THE NAKED TRUTH

Mirror Nude, New Orleans LA 1996

When I think of New Orleanian photographers, the first two that come to mind are Clarence John Laughlin and E.J. Bellocq. Laughlin, tagged as a surrealist, has been somewhat overlooked.

Bellocq's fame is solely derived from the large glass plate negatives of Storyville prostitutes uncovered by Lee Freidlander. Both photographers had made images of female nudes.

I noticed one day that I had this knack of looking at a woman envisioning her aged 40 or 50 years. I could not do it on demand and it did not happen very often, thankfully.

So, I decided to make pictures that somehow addressed the fact that photography stops time and time ages the body.

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What Happened in Vegas (Part 2)

We're Open, Las Vegas NV 1990
Red Motel Chairs, Las Vegas NV 1990
The Algiers Hotel, Las Vegas NV 1990
Peter Pan Motel, Las Vegas NV 1990
Passport Picture, Las Vegas NV 1990
Landscaped Parking Lot, Las Vegas NV 1990
Free Slot, Las Vegas NV 1990
American Flag and Refrigerator, Las Vegas NV 1990

In 1990, I was single and I got invited to a big party in Las Vegas. This was before the term "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" was coined. I went out with the expectation it would be a wild time and a great party. I made some pictures and.........

So, my friend David and I had flown in from New Orleans for this party. It turned out to be an eclectic group that seem to lack any connection or energy. We did some gambling and some partying, if you could call it that but by most standards it was mild. At least that is my recollection some twenty years later.

David and I did decide to have a little adventure. We rented a Suzuki convertible jeep from some cut rate car rental place. We drove up into the mountains and found this remote place and had lunch. This is where the "cut rate rental" place came into play.

The jeep, as we were not paying attention was given to us with very little gas in it. We are now on top of this mountain with no gas or gas station, so we literally coasted all the way back into Vegas.

I did not like Las Vegas. There was cigarette smoke everywhere and the thought of losing what money I did have gambling made me sick. Thankfully I made some photographs, which was the best part of being there. I left a day early and I have never returned.

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What Happened in Vegas (Part1)

SILVER BELL WEDDING CHAPEL, Las Vegas NV 1990
FITZ, Las Vegas NV 1990
#413, Las Vegas NV 1990
Blue Angel Motel, Las Vegas NV 1990
76, Las Vegas NV 1990

In 1990, I was single and I got invited to a big party in Las Vegas. This was before the term "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" was coined. I went out with the expectation it would be a wild time and a great party. I made some pictures and.........

To be continued.

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WINDOW TREATMENT

WORMS, New Orleans 1997
CANAL STREET, New Orleans 1996
GREEN BUILDING, New Orleans 1991
OMARS, New Orleans 1992

I am now finding that I had a propensity to photograph shop windows.

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BODY PARTS

CAR with REFLECTION, New Orleans 1993
CAR with BLANKET, Gretna La 1991
CHINESE DECORATION, New Orleans 1993
GALAXIE 500, New Orleans 1997
LITTLE MARY, Metairie LA 1994
RAINBOW, New Orleans 1996
TORONADO, New Orleans 1996
USA PROUD, New Orleans 1993
White Caddy, New Orleans 1991

In culling archives for a book project, I am discovering a pattern of tendencies in the pictures I have made.

Photographing just parts of cars, appears to be one of them.

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CONNECTING THE DOTS

Tombs and Public Housing, New Orleans La 1994

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I have always worked in a serial manner, with one project dovetailing into another. I had started to make cemetery photographs in New Orleans around 1989, for the book project The Reposed. Four years later, I began to think about and photograph resting places for the living. This may just be the image that bridged that gap.

NO MAS!

Boxing Figure, Mid-City/New Orleans La 1995

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My Handgun Story

I had a concealed handgun permit in New Orleans , long before such a thing became so common or popular. They were actually hard to get, because it required training certification, a background check, etc.

Since I was photographing around the city at all times of the day and night, with lots of expensive equipment, I thought I might be a target. So, I carried a gun.

One day it dawned on me that I most relied on my instincts and a kin awareness of my surroundings for my protection. I questioned in my mind if I was prepared to shoot anyone, even in self defense? So I stopped carrying the gun.

Not long after this decision, I was driving around the Mid-City area of New Orleans. It was a bright, beautiful and sunny day. I would drive past this boxing facility , which had this fantastic larger than life boxer near it.

So, I passed the place. There was a car in front of me going excruciatingly slow. I am sure I was tailgating the guy, but all of a sudden, the driver stopped in the middle of the street. He jumped out of the car, screaming at me: "I got a gun!", "You got a gun?"! He kept yelling that over and over again. I calmly smiled, raised my hands and said "No I don't have a gun, it's cool!".

He got back in his car and drove away.

And I am glad that I did not have a gun that day!

NEVER TOO LATE

James Dean Poster, New Orleans LA 1993

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In the early 1990's, I made a series of photographs about fallen popular cultural figures, including Malcolm X, M.L. King, John Kennedy, Bob Marley , and of course, Elvis. James Dean did not make the cut then, but just found this image now!

1992

Abandoned Jail House, Convent La 1992

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There is something to be said, or seen, in work that has been allowed to mature.

In 1992, while driving through the small town of Convent, Louisiana, I stumbled upon an abandoned city jail. I am just rediscovering this work and I like it.

UNLUCKY?

MOTEL ROOM DOOR, Houma La 2005

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AccuWeather.com, which just issued its early hurricane season forecast, not only believes that the 2010 season will be more active than last year, but the private company sees the potential for an "extreme season" with an above-normal threat all along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.*

*www.aolnews.com/nation/article/hurricane-season-could-be-extreme-accuweather-forecaster-says/19392418

FRUITS & NUTS!

Still Life, Rosemary Beach, FL 2009

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'Operation Exodus': Louisiana Sheriff Taps Locals For Emergency Security Plan

A Louisiana sheriff plans to arm volunteers with shotguns, riot shields, batons, and a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on a "war wagon," as part of "Operation Exodus," a program to provide security in the event of a terrorist attack or civic unrest. "It's a calling," he says.*

Full story:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/operation_exodus_louisiana_sheriff_taps_locals_for.php

PICTURING PEOPLE - Lawrence Gettys

In Front of Porsche Display, Baton Rouge LA 2010

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Lawrence Gettys - Attorney, tennis player and friend.

POLITICS MEET PORN

Truck Lights in Rain, Baton Rouge LA 2010

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What now, Stormy?

The political spokesman for the native Baton Rouge porn star Stormy Daniels says she will announce soon whether she's really going to enter the 2010 U.S. Senate race against incumbent David Vitter.

Daniels continues to promote adult entertainment ventures and personal appearances online. As of today, though, the Web site set up to promote and raise money for a possible candidacy, teamstormy.com, had not been updated since July. Daniels didn't respond to a request for an interview from the Associated Press. Brian Welsh, the Democratic operative listed as an officer in the exploratory committee set up for her last year, said in an e-mail query that there will be an official statement about her plans "very soon."

Daniels' campaign suffered a setback in late July, when she was arrested in Tampa, Fla., for battering her husband. Those charges were later dropped.*

*Baton Rouge Business Report 3/1/10