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!!

Dream Tree, come with me

5.28.12:  This tree sits on the property of good friends who are moving out of town.  I took the picture on Sunday night during their farewell gathering of friends and neighbors.  I stopped by the house today to pick up a beautiful bowl she's leaving with me, and when I arrived the orange of the setting sun filled their living room like I've never noticed before.  When I mentioned it she pulled me into the 'sun room' to look out at the tree and the lake not knowing that I had taken the picture the night before.  She cleared the desk and window so we could see, stopped and took a deep breath.  This scene and place she'll always remember and appreciate, and in that moment I think that she placed it in her heart and mind to take with her. 

Taken they'll only be an hour and a half away in New Orleans, and it is their official return to their home city following the federal levee failures after Katrina.  Their home there is so beautiful and it also has a stunning Live Oak tree across the street in a park.  Family and friends are there to welcome them and a renewed lifestyle is ready for their participation.  They'll be missed, and we'll always feel fortunate that they entered our lives seven years ago.  I guess part of this Dream Tree will stay, too, so that we'll always remember and cherish.  :) xo

Her curves take me where I want to go

Another return to the back field today since the machinery in my usual morning spot with Sparkle was very active.  I actually had to go back on my own because she didn't want to make the trek probably because of the humidity.  Once I went through the gate, I stopped to soak in the tree covered with Spanish moss and greeted the gentleman who visits and trains his dog in the space.  I was going to search for wild orchids for a friend, but grabbed a perspective from under the tree instead.  It got me out of the morning sun, and I ended up not leaving the spot until my return home.

I want to say something eloquent about Spanish moss but am not pulling it together the way I'd like to.  There's a feel to the plant, an emotional feel, and I want my words to deliver that feeling. Maybe the best word is 'romantic'.  When I surround myself and go within it, I'm transported to another place, a good feeling place, where I wonder and let myself get absorbed.  :)

Will I see you again tomorrow?

This was my favorite find during a return walk in the back field.  It was SO humid out, and the webs were weighted with dew drops that seemed burdened themselves.  I remember the spectrum effect of past web shots with the sun, and am happy to see that the magic traveled home with me again.

Photo provided by Irene Kato :D

It made it!!  Page 2b in today's Advocate!  :)

Many thanks to The Advocate's Photo Chief John Ballance.  I appreciate his calls and attention to my set of  eclipse photos.  As of last night none of the images made the cut, but I was informed otherwise this morning by a friend.  I'll never forget my lesson about getting everyone's names that appear in my photos.  The 'man with the pinhole solar eclipse' viewer goes down in history.  That photo was the one most likely to be selected, but because I didn't have the man's name it couldn't.  I was crushed then embarrassed that I'd take the editor's time by submitting an image that had a risk of not qualifying.  Lesson learned and learned well.  Nice to have this appear as a follow-up lesson about going for it.

Either way my feelings told me that I care about this hobby and like seeing it go somewhere.  Time to be more conscious and committed with my actions.  My friends and family keep cheering me on, now I have to listen to myself and believe in cheering, too.  :)

5.28.12

A special thanks to friend, Marla Elsea, and her husband, Tim.  I now have a photo print of page 2B in my hands and I'm always appreciative of their support.  :)

Solar Eclipse - Baton Rouge

I drove out to the levee on my own tonight to catch some of the solar eclipse.  Upon arrival I was more than happy to see a small crowd of about twenty people finding the right spot to view with or without their devices.  I especially chuckled over the young man nearly putting his head into his box to check out what was happening.  The man and the woman watching through their iPad sparked my curiosity, too.  With a smile on my face I strolled through the people to stake out a location where I thought I'd avoid the tree line on the Mississippi.  I knew that we wouldn't make it to complete eclipse since the sun was already on its way to set, but I was still very excited when I saw the first little space of the sun covered.  I took a few shots hand held then realized that I wouldn't see much more where I was standing because of the sun's drop into the trees.  Scooting over a bit helped that, and I set the camera on the tripod in back display mode where I could see what was happening very nicely.  I had a good show with the gorgeous sunset colors and a few wispy clouds overhead.  Even with its quick departure, the little that I saw amazed me.  Sure it was a tease because I wanted more, but I was happy and satisfied to have been there.

I did get to meet a few folks who were nearby at the conclusion, a couple of them being the people with the iPad.  It was a nice exchange of images - mine on the camera and theirs on the iPad in real time.  It ends up that the iPad application, 'Star Track' I think it's called, gives you access to a calendar of planetary events, info about each of them, and a way to track and name what's happening in the skies in real time.  So thank you Jay, Adria, Marc and Betsy Fraiolis for sharing in the excitement and giving me a look into your media view of the event.  :)  On the way out I also met a nice group of folks who sat on the levee incline throughout.  I have a silhouette shot of them in the set - Corey, Heidi, Lauren and Laura.  I hope that they all peek in to take a look.  :)

Here's a small album with a few more images of the scene.  :)

I speak for the trees

 I walked out on my own tonight to finally inspect which trees came down over the past couple of days.  It was dark, but I was able to see that the few trees that sat near the 'entry' into the back field are gone with the grass now with dirt in its place.  It's shocking to see, and will be even harder to look at in the morning.  I'd like to return to listen for the song birds that usually sat in the trees that were knocked down.  Where did they go?  Did they escape harms way? 

I continue to hear "The Lorax" quotes in my head as I go along.  This one brings together my concern for the wildlife that lived there:

The Lorax: Yes, I am the Lorax who speaks for the trees, which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please. But I'm also in charge of the brown Bar-ba-loots, who played in the shade in their Bar-ba-loot suits and happily lived eating truffula fruits. Now, thanks to your hacking my trees to the ground, there's not enough truffula fruit to go 'round!
The Once-ler: I see your point. Yes, I do see your point.
The Lorax: They loved living here. But I can't let them stay. They'll have to find food, and I hope that they may. Good luck, boys! Good luck!

Trombone Shorty and Charlie Gabriel - Jazz Fest

The best concert moments don't have to be when the musicians are singing or playing their instruments. Here are two New Orleans greats on stage for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's 50th Anniversary Set at Jazz Fest 2012. Brass player Trombone Shorty, 26 years old, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band's clarinetist Charlie Gabriel, 80 years old, shared some good times together during the performance. For me their pure joy and cross generational connection was tops. :)