feli Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 This spring (Feb/March) I went down to New Orleans for three weeks to document the aftermath of Katrina. Six months after the storm struck, the situation unfortunately still was very bad. In some cases what I witnessed was a lot worse than anything I had seen in the general media. While life was relatively normal in the French Quarter and business district, the majority of the city was heavily damaged and abandoned. Certain areas like the Lower 9th Ward and St Bernard Parish looked like a war-zone. You can see my essay here: www.elanphotos.com According to my contacts in New Orleans, the situation is changing at a snails pace. PS: I like to travel light and unobtrusive, so I took two M bodies, 35 and 50 lenses and my Xpan with the 4/45mm. Believe it or not I was able to cram all of this gear in to my jacket pockets and a very small waist pack. Filmstock was Tri-X and APX100. Cheers, Feli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew in Austin Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Quite a marked contrast between the struggle to survive in the lower 9th and the festivities in the French Quarter. Very moving imagery. Thanks for sharing this with everyone. Best Regards - Andrew in Austin, TX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjords Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Feli, Thank you for the excellent photo- essay. It's good to see the individual volunteer and grass root organizational efforts, one hopes the resiliency and spirit of the former residents will not be crushed by a ponderous bureaucracy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juergenf Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Very well done Feli, it shows us once more how vulnerable man is when a natural dissaster strikes. Not just in 3rd world countries, but also in rich industrialized countries such as the US. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam_portera Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Feli, as a resident from NOLA I would like to thank you for coming to see the Aftermath. You have documented it well, and I assure you it looks today as it did when you photographed it 2 months ago. I too have been documneting the Aftermath and lack of progess. You can see it here http://www.samuelportera.com/gallery/album06 I wish more would see yours, mine and everyones photographs to see what is not being done here.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam_portera Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 One more this one a Leica shot.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feli Posted May 15, 2006 Author Share Posted May 15, 2006 Thanks everyone. Sam, it looks like we've been to some of the same places. You got some beautiful shots there. My big regret is not shooting more interiors, when I was down there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you folks will be safe this summer. feli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam_portera Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Thanks Feli. By the way the Shrimp boat you shot was one street over from our house. You probably drove by my house! Thanks again, great work, and we are all crossing our fingers about this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feli Posted May 15, 2006 Author Share Posted May 15, 2006 >By the way the Shrimp boat you shot was one street over from our house. You probably >drove by my house! No kidding? It's a small world. ;-) feli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbon_dragon Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Great photo essay! My mom lives in Metairie, but was lucky in that her land stayed above water (not near the levee breaks). Even so, she's in her 80's and I worry about her down there. Especially as my cousin (one of the people she could call on for help) had her house gutted and had to move out of town to find work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael s. Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Feli - Glad you took these and posted them. After the fascination with the storm faded, and the extensive coverage dropped off considerably, it became easier for those of us on higher ground to forget what remained, and how much work has yet to be begun, much less completed.<p> Very sobering.<p> Sam - I had to shake my head at photos like <a href=http://www.samuelportera.com/gallery/album06/church9thlowres>this one</a> on your site.<p> My goodness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john falkenstine Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 I am sure that many, many Americans are waiting with trepidation for this coming hurricane season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feli Posted May 16, 2006 Author Share Posted May 16, 2006 >I am sure that many, many Americans are waiting with trepidation for this coming hurricane season. Lets put it like this. Upon my return from New Orleans I purchased a weather sealed Canon EOS 1-v to augment my M cameras. I honestly hope that the new camera ends up gathering dust on a shelf this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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