Sunday, February 24, 2008

New Orleans Essay

The trip down the Mississippi. I have to admit that I am quite a news junky. I follow politics, world news, local news, and usually pay special attention to events that are a clear slap in the face to the human condition. Events that show the truth of what we are capable of doing to one another. My thoughts and views on these matters, as far back as childhood, seems to have stayed the same. I remember some of the first times I was exposed to tragedies and thinking "how can people do these kinds of things to one another?". I also remember adults around me discussing it and saying how horrible it is, but then moving on to other subjects. I always wondered why no one did anything. Why weren't they helping. Why weren't they doing something. Anything? I remember my father saying to me, I must have been 10 or 11, "don't worry, they'll be fine, they'll get help." I thought "how, from who?" I felt it was out of my hands.

When I decided to become a photographer I didn't know what direction I was going in. I knew I enjoyed making photographs, but it took a couple years to find my way.

Photojournalism and documentary photography was what I found. It encompasses everything that I am passionate about in life. In going to New Orleans I am planning to shoot my essay on the faces and places of Katrina 2 1/2 years later. What shape the architecture is in, what shape neighborhoods and people are in, how do they feel about the state of their city now. My hope is that my images will touch at least one person, open someones eyes, and hopefully remind someone this kind of thing can and should be avoided in the future.

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