Looking for New Orleans locations

I will be in New Orleans later this month for a conference and will

have a couple of days spare to get out and shoot some film. I'm

looking for recommendations on interesting places and things to

shoot, particularly architecture, gardens, landscape, events.

 

Also does anyone have a recommendation for a good photographic store

located within reasonable distance of the French Quarter?

 

Thanks.

Doug, its my understanding that New Orleans IS a photography location!

So, you will not have a car, correct? Well, obviously, the Quarter is full of opportunities. You could ride the St. Charles streetcar. The Garden District is around St. Charles and Jackson. Audobon Park would be another nice stop. <p>

 

To go in a direction that the tourists usually don't: take the Esplanade bus from the Quarter, and get off around Grand Route St. John. The architecture in this neighborhood has a different flavor than the St. Charles area. Walking down Grand Route a couple of blocks, you'll come to Bayou St. John. Cross the old Magnolia Bridge, turn right, and you can walk a short distance to City Park. The south end of City Park, along City Park Ave. is, in my mind, one of the most beautiful places in New Orleans.<p>

 

The Esplanade bus runs along City Park Ave. to the end of Canal St., so you can easily take either an Esplanade or a Canal bus back downtown. There are several cemeteries at the end of Canal, with Cypress Grove being my favorite. Just down City Park Ave. from it's intersection with Canal is (or used to be) Moldaner Camera.<p>

 

To get really off the beaten path: take the Rampart bus downriver into the Bywater neighborhood. Get off at St. Roch, and walk away from the river to St. Roch church. The little chapel in the cemetery is a very interesting place, filled with plaster castings of body parts cured by prayers to St. Roch. <em>However: this is not the greatest neighborhood, so use your common sense.</em> I went there many times with no trouble.<p>

 

Also: get on the Canal St. ferry, which used to be free, and ride over to Algiers Point. Here again, a non-tourist neighborhood with a funky, tropical feel to it. <p>

 

I spent 7 years in Nawlins. It got under my skin like no place ever has, and I miss it terribly.

Opportunities abound...just walk around anywhere near where you're staying (during the day) and shoot. The Garden District should have plenty of architecture and gardens for you, the Quarter is packed with flavor. People photography is an art in itself in NO.

 

Moldaner's is good if a bit difficult to get to from the Quarter area. There's a decent shop (or was) in the Quarter--either a Wolf or Ritz or something like that, but well equipt full service store and lab that I'd be very comfortable using.

 

Beware after dark going into less populated areas.

You could spend a whole day in the quarter with the architecture and all of the opportunity for people wathcing and street performers.

I'd add to the above that the cemeteries are somewhat

unusual and interesting. There is also a nature preserve

(Jacque Laffite) on the outskirts of the city, with a boardwalk

in a swamp.

 

Some ideas here in this

page of

<a href = "http://www.terragalleria.com/america/south-east/

louisiana/louisiana.html">pictures of Louisiana</a>

Also: Liberty Camera, between Canal and Poydras on Carondelet. I thought they were gone, but seem to be still there.

Taking the Gray Line tour of the city can be helpful for familiarization with parts of the city. When you get off the ferry in Algiers, you can walk a short distance on the levy to get a skyline shot of the city. A little farther along the levy is a wonderful seafood restaurant. I also developed a fondness for the local Abitha beer.

<a href="http://www.lakesidecamera.com/">Lakeside Camera</a> is in Metaire,LA; NW of downtown; about 1/3 of the way from the airport to downtown; roughly.......They are in the NW corner of the causeway Blvd & I-10? junction....<BR><BR>Here is a shot 1/4 century ago; with a Rollei A110; and the BRAND NEW asa 400 film; abit grainy......<BR><BR><img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1319590&size=lg">

And while you're in the Quarter, make sure you stop by <a

href="http://www.agallery.com/">A Gallery for Fine

Photography</a> at 241 Chartres Street, for a little inspiration.

You might also want to look into some of the air boat rides outside of town.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. If the photographic gods smile on me I'll post some shots here on my return.