NO/LA roadtrip adventure (part 3)

Nighttime color shots in this installment were made with Kodak EPJ

320T exposed at EI 1000 and pushed two stops. The b&w stuff in the

dark was HP5+ at about EI 800. The daytime b&w stuff is either FP4+

at EI 80 or HP5+ at EI 320. I think. Lenses were the 50 Summilux (at

night) and 50 DR-Summicron or 35 RF-Summicron during the day.<P>

 

<b>Chapter Three: Le quartier francais avec M. Couvillion (part 2)</B><P>

 

After several hours of shooting and exploration, Dennis and I hit the

brewpub for a pint and a couple dozen oysters. My thanks again to

Dennis (and John and Ann) for their hospitablity while I was in their

fine city--my trip would have been far less enjoyable without it.<P>

 

After Dennis took off, I wondered around a bit more doing some night

shooting and looking for a place I might join in the fun.

Unfortunately, I was beat by this point, so I couldn't summon much

enthusiams for more drinking, socializing, and carousing.

 

<center><img

src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/nohugeassbeer01.jpg"><br>

<i>my version of the ever-popular "guy with huge ass beer

sign"</i></center><P>

<center><img

src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/nostreetguitar01.jpg"><br>

<i>the buskers in Nashville don't dress like this</i></center><P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/nobottomless01.jpg"><br>

<i>love acts at night</i></center><P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/nodraftbeer01.jpg"><br>

<i>the French Quarter at night really is like a big keg

party</i></center><P>

<center><img

src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/clubband01.jpg"></center><P>

 

After a long afternoon of walking and shooting, I was getting tired.

I wasn't really in the mood for a huge-ass beer, a hurricane, a hand

grenade, or any of the other toxic concoctions that contribute to the

revelry down there, so I went down to the McDonald's on Canal St. for

a soda and a bathroom break. (The guy I was staying with, Jeff, had

told me to the two basic rules you must follow to avoid trouble with

the law in the Quarter: don't fight, and don't piss in public.) While

resting my feet, sipping my drink, and watching the pedestrian

traffic, I had an interesting encounter with the local wildlife. A

man and a woman come staggering into McDonald's. The guy looks to be

about thirty, full-blooded redneck, and thoroughly trashed. Leaning

on him is his even-more-wasted date: she looks about 50 and appears to

have spent every day and night of her life partying full bore in the

Quarter (the phrase "rode hard and put away wet" comes to mind). The

guy let's go of her for a minute to get out his wallet, and she slowly

comes toppling over onto my table. The guy catches her before she

hits the floor, struggles mightily to return to an upright position,

leans toward me and slurs (with flammable breath), "Too many hand

grenades, man. Those things'll get ya."<P>

On the way to catch the trolley, the motorcycle cops came cruising by,

shutting down traffic for a little parade that followed. May have

been a wedding parade--not sure. If I'd had more energy, I'd have

been happy to join them.<p>

 

<center><img

src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/noparade01.jpg"></center><P>

 

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/noloyola01.jpg"><br>

<i>part of Loyola?</i></center><P>

 

<b>Chapter Four: St. Charles and a return to the Quarter</B><P>

After a rare night of normal sleep (as opposed to sleeping off the

abuses of the day), I decided to go for a walk down St. Charles for

some more sightseeing and tourist snaps. For the first time since I'd

gotten there, the sun was out. Went for a walk through Audobon Park

(where I was almost whacked in the face by a frisbee).<P>

 

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/noaudobon01.jpg"><br>

<i>relaxing in the park</i></center><P>

 

After a couple of miles of walking, I hopped on the trolley for the

rest of the trip uptown. The rest of the afternoon was spent

exploring more of the area. I hadn't planned to venture away from

home base for so long, and I didn't have a lot of film with me. Did

more looking than shooting that day.<P>

 

<center><img

src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/nothreekids01.jpg"></center><P>

<center><img

src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/noguywall02.jpg"></center><P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/notourists01.jpg"><br>

<i>tourists snap</i></center><P>

Sorry, no wild tales of debauchery during my last trip to the Quarter

(though Jeff and I did hang out and get a little wacky with his

ex-girlfriend that night [ex-girlfriend other than Sarah {remember

Sarah? this is a story about Sarah}]). And so concludes this part of

the tale. Still more to come in a few days.

I'm enjoying your pictures and your narrative. It brings back memories of my

visits to the Crescent City years ago. In some respects, the French Quarter

seems timeless.

Good stuff! Thanks Mike.

This may be heretical, but I thought the color shots were really the 'grabbers' in this bunch. Well done.

Superb!! I admire your 2nd last image. Obviously it looks like the fellow has a bit of an unlucky streak going, yet you've approached him (looks like a W/A shot) and made eye contact instead of standing back 25' and stealing a shot with a tele. Admirable!

MIKE, Great job!!! I really enjoyed your roadtrip adventure.

Did you just use the one M3? or did you shoot with 2 cameras.

Mike:

 

The one shot that is most representative of New Orleans is the parade shot. Good job.

 

Dennis

Mike,

As ever, wow. Color didn't knock my socks off like some of your

color stuff has, but the BW... yup, yup, yup.

 

Question, probably been tackled before: How are you scanning?

From prints or negatives? I'm hoping against hope that I'll find a

way to scan full-frame (even out to the sprocket holes) in my

CoolScan.

It was fun meeting you, Mike. Come back anytime for some of Annie's home cooking.

Thanks for all the comments. It certainly helps that so many

photo-worthy things are going on down there.

 

Some occasions, I only carried a single body; others, I had two

M3s loaded with different film types. I also had a Pentax 645 and

few lenses, but I didn't bring it out much (there are a couple of

MF shots later in the trip).

 

John, be careful what you say! I'm highly susceptible to offers of

free food.