2011 Satchmo Summerfest

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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.

 

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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

Click image to purchase a print on nolaPIC.com

 More pictures from the 2011 Satchmo Summerfest are here

Click image to purchase a print on nolaPIC.com

 

Satchmo Summerfest

Treme Brass Band and Japanese Satchmo Yoshio Toyama
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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.

Jennifer Jones leading the Second Line at St. Augustine Church in Treme after the Jazz Mass
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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.

Treme Brass Band Leader, Mr. Benny Jones Sr.
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More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com

St Augustine Church in Treme after the Satchmo Jazz Mass
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Click image to purchase a print on nolaPIC.com

More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com

Edward "Juicy" Jackson from To Be Continued Brass Band
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More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com

Click image to purchase a print on nolaPIC.com

Click image to purchase a print on nolaPIC.com

More fine art photography at www.nolaPIC.com

Prints of Uncle Lionel Batiste & Oswald Jones – Treme Brass Band members

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During the pre Super Bowl pep rally Second Line held in New Orleans on Saturday February 6, 2010 I had the chance to take  a few great pictures of “Uncle” Lionel Batiste while he was at the French Market with the Treme Brass Band. New Orleans is full of characters, but Uncle Lionel definitely stands out! Somebody…I forgot who, said about him, “we gonna miss him, when WE die!”

Look out for  the new HBO series Treme which will premiere on April 11 2010 and will feature among man local New Orleans musicians, the Treme Brass Band!

“Uncle” Lionel Batiste is a jazz and blues musician and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Born on February 1st, 1931, he began in music career at the age of 11 playing bass drum with the Square Deal Social & Pleasure Club. He is currently the bass drummer, vocalist and assistant leader of the Treme Brass Band; he is known for his kazoo playing as well. He also sings, and has recorded a cd as a vocalist. Besides inspiring younger musicians with his playing, he serves as a role model to many of them: trumpeter Kermit Ruffins calls Batiste his “total influence,” saying that Batiste “taught [him] how to act, how to dress, how to feel about life.” Internationally, Batiste has served as leader of the daily Moldejazz parade since 2000. He is arguably New Orleans most loved uncle!

More New Orleans Fine Art Photography on nolaPIC.com

More New Orleans Fine Art Photography on nolaPIC.com

More New Orleans Fine Art Photography on nolaPIC.com

More New Orleans Fine Art Photography on nolaPIC.com

Canon EOS 7D update & new Fine Art Print

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I just added this image on my other site nolaPIC.com I took at Lafreniere Park in Metarie, LA at sunset (once I uploaded the shot on Flickr my photostream was on fire with comments!). I love the soft tones, narrow dof and the bokeh  of the Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM ! The fine art photo is available as a 10″x 10″ or 20″x 20″. To purchase this or other high quality open edition prints please visit: www.nolaPIC.com.

Photo taken with (my favorite lens!)  Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM @ f1.4 and a Canon EOS 5D Mark IIwhich is by far my favorite lens.

Canon EOS 7D Available!

October 24, 2009: Finally Amazon is delivering the new Canon EOS 7D! The body only is now available as well as the Canon EOS 7D Kit with the 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens

Get yours while you can and enjoy its killer new features, I could use a better autofocus myself and the 8 fps speed!

Photos at City Park in New Orleans

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Click ImageI took two great (!) pictures last week at City Park in New Orleans. I love the spanish moss which is always great to shoot backlit!

Did you know that the Spanish moss that hangs on trees of tropical America and the Southern states, (also called Florida, southern, or long moss), it’s not a true moss but a member of the pineapple family, and it’s used for stuffing furniture and as a packing material?

These 2  photographs (square format) have been added in the gallery named “In and Around New Orleans” at my e-commerce site www.nolaPIC.com.

Click ImageAvailable as a 10″x 10″ or 20″x 20″ for the US.  To purchase this or other high quality open edition prints please visit: www.nolaPIC.com

Photos taken with  Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM and a Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

To see  more New Orleans photography and purchase high quality prints please visit www.nolaPIC.com

Dreamy Bokeh, Mississippi River and French Quarter Pictures

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To see  more New Orleans photography and purchase high quality prints please visit www.nolaPIC.com

Matassa Market French Quarter New Orleans
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Thanks to a very low humidy record during the past  weekend (unheard of  for Louisiana in August!), I shot a few (IMHO) great images with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, at the Hale Boggs Mississippi River Bridge in Luling , LA and in the French Quarter in New Orleans, LA. The small slideshow doesn’t do any justice, since the images should be really viewed at larger size to fully appreciate the feel them and the dreamy bokeh. Open edition prints are for sale and available from 8″x12″ to very large prints sized @ 20″x30″ and can be ordered and shipped in USA and Europe.

Please be sure to always check out my gallery of available images nolaPIC.com since new photos are added on a weekly basis .