Your Input Wanted: Shoot Mardi Gras in New Orleans

When I was down there a year ago, the main tourist areas (Bourbon street and the Garden district) seemed to be virtually unaffected. What angle are you looking at to show the contrast of joyous Mardi Gras with the devastation post-Katrina? Hasn’t the city made every effort to hide the problems from the tourists, therefore any Mardi Gras activity will take place around the glossy veneer of a new New Orleans?

This idea strikes me as interesting, but not sure how it could be done.

Brian, I want to do the Mardi Gras with a large group of photographers all with specific assignments, it would take 30-50 photographers to really do the whole thing correctly, by shooting specific stories. Mardi Gras Day there are virtually parades all over the city involving all social strata, from the skeleton crews who come out in the Treme to Rex, the most prestigious parade. One photographer might be in an old age home, another might be in a hospital. This has never been done before. It would be a Day in the Life, but Mardi Gras day…..besides a great party, it would also be a way to put together a book on one specific Mardi Gras, which, depending on the photographers involved, might draw interest from local publishers and possibly from the travel industry as well. So there are a wide range of possibilities. I think this would be a great project for someone developing a portfolio or who has never worked in the context of a real assignment, with all the accompanying pressures involved. At the least I think we could have a Lulu style book that could be ordered and something that could be used as a portfolio piece. I like to work off the cuff and out front if this happens I want it to start here and get input.

ok – now I see where you are going with this. I will really have to think it over, but it really strikes me as something I could get in to.

Andy, I think your idea is great. Sounds like great fun, and it’s always inspirational for me to be around other photographers. Like “A Day in the life…” with a twist. There are many stories to be told down there.

I am extremely interested, Andy, if I can find a cheap place to stay. The project sounds good. I’d really enjoy collaborating with you and other LS folks on it. I am happy to talk more about it when you think you have enough people to cover a reasonable set of settings, people, etc.

Neal, Sarah, and I think you should count on coming and have a party either way, and I will work on some logistical ideas here.

Hey Andy, can you clarify/contextualize what you mean by “what would be a reasonable charge for participation in this project.” I think I am not grasping the nature of it.. thanks..e

Basically it would be similar to a workshop situation, there would be a fee to participate to cover organizional costs and my time in putting this together. I would need interns with their own computers as well….I really want to know if this is feasable or even reasonable so I am using the group as a sounding board.

I would be more interested in shooting as part of a group project, and less interested in a workshop.

Im with Preston; Id be very interested as well in participating

This could be a really cool three-four day project. If we could find one space to all consolidate, spend a day or two hashing out assignments, spend Mardi Gras shooting, spend the day after reviewing what was shot and giving critiques. I would be happy to donate time for toning images, and chip in a bit to help cover Andy’s time and efforts.

It could be a very interesting project, with a touch of workshop. Perhaps November Eleven or other lightstalkers could get such a project in front of some publishers?

Hey we can shoot the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney….....you know a brother and sister…..city…...... thing

great idea Andy and LS is a terrific sounding board as well. I particularly like the idea of stories that are radial to the main MG parade story…are you thinking for 2008 or 2009? Plate is full for 2008, but i would definitely be interested in participating and contributing to helping coordinate if this rolls out of the docks for 2009. Though I’m not interested in the “workshop” aspect, I would contribute too (a fee) that goes toward the administrative/coordination costs associated as a participant as I know first hand the amount of time/effort/$$ goes into creating a project ;)). ...

if you are set for 2008, that’s lots of logistical madness but absolutely accomplishable. As Nov. 11th, Not Forgotten, Project Azra and FOP Projection initiatives have shown, however, much is possible when the collective LS members get behind it!...

keep me posted…

cheers,
bob

I am a a bit tired of the over-sponsored, big-name “day in life” type projects. They’re over-homogenized projects that I find less interesting.
Andy, I really LIKE YOUR project. It’s more of a grassroots-photographers-gettiing-together project that could make for some interesting photographs and possibly a modest book. The photographers chipping in money is fine considering the project. Sponsorship can be good, but a healthy dose of independence never hurt anybody. From the show you put together for the Charlottesville LOOK3 photo festival in June I know you will be an excellent editor. I’ll do what I can to help.

Sounds good as a project, but I agree with the less workshop angle.

an interesting idea (group project, less so workshop). in meantime here’s the official fat tuesday website: www.mardigrasday.com/

Heck, whatever you call it (workshop, collaboration, etc.)I can always learn from colleagues. I am willing to kick in a little jack for common expenses, though by then I won’t have a job and don’t have “trustafarian” assets for sure. For me the key is whether we can find someplace to stay that is affordable. At Mardi Gras I understand every bed within 20 miles of NOLA suddenly is priced like a four-star hotel. Frankly, I’d be happy to bring a sleeping bag and air mattress if we can find some common space in which to lay it all down (and a nearby toilet). I suspect I’ve been in much worse places.

And, yes, Andy, if this does not come together maybe we can just party for the whole damn time.

There are rooms right now at Holiday Inn in the CBD at $130 Neal…..

hey andy, i really like the collaborative nature of your idea and i think that this might be crucial in attempting a bigger visual representation of race/class/etc. in nola. very cool. scientific studyesque, even. could there be a listserve set up for folks to throw out ideas and brainstorm?

-erin

Start a new group? Perhaps set up a quick blog?

All good ideas…..what would the advantage of a listserve be over a blog? I like the idea of the blog because we can immediately post pictures, as opposed to the yahoo groups which is more thread oriented. Or we possibly might need both.

Anyway, as far as places the rooms, I think that people are going to be able to find places to stay….that isn’t an issue. If anyone posts on APAD maybe they can float this idea there as well, the more photogs, the more experienced, the more I can get from local resources here.

Andy, the best I could find on Holiday Inns was $170 per night at the one on Carondelet, south of Canal. Can locals do better? If so gimme the secret.

Andy,

I'd love to go, I'm still in school (senior, done soon) and would love to participate if you'd be up for having someone who can shoot (video/audio as well?), but not really pay, outside of travel and living expenses.

I'd be willing to toss some other skill around as payment, I'm a web designer and coder on the side if you need any help with that.

-Christopher

http://www.bedandbreakfastcenter.com/worldres.cfm?hotel_id=27165 Try here Neal, and here info@indiahousehostel.com By ands large photographers are a resourceful group, we should be able to come up with couches, spare bedrooms, etc.

Just to clarify, workshops, if any, will be optional and the fee for participation will be more in keeping with the Flying Short Course.

This will be a great chance to meet, party, and do something significant at the same time. There is still an important story to be told here and the dark side of the story here in New Orleans will not be left out of the project.

What dates are we thinking? 2 Feb thru 9 Feb 2008- Sat-Sat…

Sarah, you can come for part or all…...but the 5th is Fat Tuesday, and the 6th might be a good day to look at work. The Mardi Gras really runs for two full weeks, from January 30th to the 5th.

Well, Andy, I made a cancellable reservation at the Best Western on Magazine arriving on 1/31 and leaving on 2/7. The price was not bad for NOLA at Mardi Gras (I got some discounts), but I am still hoping for something that’s cheaper, like a spare bedroom somewhere. I’ll keep looking, but that’s indicative of my interest in the project. Hope it can all come together, though I suspect most people won’t be able to commit for sure until later (me too).

Andy -

It sounds like an interesting project. I would be interested in continuing the conversation about how to make it happen. I might could drive down from NYC (though may abandon that idea) with anyone interested, and could possibly scare up an intern or two on my end.

I am sure you will be able to get some folks to ride with you…...

i’ve stayed at the india house hostel a few times, if you can, pay the extra for the private suites. also, Andy, try here:
http://www.bbonline.com/la/creole/

although this place can’t hold many, Matt (the owner) may know of some other places to hold the LS crew. i met him a few years back when i was in town for Mardi Gras, local guy who should have some contacts.

Marc

Yes, the India house is a good cheap lowend place…..Brian, thanks for your offer to do the blog,
I already have that covered, but I won’t put anything up until I have more information on the ground here.

Anybody set us a listserve on this yet?

i’m happy to set up a listserve if y’all think it’s better than a blog…

input other than andy?

-erin

Listserve would be good for communication since anyone can send to it, could I suggest Google Groups?

There is some advantage to posting ideas on this thread so the bump each time reminds people of the opportunity. On the other hand people might get sick of seeing the post.

ok everyone, i set one up on Google groups (as per Christopher’s suggestion!) and invited y’all…

Homepage: http://groups.google.com/group/photo-mardigras
Group email: photo-mardigras@googlegroups.com

Thats great Erin…..if people have specific assignment ideas that they want to propose in advance, post them
there. You can reserve your assignments and then we can work together to flesh them out with the help of local interns, and keep people from stepping on each other toes. I will be having researchers here put together specific story assignments
so that the coverage will be broad enough to be meaningful, and we will have an editorial committee to cull out work for
whatever the end product turns out to be- whether a self-published book, Times Picayune essay slideshow, gallery exhibit or all of those. I am not looking for traditional Mardi Gras images, this isn’t about beads and tits although there is nothing wrong with either one, but want to do is get past the typical street shots and do smaller stories that speak meaningfully about New Orleans using Mardi Gras as a background. It easy to come and take the predictable shots, and no one will be interested because there is nothing new there. The goal is to get people to expand their vision from the superficial to significant to to help encourage a personal style and vision. Writing is encouraged and there will be writers involved…..

St Vincents Guesthouse on Magazine has 20-30 rooms right now, $125 for two people, with $10 extra for additional bodies if y’all really wanr to get to know each other better. These are the rates for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. All the other days are $69 for two people, and there are parades the whole week before and of course the rest of the city to shoot. We will be having nightly
parties I am sure. St Vincents also has bunkbeds in a co-ed room with two separate bathrooms, if we have enough interest in that we can reserve the whole room that fits up to 20 people. I will continue checking around for other deals.

I’m down with this idea, Andy. I will plan on going. Now to get the cash to go along.

what about the idea of renting a house for everyone for a week?
i mean, i doubt we all mind sleeping on floors, right?

i’ve done that before when covering protests, and it’s worked well.
hotels are just too damn expensive.

Erin, the house rental idea might be good. Andy, how available is livable housing that could be rented over the MG week??

Hey Andy
Great Idea
I think it might be worth looking into sponsors
Canon and Nikon come to mnd but so does Sandisk and Lexar
It would be an incentive to get the sponsors to put up some of their product
and it would be a great way for them to get recognition and reach their core audienc.

In addition I think you should propose this to magazines\everyone from Stern to Smithsonian
certainly can pitch it to TIME and NEWSWEEK BUT NOT SURE THEY WOULD BITE
see if you can drum up interest from foreign mags into looking at this.
I am sure you can get good response if you have some significant photographers on this site interested in the project.
Finally I would extend it to multimedia as well
I like the way you are thinking in terms of reserving assignments
I do think you will need producers and editors to smooth the process and so the shooters ( especially the relatively new ones can get feedback and improve their abilities. The biggest thing will be coordination.
Sounds like a great project using the Mardi Gras as a lens to examine the recovery of New Orleans;
Let me know if I can help JC

this thing looks like it’s flying and Im jealous :))))...i’d love to have gone (2008 is packed) :)))...let me sweeten the pie for everyone?! :))...when you guys finish this, and put it together, im willing to offer to PROMOTE it through the projection series if y’all want!..Meaning: u guys do this and then know I’ll make sure it’s seen here in Toronto bye eyes! ....i wish there was more i could do to help out Andy and this effort, but I hope that’s incentivizes y’all to produce something sweet and powerful! :))...

andy, we can talk more about that when i write you next week :))...

cheers y’all
b

I”m still mulling over the idea of driving to NO on the friday before mardi gras. Anyone interested in leaving from NYC? For those of you who are flying, how are you going to deal with ground transportation once you’re there? I’d also be interested in sharing a house rental for the week.

Has anyone thought about applying for some small grants? I’ll have a look around, but I think the deadline will be too tight for most of the funding opportunities I know about.

I’m planning on driving from Iowa. Load up my iPod wih audio books, and cruise.

This is a really cool idea. And I can vouch for India House – it is comfy, friendly and really cheap.

Neal, try the St. Ann Marie Antoinette Hotel. I once got a night there for around $50. I don’t know if they’ve jacked their stuff up yet…

Thanks, Mustafah. Any chance we can coax you to join us in the Crescent City?

I like others may may elect to drive down. Someone I work with who is a native of NOLA says it’s a 16-hour drive, breaking the trip at Knoxville (I remember some country song about goin’ to Knoxville!). Sandra (my most wonderful wife) may come along, but I may have a couple of other seats. Putnam might have first dibs on one of them, if he gets his a** in gear to come. But there might be another available. PM or e-mail me if you are interested in catching a ride from DC.

Neal here are the approximate driving times and alternate airport locations. Baton Rogue has lots of flights and is only an hour from New Orleans. Biloxi, MS is an hour away as well and has flights. Mobile, AL is only four hours away. Birmingham, AL is a five hour drive. Atlanta is an eight hour drive. Memphis is a six hour drive or their is Amtrak service to New Orleans. There is also Amtrak from Chicago. Houston is a five hour drive. Dallas is closer to eight.
Driving from NYC is about 18 hours and two days for one driver, or one day for two drives.

Quick search on Expedia shows me- Flights to New Orleans

Baltimore-New Orleans- 1 stop R/T $200.00 2 feb sat thru 9 feb sat.

NYC (LGA)- New Orleans $258.00 R/T non-stop

Just out of curiousity, how many days of shooting are we talking about for this project, not including whatever we want to take for ourselves? Just that Tuesday?

Neal, yah, I call dibs on one of them seats. thanks, man.

Brian, the shooting days are what you want to put into it. I hope to have someplace we all can work out of, hang out, show
pictures centrally located, for around two weeks, at least that is the plan.
The events are in the planning stage, but I expect a few to be the week before the
holiday. From Friday night to Fat Tuesday we will have regular parties, but the
serious work needs to be done the week before…..the Ninth Ward and all of that.

Just wanted to update all of you on things on the ground here. I have been busy meeting with folks here
in New Orleans and I can’t say much but there are some very, very interesting possibilities
for working partners on this. I appreciate your patience and apologize that I can’t be much
more specific, but if you bear with me I will have more for you and am increasingly confident
that this will be ma meaningful and significant photographic event.

Way to go, Andy. You’re doing the Lord’s work there. Let us know if we can help you in any way. All are eagerly awaiting details.

Andy, I too would love to be involved in this in some capacity. I was last in New Orleans in 1995. Spent some time on the Gulf Coast with an old friend from my days in the Middle East.
He was an oceanographer turned casino manager but now in California. Would love to go back and do my thing there. I might even bike it down there if I can.

On travel, the train to NOLA can, I am told, be a real hoot. An old-style bluesman duo I know from the DC area went down from here on the train to the NOLA Jazz and Blues Festival a few years ago, and they said the musicians collectively took over the club car, playing essentially nonstop from here to NOLA. From Chicago, on the other hand, I think the Amtrak train is still called “The City of New Orlean,” as in ”...ridin’ on the City of New Orleans….”

just writing here to stay in the loop… of course i’m interested.. thanks, lance

Lance you are just the kind of shooter that we need…..I will have a lot more for you,
hopefully sooner rather than later.

I hate to say this publicly… but I am having a terrible time coming up with story ideas.

In general or for this project? I think Andy will help guide us as far as NO is concerned..is that right?

For this project. Trust me, I have PLENTY of story ideas in general. None really connect to NOLA though.

Thanks for the note before Andy and I am planning to be there.
See all you in February
Jeremy

I do follow with interest this project in progress, too far to propose to come.

Just to say that I will be photographing again Dunkerque’s Mardi-Gras, in France, thinking about you all working in NOL.

Two articles from today’s New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/arts/design/06ecle.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/us/nationalspecial/06fema.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Great idea, Andy. I’m definitely interested in this project. Cheap housing would make it a lot easier to pull off for those of us flying in. All I need is enough room to spread out a sleeping bag…

i found a house that’s 500 per night for the week- looks like a lot of floor space. how many people do you think can be counted on? if we have at least 10, it’s the same as staying in a hostel… if we have more, it’s better. i’m guessing there will be more? what do you all think?

Count me in for the house.

bill P: I’d give my left…..ummm, ok, not that, to be with y’all…as i wrote Andy, i just can’t do it this year, so I am giving you an idea: story on King Cakes: the different varities, the family bakers, the tradition (pre/post MardiGras): compare mom/pop bakers vs bigger bakers, rich/poor bakers, the different types…i know it’s sounds cheesy, but im thinking about shots about people making, moving, selling, transporting those brilliant things… me, NOLA is always about this: food, music, ghosts, stories….so, king cakes: ...and I’ve never seen a decent story about them ….have u andy?

b

Bob is correct. They each have a tiny plastic baby inside…..deal is whoever gets the baby has to host the
next king cake party. Maybe we will have cakes with a little camera inside?

Andy: who ever finds the baby jesus gets a new (mini) leica ;))....

but, any story on food Bill, particuarly in NO where food both unites and divides the city (often along culture/economic lines), the KingCake story would be interesting: i mean, i still have never seen a good story about bakers in NO…cooks/chefs/mama-papa joints/po boys, hell yea, but KingCakes…or a variation for Bill: the eating rituals of various people pre/post parade…i used to know a girl from NO whose mom was a baker and she’d spend months preparing for 2 thinks: MardiGras kinkcakes and t-giving turduckens…...i already can see b/w grainy shots of the cakes being made, sweat over, swallowed and transported…...

ok, im getting bummed ;)))...good luck y’all :))

b

Another story idea: Juxtaposing the different types of celebrations that go on among the classes in NO for Mardi Gras. What do the rich and powerful do to celebrate compared to the 9th ward-esque areas (black tie vs. barbecue?) It might be difficult to get access to the high-class affairs but I think that if we started now we might be able to arrange a way in, they already have event photographers no doubt, what’s one more?

-Christopher

Yes, these ideas are great. As far as the housing goes, please make tentative reservations but I expect there
will be that things are likely to change quickly…..so do not commit money to hotel reservations that
you are not able to change if a better deal emerges later. Erin, as far as the house goes I would ask you to wait on that
as I may be headed in a similar direction and at this point splitting resources would just make it more
difficult to get this off the ground. There is still lots of time.

Andy—do you feel like you’re starting to get a “critical mass” of photographers to do the project. ‘Seems like there’s a lot of interest.

Im in if… i can find some place cheap to rent

John in short the answer is yes. I looked at a space in the Quarter yesterday that
would be perfect to headquarter in, right in the middle of the action. Everything has
been positive I get a feeling that everyone wants to make this happen in New Orleans.

Headquarters.. :) it will be great.

Rent a bicycle to get around with. Its the only way to go Mardi Gras time.

I would be interested in participating, but probably as something like an intern since I’m just starting out with serious photography.

Hi Andy, Hi All

Really good idea, I’m extremely interested in participating in this photographic project. I was in New Orleans for the last three weeks for the first time. I am interested in returning over Mardi-Gras to work on a project with the Mardi-Gras Indians. I attended the seasons first practice last Sunday on Dryades street. It was an amazing experience. I look forward to learning more about this project. Please keep in touch and good luck.
I would love to be involved in this group project by shooting this specific Mardi-Gras story.

All the best,

Benedicte

Also, I think The Saint Vincent guest house in Magazine street could be an ideal place for photographers to stay, because of the location and possibilities to all stay together They have 75 rooms and a big salon to organize meetings.
It’s also cheap (I paid 250 dollars for a week. for a big room with 2 double beds = 4 persons.)
Really nice, free coffee, internet wireless and with a swimming-pool !!!
Here the info
http://www.stvguesthouse.com/

Sounds like a great idea, but I also agree with the “less workshop” approach . Excellent idea to put a book together as well.
In fact, this could become some sort of an international inspiration for different mega festivals around the world.
LOVE IT!

Johnny, we are structuring this as a photographic event, not as a workshop. But there may be workshops
available to those who want them, as well as formal or informal portfolo reviews. I would like to get David Burnett or Anthony Suau, maybe Chris Morris, to come down here and either give a presentation or
just be there if some of you want to talk to them informally. I would like to have Sylvia Plachy as well maybe a David Friend…..all dependent on how this plays out.

Andy,
Ive sent you an email, but please add me to the listserve thing micahpix@mac.com.
-micah

Thanks Andy, will be great to have guest speakers such as the names you’ve mentioned! I am very interested, keep me posted please!
cheers
J

Andy, this is a great idea, and I´m interested in joining in a collective effort to portray what´s going on in New Orleans. I think renting a house, sleeping on floors, sharing the kitchen, etc. sounds like a good way to go. I think we could cover a lot of ground as a group in a few days, even starting before and after the Big Bash, to document preparations, aftermath, etc. might be a good idea for those interested.

I just have to mention the tragic events in Villahermosa, Tabasco, which are similar, though probably even more severe that what New Orleans has suffered. REconstruction there will be even more problematic. For those who don´t know, Villahermosa is the capital of the State of Tabasco, Mexico, which has been completely flooded for about a week now. People are blaming a combination of climate change and corruption-negligence.

I´ll be watching to see how things develop on this project. I´d love to join in.

ok y’ll, i’m house hunting for us…. please join the listserve if you’re not on it!!

Homepage: http://groups.google.com/group/photo-mardigras Group email: photo-mardigras@googlegroups.com

From what I can see things are continuing to look even better, Andy. I got an e-mail today from someone in the biz who told me their group was pretty sure to support something regarding this project. I expect they will be in touch with you soon.

Neal I pm’d you on that. it sounds promising…..

OK, just to let you know what is happening here. I have a meeting with the Times-Picayune this week. I
have also looked at a large space in the Quarter that to run the project out of for two weeks, I am waiting
on some numbers. Jay Colton has offered to help us out with some corporate partnership possibilities. and
Karen Mullarkey, former picture editor of Newsweek has will be advising me on how to set up the picture editing
part of the project. Karen will probably work on the project in some capacity but has some limitations as
she is recovering from a knee replacement—ouch. Anyway, more next week. Please pass the word I am going to
need everyone’s help to make this work, its more complex and expensive than one might expect.

Andy – That sounds really exciting. Thanks from all of us for all the work you are putting into this. Please let me know how I can help before/during/after and when you want people to show up- I can stay about a week give or take.

Since I am going to see Doug Parker at the Times Picayune Tuesday, it would be great to have
images to show him representive of the photographers that will be involved. If any of you want to be included in the presentation, email up to ten of your best jpegs at 1200 pixels on the horizontal to andyimages10001@yahoo.com.
If you want to include a short resume, do so.

Jonathan, there will be lots to do and shoot for those ten days, but most of the organizational work
is going to have to happen before that. As I envision it, when the photographers show up we
are going to have a working space, assignments, and parties all lined up and ready to go. I will
need someone who really knowns FTP to set up a mechanism for the photog to upload and the
editors to download…...so if there is an FTP guru out there raise your hand.

Andy,

I’m quite the tech “guru” as you put it, and would be happy to help set up FTP/other tech for the project while down there. Let me know what type of equipment you think might be available, we can talk privately this week if you’d like, Cheers

-Christopher

Christopher, can you email me at levin.pix@gmail.com? Thanks.

Could we