2012 Satchmo Summerfest and Treme Jazz Mass
I’m not gonna shoot this again next year, yeah, this is it. That’s what I say every time!
As we get closer to the Annual Satchmo Summerfest the excitement starts to build up day by day. I start thinking of how unique this is and how can I even think of missing the Jazz Mass, the Treme Brass Band, Yoshio Toyama (known as the Japanase Satchmo) and their live jazz performance at the super packed St. Augustine Church? It’s in the heart of Treme, the birthplace of jazz, It’s a fantastic and “only in New Orleans” experience, there is even a second line from the St. Augustine Church to the Mint where the music festival actually go on…How can I miss it!?!? I guess I’ll just once again and ‘ll take one more shot..:)
Mardi Gras Photography
I have finally found the time to go through and edit all the 2012 Mardi Gras pictures I have shot in New Orleans! Please see some of the best photos below and do not forget that in order to purchase fine art prints you should go to my other photography website http://www.nolaPIC.com or you can click on each image shown here to be taken directly there.
Crew of Rex on Mardi Gras day rolling on Canal Street in New Orleans
Krewe of Pontchartrain on Canal Street
Along parade routes these type of trees are frequently spotted right after Mardi Gras. This is a unique one indeed!
You need to see this at least once in a lifetime. Then get out of there and go somewhere
else, like on Frenchmen Street where a lot of the locals hangs out.
Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street right by the Royal Sonesta
Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras day in New Orleans
Will Ferrell King of Bacchus 2012
Mardi Gras is a very big deal in New Orleans; as everything else that celebrates the joy of living, we take it very seriously down here. The king cakes, the beads, the Mardi Gras Indians, the boobs and drunks on Bourbon St. the parades with their floats come and go with different flavors and colors, year after year with, same route, same days, same Krewes,they are wonderful, yet quite the same each year. There is one thing locals and tourists alike wont forget too soon which draws much anticipation and media attention is the King of Bacchus! Well as you may have heard by now, the 2012 King of Bacchus was Mr. Will Ferrell !
Please click here to purchase prints of Will Ferrell on my other site nolaPIC.com
Fine Art Engagement Photography in The French Quarter
Just a few shots from my latest engagement photo shoot with Amy and Christian from Dallas TX. The shoot was done early in the morning in the French Quarter of New Orleans; and when I say early, I mean EARLY, (just after sunrise), when the light is great and the temperature is more manageable. The streets and alleys in the French Quarter are more romantic when they are deserted. A beautiful day with a beautiful couple form some great pictures which they will hopefully enjoy forever. As we say in Italy: Auguri e figli maschi, Amy and Christian! 
Here below is another enagement photo session done in New Orleans French Quarter with Natalie and Conar from Tennessee
New Orleans is one of the most romantic, colorful and photogenic cities in the US, full of opportunities for unique engagement photo shoots. While the French Quarter was still crowded with lots of people still hanging out from Mardi Gras’, we managed to get some great images thanks to the location scouting I did a few days before the photo shoot. As you can see from the images below my main focus (pun intended) is to shoot with a modern and more graphic feel to it than a photojournalistic style. Framing the photos balancing spaces and objects in relation with the couple and color palettes of the French Quarter was my approach which I think worked quite well. Of course I did take some more everyday type photos since the French Quarter was really too crowded to take only those clutter free graphic type images, it would have taken a week with all the traffic and tourists!. What a lovely and fun couple to work with…These below are just some of the shots for you to see. Thank you Amy and Christian + Natalie and Conar for the trust and the hard work!
2011 Satchmo Summerfest
This is the second time that I have attended and shot the Satchmo Jazz Mass at the St. Augustine Church in Treme. The event is part of the annual Satchmo Summerfest which is held every year at the old US Mint on Esplanade Ave. in New Orleans. To be perfectly clear last year I didn’t actually attend “all the way”, since I wasn’t expecting the church to be so crowded so early, I ended up getting there a bit too late to get in, so I was stuck outside waiting for the function to end so I could shoot the second line! As many of you know, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong was a native New Orleanian, and that is the reason why we celebrate his birthday with a Jazz Mass, second lines and music, (lots of it) . To see more pictures from the 2011 Satchmo Summerfest are here.
Getting up “very” early allowed me to position myself close the brass band, on the exact side of the church where I had planned to be on…Actually when I got there, St. Augustine Church was still closed . I’m pretty satisfied with the photos, hard work always pays off!
More pictures from the 2011 Satchmo Summerfest are here
More pictures from the 2011 Satchmo Summerfest are here
Dr John at Tipitina’s
One April 20th, 2011, on the one year memorial of the worst man-made enviromental disaster in our nation’s history, coastal residents are coming together to honor the 11 men that died & those that fought to protect our coast. After town hall meetings and debates the musics had to roll at Tipitina’s in the French Quarter. Here below are few of the best shots of Dr. John performing (click on each image to see them larger or to purchase prints on my other site nolaPIC.com).
Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday 2011
Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday (March 20th 2011 uptown New Orleans)
Every year on the closest Sunday to St. Joseph day, the Mardi Gras Indians parades uptown New Orleans where visitors and locals can admire their amazing costumes, and follow the parade with them. The Super Sunday parade, was greater than ever with some of the best Mardi Gras suits ever seen, “polite cops” and even lots of kids parading as well! Don’t miss this very unique New Orleans tradition next year! This is of course just a small sample of the great artwork by the New Orleans Indians gangs; I will hopefully upload more whenever I’ll find the time to get to it.
Walter Payton Jr. Celebration and Second Line
Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers
Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers playing at Lafayette Square in New Orleans on Wednesday October 13 during the Second Harvest Food Bank’s Harvest Concert Series in Lafayette Square. Click the images to purchase them on my other website at nolaPIC.com . Naydja CoJoe, the amazing vocalist, did also an awesome performance!
Photos of Black Men of Labor Second Line
Some of the best photos from the 2010 Black Men of Labor Second Line are online at nolaPIC.com ( Second Lines & Parades > Misc Second Lines )
More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com
More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com
More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com
More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com
Satchmo Summerfest
On Sunday August 8th, as part of the 2010 Satchmo Summerfest, held every year in New Orleans to celebrate the life, music and legacy of New Orleans’ native son, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, I had the privilege to attend and photograph another great event! Although the weather was 99F with heat index as high as 105F to 110F, after the parade started, everyone seemed to enjoy the second line and music as usual and forget how hot and miserable it was. Someone said once…If you don’t know why New Orleanians aren’t afraid to go to Hell, you never been down there in the middle of the summer! Please see some of the images I shot at the second line and do not forget that all comments are highly appreciated! These images and many more are available as fine art prints (also framed) at my other site nolaPIC.com.
I will make sure next year to be there in time at 10 AM for the Jazz Mass, since this year I have only caught the end of it and I wished so bad I made it in…The church was packed!!! See the video below it’s the very end of the Satchmo Jazz Mass right before I sshot the image above of Jennifer Jones leading the Second Line out of the church. Video shot by Ricky Riccardi a Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong aficionado.
More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com
More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com
More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com
More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com
Jazz Funeral to honor the life of Captain Phil Harris from TV’s Deadliest Catch
UPDATE Discovery Channel will air AFTER THE CATCH Episode 5 on Tuesday, July 13!
Episode 5 – Tuesday, July 13 at 10PM ET/PT
The fleet wraps up its time at the French Quarter’s Blue Nile bar in the season finale of AFTER THE CATCH. Captain Phil Harris is remembered in true ‘Nawlins style as fans pour onto Frenchmen Street for a traditional, raucous Jazz Parade. The celebration brings together all the captains to pay tribute to their friend and colleague.
On June 9th, 2010, Discovery channel filmed a funeral parade to honor the life of Captain Phil Harris from TV’s Deadliest Catch in the Marigny District of New Orleans. Crew members from the tv show, The Soul Rebels Brass Band and parades goers attended the New Orleans style Jazz Funeral which will be aired sometimes in July 2010. More images from the jazz Funeral at nolaPIC.com
When I got there, (too early as usual), the Discovery channel crew was already setting up cameras and gear in front of the Blue Nile, and up under a scorcing heat and humidity, I got a chance to meet and talk to the Discovery Channel Vice President of Communications Mr. Joshua Weinberg. More images from the jazz Funeral at nolaPIC.com
The procession didn’t last very long at all, but at the end (as in every Jazz Funerals) it got pretty wild and crazy! Mike Rowe from “Dirty Jobs” seemed to be having a blast as well! Please go to nolaPIC.com where you can see more images take during this Jazz Funeral and more New Orleans Fine Art Photography. More images from the jazz Funeral at nolaPIC.com
Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday 2010
Every year on the closest Sunday to St. Joseph day, the Mardi Gras Indians parades uptown New Orleans where visitors and locals can admire their amazing costumes, and follow the parade with them. The Super Sunday parade, after being postponed from prevous Sunday, ended at Taylor park with more music and food…don’t miss this very unique New Orleans tradition next year! You can view them all at my Fine Art gallery site online : nolaPIC.com
Pictures of HBO Treme Second Line
To view all the shots and/or purchase high quality prints of the Second Line: www.nolaPIC.com
To view all the shots and/or purchase high quality prints, please visit www.nolaPIC.com
On January 30, 2010 I attended a killer Second Line in Treme, New Orleans. Although it was very cold (for Louisiana standards that is) I had the opportunity to take some killer and unique shots while HBO was filming for their new tv series: Treme. To view all the shots and/or purchase high quality prints, please visit my other site www.nolaPIC.com. and If you are not familiar with HBO ‘s Treme please read below.
If you lived in New Orleans, you would have known by now, that soon another motion pictures will be added to the long list of the many others that have already been shot in the Big Easy. Treme, is the name of the new HBO series, co-created by “The Wire” David Simon, (among its writers is also New Orlenian Tom Piazza) takes place three months after Hurricane Katrina, where the residents of New Orleans, including musicians, chefs, Mardi Gras Indians and ordinary New Orleanians try to rebuild their lives, their homes and their unique culture in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane. The series is scheduled to premiere April 11th 2010 on HBO. The video below lives me salivating for more, it says so much without saying much at all…oh and the music…Does Wynton Marsalis ring a bell?!
The following images below were taken on the set of HBO’s Treme first season, and while I wasn’t actually working for HBO or the Discovery Channel (next gallery below Treme’s) I’m displaying them here to show that if I can get the job done without even being a crew member when it’s even harder to be out of the way and yet, manage to cature the action … I can get the job done period .
Pre-Order on Amazon the Complete First Season
of HBO’s Treme on DVD and save 35% !
Louisiana and Off Shore Aerial Photography
I have shot aerial photography in Maui for about 8 years where the wind blows hard, the helicopter shakes a lot, and constantly chasing the fast subjects on the waves makes aerial photography pretty challenging. Using an experienced pilot that can get you exactly were you want to be in rough weather (and bring you home safe) is a must! See how close I got on this shot where the pilot got so low, close to the water, that the spray from the wave wet us both since the doors on the helicopter must be removed.Canon’s IS* (Image Stabilization) can sure help with the vibrations from the helicopter but you still gotta shoot at high shutter speeds and be ready to aim! So, if you do need aerial photography in Louisiana or out of state for offshore platforms oil rigs or anything, you definitely come to the right place. Please feel free to contact me and I will be glad to provide you a quote asap with no obligation.
Katrina destruction after one year later
On July 27, 2006 , almost a year after hurricane Katrina hit, I went on a helicopter tour with the National Guard of Jackson Barracks in New Orleans, Allen Lottinger from the St. Charles Herald Guide, and other members of the Louisiana Press Association. As you can see from the pictures below, the damage was still there…unreal! (Thanks to Canon Professional Services and Allen Lottinger!) The images below are shot during a cloudy/rainy day, through a plexiglas window from a Black Hawk moving at 160 mph…not really the ideal conditions:).
Fees as they relate to copyright and reproduction rights will be established in advance before a photo shoot. Please see below how pricing is calculated.
Creative Fees
Charged for creating the images; based on creativity, deadline, technical difficulty of producing the images and duration of photo shoot. Post-production is included.
Licensing Fees
Added to the creative fees according to your needs and will be based upon these factors:
- Media (ad, book, brochure, web site etc.)
- Size
- Total Circulation (up to 10.000, 50.000 etc.)
- Language
- Distribution (worldwide/countries)
- Duration (up to six months, 1 year, 2 years etc.)
- industry you’re in (airline, banking, small business etc.)
- Placement (home page, secondary page, pdf, back cover ad etc.)
Expenses
Helicopter, pilot, travel, car rental and any other expenses that may occur.
I license the rights to use the photos for the exact licensing rights that you will actually use and need; only royalty free photography allows you to use images as you please for as long as you want.*This way of pricing photography is standard and does not only apply to aerial photography.
Post-production: the files are enhanced (color balance, saturation and sharpness), delivery of images on multi platform CD or DVD in tiff format. Files will have enough resolution to be printed as murals and since they are digital you won’t have to worry about losing you original slide or negative, just back them up and be worry free!
Included Services
Post-production: the files are enhanced (color balance, saturation and sharpness), delivery of images on multi platform CD or DVD in tiff format. Files will have enough resolution to be printed as murals and since they are digital you won’t have to worry about losing you original slide or negative, just back them up and be worry free!
Additional Graphic Services
Removal of unwanted objects in image, over imposed graphics, logos, building names, street names, symbols, maps etc., overnight post-processing, custom cropping and selective blurring.
Kermit Ruffins @ Second Line in New Orleans to honor Michael Jackson (open edition photo prints)
The Second line to honor Michael Jackson, held on Sunday, June 28, in New Orleans (St. Bernard Ave.), and sponsored by the Revolution Social Aid & Pleasure Club was so packed, not like anything I ever seen before! It was a lot of fun; and, although the heat was horrible, they were people dancing every freaking where! Dancing from top of cars to high billboards and bus stops! New Orleans own Kermit Ruffins was there too. Click here to see the Second Line in New Orleans. All images taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark II 
and Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM 
I figured as hot at it was and since I had to walk a lot the most important thing was to be light! I didn’t regret that decision at all BTW.
If you’d like to purchase an open edition high quality photo print of Kermit Ruffins or of the Michael Jackson Second Line please click here. Available in 8″x12″, 10″x15″, 16″x24″, and 20″x30″! To see more New Orleans photography and purchase high quality prints please visit www.nolaPIC.com
22nd Annual Spillway Classic Trail Run (Pray for rain!)
UPDATE!
I have uploaded ALL images from the 22nd Annual Spillway Classic Trail Run… in total over 1200 pictures! Please click this direct link to the www.nolaPIC.com gallery where you can see and purchase the current photos.
The files are 29mb each so you can order huge and high quality prints of your images!!!
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The 22nd Annual Spillway Classic Trail Run is coming up on July 19 2009 at 8AM at the Bonnet Carret Spillway, in Norco, LA.
The 2nd largest “Trail Run” in the nation offers a scenic and demanding cross country course and is a lot of fun to do AND watch. Field limited to the first 2000 entrants (new). Awards to the top 500 finishers!
Please “pray for rain” !!! I will be shooting the event and I will be posting prints for sale at this link (where images from previous years are still available).
The first 1-1/4 miles is atop the spillway levee. The course turns down the levee into the spillway and proceeds thru the “gauntlet”. This section of the course generally provides the most water, mud and fun, perhaps at the expense of ones shoes ( suggestion…do not wear new shoes!) As the course makes a sharp left turn onto the main trail you continue on the pathway parallel to the canal back towards the finish line. Along the way you may expect sharp turns, log jumps, muddy/slippery sections, low limbs and a wooden bridge. Beautiful dense forest canopy provides great shade along the way. Enjoy the primitive beauty and please be careful so that you have a fun and exciting experience and return again next year.
Thanks to NOMAMBO (New Orleans Area Mountain Bike Organization) and to the many NOTC volunteers for their work in building and maintaining the course. Course difficulty depends on pre-race rainfall. We need lots of rain 2 weeks prior to the race date!
For more info please visit: RunNotc.org.
See ya in the mud!
MUTEMATH back in New Orleans this summer!
we’ll be back in New Orleans sometimes this summer, possibly in August! Image gallery on my other site nolaPIC.com/MUTEMATH. The pics in the gallery were taken at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans. Don’t miss the concert whenever they’ll come, they are freaking awesome and beside their music the show really rocks!This new Spotlight video it’s unreal too, inside a Ford Econoline van, total shoot time: just a little over 3 minutes
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry6GAwDCI2I
