Last of the New Orleans portraits. I've finally started the new local London project I wanted to do so this little self-review process has served its purpose. This is a shot of the snare drummer from the To Be Continued Brass Band. As with the others, it was taken a few years ago before the start of a parade. I remember taking this picture because when I asked to take this gentleman's portrait he immediately stuck two fingers up, as in this picture. To an English person this gesture has a very specific meaning...that is: f-off. I remember being a little taken back, but I understand that the 'two-finger...
Second post about some portraits I took a few years back in New Orleans. Still building up to the new project I want to get off the ground. Here's an example of portrait that would of been good, had the composition not been off. I spotted this young man sitting in a quiet area beside a church in Treme. He had taken himself away from the main group, doubtless to collect his thoughts before the parade in which he was playing began. As with the other pictures I'm going to feature it was taken with consent. I think the photo succeeds in capturing some of that pre-parade tension, and I like the fact...
I'm hoping to start shortly on a portrait series. It's something I've had in mind for a long time but always find an excuse to put off. I've not done a huge amount of portrait photography, but it's something I want to do much more of. Some years ago I spent a lot of time in New Orleans and did try to get a project off the ground based around the city's parade bands that perform at festivals and funerals. It was difficult not being a local and having a very limited time window, but I did manage to shoot a few one-shot portraits by hanging around the parade areas in the Treme neighbourhood.
By...