Rebirth Brass Band in black and white

This has to be one of my favorite black and white photographs sets of the Rebirth Brass Band at Chelsea's Cafe.   I especially love the images of lead trumpet/vocals Derek Shezpie.  I'm usually taken by his neck tattoos and gear in addition to his awesomely expansive cheeks.  They're captured pretty well, and I so appreciate being up close and personal to Chelsea's low stage.  The fans in the crowd were very much into the heat and feel of the night, too.  We had a great time dancin' and groovin' out there!

In that melancholy

We've had a couple afternoons of downpours and storms.  I've always liked rain, the smells and sounds it brings, and the colors and feelings it turns on.  I could have stood at this window pane and watched it endlessly filter my look into our very green and earthy backyard.  Lately, though, I have to get myself out of the trance because the melancholy it brings overwhelms me.  I am drenched in memories of my father. Flashes of him sick with cancer in his final days battle the surfacing of something else, maybe good memories, the loving times when he was in good health.   In time, in time I'm told that things will become less sharp.

I find myself turning to the rain again.  In that melancholy the soothing will come.  Somehow.

Running with the Transit of Venus

Meet Brandon Dufrene, a man who was exercising when I arrived at the levee look out spot near LSU's vet school .  He was at the top of the stairs, just about to make his decline, when I took this quick shot. He passed me on his way down so I showed him the image and apologized, too, for interrupting his workout.  He said that was okay because he had already finished his 15 mile bike ride earlier.  Keep in mind that it's nearly 90 degrees and high humidity even at 7:30 pm, and I commented that it must be tough getting a work out in those conditions.  He explained that it's great for your lung capacity and cardiovascular endurance as I was standing there dripping in perspiration standing still.  Maybe I'll make the effort one day to get out there with my sneakers instead of my camera and embrace what Brandon exemplifies.  It's also very cool to think about the fact that as he was running and moving, so was Venus and the other planetary forces.  If I was in fact a runner, I'd probably find a ritual in that thought as I went out into the heat of the sun.

After I made it to the top of the stairs and looked across the river at the setting sun, I decided to find a location closer to the river to shoot.  I didn't have much time, but I went for it.  Well, by the time I set up the sun started moving behind a cloud that I didn't see at first.  Somehow grabbing a picture of Venus got lost in my mind unfortunately, and I took a few pictures of the sun, with Venus in transit, escaping us for another 105 years.  It's a good lesson if grabbing the opportunity when it's there because that moment in time will not return and conditions DO change out of your control.  I'll have to be satisfied with my photo set from the observatory  and enjoy the story and experience in that.  :)

Chasing Venus and the sun did lead me to finding a pathway to the river...let's see how that will open up another world.

The Transit of Venus - a look at the lookers

While I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't get a Transit of Venus shot myself, I did take photographs telling some of the story of this historical event.  I love gatherings of many people looking at the sky, wondering over celestial mysteries.  It must be the space geek in me, and it's lots of fun to witness and participate.  This time I DID get people's names, nearly all of them, just in case I wanted to share a couple images with The Advocate.  The unknown man in the pinhole box from the partial solar eclipse stays with me.  ;)  I handed out my business card again, too, hoping that those photographed will visit.

Ashley Rodrigue from Channel 2 News

A patient observer waits for the sun

John LeBlanc, Director of Stargazers Camp, Highland Road Park Observatory

My daughter and friend were interviewed by a local news TV station. 

The waiting

The sun's near emergence over the top of the observatory's dome

Allen Hall with granddaughters, Bailey and Neily Hall

iPhone solar viewer filter

Three-and-a-half year old Madison Clement being lifted by her father, Steve Clement for a look.

From left to right Holiday Durham, Celia Escudero, Forum Shah, Jeff Covington, Bhavani Jayaram, and Sudip Bajpeyi

This group of friends were very enthusiastic and lots of fun.  I wish the image was of better quality, but I'm guessing that their iPhone grabbed a great capture.

THE shot, real time.  This viewer was attached to the side of the telescope by John LeBlanc, Director of the Stargazers Camp, of the Highland Road Park Observatory.  What a great idea!

Clarity

Asawari Korde

If you'd like to see and share the photos in album view. I appreciate you giving me credit as photographer is these are shared off of this site. Enjoy, and thank you! :)  

Partial lunar eclipse

6.06.12: 
My dog woke me at 4:30 AM as if she knew that I wanted to head out to the levee to try to see the partial lunar eclipse.  I took her out into our backyard and saw a light in the sky and knew I had to make it.  By the time I arrived, the light was just a smear and disappeared because of the clouds.  I set up anyway hoping for a brief peek out and waited.  Luckily, the moon found a clearing, and in the hazy, humid air I got to see it with Earth's shadow.  There was a soft glow to it, and when looking back at the image, I get a sense of the feeling it carried. 

the orb keeper

the orb keeper

keeper of the glowing light
in the darkness of your reach
knowing my deepest sorrows
and what heals my soul
you revealed a secret
in that timeless moment

I have it with me.

The people I meet

July 25, 2013:  I owe it to these guys to share their photos publicly as it was over a year ago I crossed paths with each of them in New Orleans.  After completing a photo assignment, I had given myself some time walk and enjoy the city.  There's usually themes that emerge while I'm there, and on this given day it was the people I met and the time they shared with me no matter how brief.

It wouldn't be a visit to New Orleans without my spicy Bloody Mary and half-dozen raw oysters.  I stopped into Royal Street for my treat, and really enjoyed my time with the bartender/server and fellow bar stool mates.  One woman was celebrating her birthday with a small bottle of champagne and she insisted on sharing with me.  The Bloody Mary/Champagne/Oyster combo was perfect!

"Look me up!  I'm famous!"
Sidewalk Saint Tim, New Orleans Street Performer

Following a photo assignment in New Orleans, I stopped to watch a street performer painted in gold doing tricks with his golden basketball.  He came up to me, held my hand, introduced himself as Tim, then said, "Look me up!  I'm famous!"  I was very taken by his close contact and spirit, and took his photo before he returned to work.  Sure enough, he's one of New Orleans' 'Sidewalk Saints', performers known for their artistry on the streets of the city.  Famous or not, the pleasure was all mine!

Wesley, creator of his own Mardi Gras Indian costume

 Byron

Golden dancer

Julia, rose vendor

Jackson Square sitter

I don't usually take pictures like this, and after I did, this man jumped up and at me, putting his face near the middle of my legs, and screamed something obscene.  I had been squatting to grab the shot, wearing a skirt, no less. Needless to say, he taught me a valuable lesson about appropriate clothes and positioning when heading into the city with my camera.  No more crotch shots!!