This image is one of the two to be shown at the Multimedia Art Museum of Moscow – House of Photography
I have been meaning to go to the head washing ceremony of Voodoo priestess Sallie Ann Glassman for a few years now, but for a reason or another I always seemed to miss it and then, of course, regret it. The ceremony is held every year at sunset on the rusted Magnolia bridge, across Bayou St. John, which is most likely the oldest existing bridge in New Orleans. I don’t know much about Voodoo at all, but when I read the invitation for the ceremony, knowing where it’s held at and its time, I have no doubts all the needed “ingredients” are there for some preeeeetty interesting photography…For those of you reading that aren’t from around here, Sallie Ann Glassman has been practicing Vodou in New Orleans since 1977 and in 1995 became one of few White Americans to have been ordained via the traditional Haitian initiation.
Sallie Ann Glassman and La Source Ancienne Ounfo celebrate St. John’s Eve with their annual Headwashing Ceremony (form of Vodou baptism) dedicated to Marie Laveau. Wear all white and bring a white scarf or rag for your head (It will get dirty.) Bring an offering for Marie Laveau.
She likes flowers, blue and white candles, Creole foods,hair ribbons and hair dressing supplies (She was a hairdresser.), Vodou-esque items (Voodoo dolls, potions, gris-gris bags, etc.), or images of Marie Laveau.
Thank you for allowing me to shoot the ceremony Sallie Ann and everyone else. I appreciated the warm welcome!
Too see more images and/or puchase prints of the ceremony or for any other New Orleans Fine Art Photography, please click each image directly or head on to my other website http://www.nolaPIC.com
Too see more images and/or puchase prints of the ceremony or for any other New Orleans Fine Art Photography, please click each image directly or head on to my other website http://www.nolaPIC.com
The video above I took is handheld and shaky, I know, I know I should have brought my tripod…lol, however it gives you a feel of the ceremony…
@ f1.4 and a 
which is by far my favorite lens.
