For a long time I've wanted to get up before sunrise and shoot photographs in the French Quarter. I managed to pull it off this weekend, when several of my East Coast girlfriends descended upon the city to celebrate two milestone birthdays.
Up before dawn with two tired, but enthusiastic partners we made our way down to the Mississippi, just in time to see a magnificent fog rolling in, the sun rising at the same time. It was one of those magical moments and I was so excited to be there, to get to take it all in with my camera.
That experience recharged me creatively and I took more photos over the weekend than I have in a long time. Empty restaurants, streets photographed through the smoke from sparklers at a wedding, lit chandeliers in otherwise darkened storefronts, lights blazing in decaying stairwells...It was a completely new experience for me, photographing my city at times of night and morning when I'm usually sleeping, and I'm already thinking about my next subject matter, the places I want to explore in the near dark. It also reminded me that when you're at a creative ebb, it's sometimes just a matter of stepping outside your comfort zone, forcing yourself to see things in a new light.
Thank you, ladies. I appreciate it! I can't wait to shoot some more. And Shannon - I do love that idea of being connected by one mighty river - a river that has certainly shaped life for us here.
Posted by: Suzonne | 16 April 2011 at 05:11 PM
Oh my goodness, these are beautiful. I can't wait to visit New Orleans some day. Our neighborhood sits on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi, so I think it's pretty cool that we could hop on a raft and float right down to you.
Posted by: Shannon | 13 April 2011 at 03:43 PM
Yum!
Posted by: teresa granath | 11 April 2011 at 04:33 PM
These are so beautiful. Breathtaking, actually. Great work.
Posted by: Kasey | 11 April 2011 at 01:51 PM
wonderful photos Suzonne! make a book and sell it for big bucks! So many who love NOLA will buy it!
It's chilly here this Monday in north central Texas. So it is hard to imagine fog. But I remember it well from crossing over the Atchafalaya River from Berwick to Morgan City coming back in the wee hours from visiting relatives in Gibson. Thanks for the memories. :O)
Posted by: Betty aka ZacksNana | 11 April 2011 at 10:30 AM
Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing. ~ Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth | 11 April 2011 at 07:24 AM
Those photos are gorgeous!
Posted by: Heather J | 11 April 2011 at 06:43 AM