy.
Part 2 is HERE
Part 3 is HERE
Email: info@carlosdetres.com
Building a Photo Story Book and Why It Should be Uber Personal
The philosophy of developing imagery to engage with a brand's audience and why to make it uber personal.
I enjoy telling stories and working with brands who want to genuinely connect with their audience. Everywhere we look there's an ad, which makes it more important now than ever to build relationships with customers. I believe companies who share my ideology will have more long term success.
From a photo shoot with IRFE (Paris) at the Gramercy Hotel, NYC. (©Carlos Detres 2015)
As a photographer and a diehard fan of photography, I like to create photos that are personal. I believe that this can be done in the advertising arena. Being removed from New York City (since last year), I have more freedom to execute ideas and experiment with concepts that can be valuable to my clients.
From a shoot with Westerly Vintage, New Orleans. (©Carlos Detres 2015)
My goal, like those of my clients, is to build a relationship with my audience and to share who I am as a person and an artist. A photo shoot I did with PROHAIRKIT.com back in January of this year, was built from a concept I developed with the company's president, ALEJANDRO JIMENEZ. We made a personal, impactful project that communicated the brand's philosophy of providing quality hair tools to stylists that share a bond with the Alejandro.
A photo from a look book I shot for PROHAIRKIT.com, Weaverville, NC. (©Carlos Detres 2015)
A successful portrait of a brand isn't only of people. There are other subjects indicative of a brand's image and philosophy that are included such as a photograph of an antique car or the tools used to create a product or even a color scheme that inspired the interior design of an establishment.
Antique car in St. Bernard Parish, LA. (©Carlos Detres 2015)
A lookbook is the same as a personal project, to me. I care about the brand's goals and image. It can be personal and engaging. While this deal that we're building will likely become available at the end of the summer, please feel free to include your information below so that you can be updated. It will be a fair offer -- one that many small businesses will be able to afford.
Shooting on the Streets of New Orleans
Street photography in New Orleans.
Calling street photography a hobby, for me, feels strange. It's an extension of all of the work professional photography I do. This blog post is of some of the work I've been doing the last year. It's an ongoing project, never ending and so fun to do. I feel that these are some of my most personal photographs.
Here are just a few randos.
Email: info@carlosdetres.com
Childerness: Jaxson
If you could safely place a child into a rocket launcher and shoot him out into your home, that would be my nephew, Jaxson.
If you could safely place a child into a rocket launcher and shoot him out into your home, that would be my nephew, Jaxson. One of my favorite games with him is when we go on a high speed chase throughout his grandparent's home because it indicates that I'm still in some kind of physical shape. He's fast, energetic, smart, bold and brave.
It was a Sunday morning in Miami, before my drive to the west coast of Florida when my sister came over with Jaxson to say goodbye before our trip. I had poor sleep the night before so when she reminded me that I had wanted to make pictures of my nephew, I groggily rose from the couch, grabbed my camera and went to work. His energy was contagious. I felt my vitality return and he and I had a lot of fun. I credit Jaxson's lingering energy for keeping me awake during my 3.5 hour ride to Palmetto.
Here he is. My little rocket launcher nephew.
Email: info@carlosdetres.com
Childerness: Bella and Ali
I look at these two and pray that their hearts will always remain young. This is what I learned from my simple afternoon, photographing with these two cuties.
I try to learn something new whenever I make pictures. It doesn't usually happen but when it does, the pictures are better, more personal. In this case, I had the chance of photographing my little identical twin cousins, Bella and Ali. All of the negativity in the world bombards our awareness to remember who we really are. I look at these two and pray that their hearts will always remain young. This is what I learned from my simple afternoon with these two cuties.
Email: info@carlosdetres.com
