Au Revoir Grande Facile.

It's been another insane trip in New Orleans. I've seen the students push themselves (and sometimes be pushed) into making photographs they didn't know they were capable of creating. I've heard countless stories of survival and perseverance. I've seen destruction and sadness. I've seen hope and been inspired. I've been given a message. We have a story to tell. New Orleans is here and they need you. Pay attention.

Getting There.

I have not been making enough photographs.

17th Street Canal: Breach

Sunrise. Pirate's Alley, French Quarter.

Soccer Fans. Audubon Park

We are coming home soon.

On Bayou Teche with Donovan Garcia

Donovan Garcia on Bayou Teche from Becky Olstad on Vimeo.

Your Confederate Flag Makes me a Touch Uneasy.

Yesterday was insanity. I was literally in motion for 14 hours. At 6am I drove out to Franklin with Kristyna to head out on Bayou Teche with Donovan Garcia. Donovan is an extraordinary man who is extremely passionate about Bayou Teche and its preservation. He took us through the canals and waterways for four hours and throughout that time he shared his encyclopedic knowledge of the history and prospective future of the area.

At one point we saw a 14 foot alligator. The bad news is there is no picture. The good news is, despite the fact that the 'gator was the length of our boat, I am still alive.

After swinging back through New Orleans to swap Kristyna for Stephanie, I headed out to St. Amant. I dropped Stephanie at her destination and decided to go make photographs. This town made me rather uneasy. I'd elaborate but I think the photographs illustrate that tension.

Below is Donovan and a nesting area from the Bayou Teche. The problem with this area of the Bayou is that the oil companies came in to dredge a canal creating a mound of earth along the side. When the water surges in from the Gulf of Mexico, the saltwater pours over the ridge and into this basin. Normally, the water will flow back out with few problems but because of the ridge, the saltwater pools and the salt kills the trees. The environmental impact of the gas and oil industries was rampant throughout our tour. In addition to the environmental impact on the natural habitat, the destruction of this wetland creates imminent danger for the residents of Franklin by removing the barrier that protects them from flooding and hurricanes.

Photos below from St. Amant:

Hi Dad!

*** This post was originally written a couple of days ago but it took me a bit to get the video converted and uploaded.***

If you've read this blog before, you may have heard about my father's trip to New Orleans not long after Hurricane Katrina. He volunteered in St. Bernard Parish and when I first came to the Big Easy in October, I was eager to discover some of the things he had experienced. At that time, I never made it out to the area where he volunteered.

Today, I had the time to drive around St. Bernard Parish in the neighborhood off Jean Lafitte Pkwy and Judge Perez Blvd. It breaks my heart. As you watch this video, please keep in mind it was shot nearly 4 years after Hurricane Katrina.

Dad, around the 2:12 marker in the video, you'll see in the distance the big smokestack near Chalmette if that helps get your bearings straight.

St. Bernard Parish: June 2009 from Becky Olstad on Vimeo.

Good Shoes in Common

Today I met an Italian and an alligator:


More updates from Morgan City, Avery Island and the Barataria Reserve tomorrow. It is far too late to be blogging when a sunrise shoot is pending.

Back in the Big Easy.

I'm back in the Big Easy again with a new group of students and a new collection of photographic essays as part of the New Orleans Travel and Study Course with the Art Institutes International Minnesota. It's been a long day of traveling. We met at the MSP airport at 4:00 am and after arriving in New Orleans we took a bus tour of the city to get a greater perspective on the redevelopment (and lack thereof) since Hurricane Katrina.

I wish I could say I was surprised at how little had changed since we were last here in October. Unfortunately, many areas of the city are still in desperate need of the return of businesses. In particular, we went through New Orleans East and the lack of rebuilding in that region almost 4 years after the storm is heartbreaking. Below are a few pics shot from the tour bus of New Orleans East and the surrounding neighborhoods:


In contrast to the lack of development in New Orleans East, Brad Pitt has been busy rebuilding in the lower 9th Ward with the Make it Right Foundation. This region was flooded when the Industrial Canal broke during Hurricane Katrina -- again, almost 4 years ago. Below, you can see some empty foundations next to the green houses Mr. Pitt is rebuilding followed by an overview of the Industrial Canal as it stands today.


For more info on the students and our experience, you can check out our class blog at aimneworleans.blogspot.com.