Thursday, February 23, 2012
 Maine Stream (Click image for larger view)
I took this photo back in the fall of 2010 when making a run-and-gun trip though Maine. Its another road-side photo. I’ve no idea if this stream has a name but it flows under Route 193 in Deblois.
Fortunately traffic on the roads here is light and there were plenty of places to pull off the road. This is a combination of three shots, hand-held. Since I was racing from Boston to Lubec in one day and I wanted a shot at finding somewhere to stay in Lubec, I didn’t take the extra few minutes to pull out the tripod but braced my camera as best I could on my left shoulder.
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II (B&H)
Battery Grip: Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip (B&H)
Lens: Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM AF Lens (B&H)
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Processing: Photomatix 4.02
Processing: Photoshop CS5
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
 Camp Fire Embers (Click image for larger view)
Since yesterday was Mardi Gras, that makes today Ash Wednesday, so here’s a photo of some ashes.
OK so that’s a bit weak, I know – my wife often reminds me I’m not as funny as I think I am.
I took this a few weeks back when my son received his Arrow of Light, graduating from being a Cub Scout to a Boy Scout. The last several times we went camping with the Cub Scout Pack we weren’t able to have a bon fire. It was so dry in Texas last year that in most places only propane fires were allowed. Wood fires giving off burning embers were strictly verboten. It was good for the boys to once again have an opportunity to get covered in ant bites and bramble scratches collecting firewood. Oh wait, that wasn’t the boys, that was me!
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II (B&H)
Battery Grip: Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip (B&H)
Lens: Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM AF Lens (B&H)
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Processing: Photoshop CS5
Processing: Topaz DeNoise 5
Processing: Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4 (Nik Software)
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
 Carrolton Princess (Click image for larger view)
Today is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday. This image is still my favorite Mardi Gras photo to date, though the trombone player cuts a close second.
This Princess of the Krewe of Carrollton had just seen someone in the crowd that she not only recognized but was also very excited to see. This was the middle of a sequence of three shots I rattled off – I pretty much always have my cameras set to continuous shooting mode. Unlike the days when film was bulky and expensive to process, pixels are compact and can be readily recycled.
The day gets it’s name from being the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of the lenten period of forty days of fasting or giving up luxuries prior to Easter. Traditionally this on this day people ate richer, fattier foods, hence Fat Tuesday. Since Louisiana was originally colonized by the French, we have Mardi Gras, rather than the English Shrove Tuesday. I’m sure many of the rich, royal, colors associated with Mardi Gras also come from the catholic tradition. Since the reformation in England resulted in the gilding and rich colors in English churches being removed to be replaced with drab natural stone and wood, I doubt the colorful spectacle that is Mardi Gras in New Orleans would exist but for it’s French catholic heritage.
So, ‘Laissez les bons temps roulers’ today for Lent starts tomorrow!
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Processing: Photoshop CS5
Processing: OnOne Photo Suite 6 (OnOne) 10% discount with coupon code rdavisphoto
Monday, February 20, 2012
Night Rider (Click image for larger view)
Many of the parades roll after dark. The floats are illuminated by strings of lights. I’ve not seen any compact fluorescents yet but as incandescent bulbs become harder to find it’s going to be interesting to see if they go to CFLs or LEDs in the future. Many of the parades already feature floats that have LED displays in a decorative fashion.
By the way, I’m no fan of CFL bulbs. Their light spectrum is horrible and they take a while to get up to full strength which leaves one fumbling in the dark for a few minutes and discourages turning them off as you leave a room. I’m hoping LEDs will take over from CFLs in the very near future.
While it can be hard to spot the beads and throws during the day, it becomes many times harder at night. Still, with many parades the throws are so thick in the air that you can simply raise your hands and come away with swag.
The desire for these plastic beads, plastic cups, aluminum doubloons, etc. can overtake one. Fortunately there are many places where you can sell your beads back for them to be repacked for the following year. Don’t expect to make a fortune from this, it pays only pennies on the dollar (but it may be a better investment than Greek Government Bonds at the moment).
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Between Parades (Click image for larger view)
What does one do in the gap between parades? On several days through the parade season more than one parade will travel along parts of the same route. Many families use the gap between parades for a picnic.
Some groups will go so far as to order a port-a-potty to be set up in the neutral ground for their use during the parade. Others bring tables, awnings, even grills and make it a tail-gate experience (but without the pickup truck since you can’t park on the parade route).
To ensure the youngsters get to see the parade, many use parade ladders they’ve either bought or made themselves. These six-foot painters’ ladders are fitted with a box-seat on top so toddlers can sit up above the heads of the crowds and get a great view of the parades. Many also paint their ladders in the Mardi Gras colors and add other decorations. Clearly some put more effort into it than others.
The wheels on the boxes allow you to push the ladder like a wheel barrow – so you can also pile on your picnic tables, chairs, grills and awnings to get your gear from and to your truck which is often a few blocks away.
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II (B&H)
Battery Grip: Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip (B&H)
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens (B&H)
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Processing: Photoshop CS5
Processing: Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4 (Nik Software)
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Just One of the Crowd (Click image for larger view)
You don’t have to get dressed up to enjoy Mardi Gras but I guess there are some that can’t resist. This lady is certainly getting with the program!
Many of the residents who have houses along the parade routes end up holding parties on parade days. I’m sure they find they have lots more friends on parade days!
Still, I’m not sure if this lady was dressed for a party or just dressed in the spirit of the parades. Either way, she’s certainly making a statement.
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II (B&H)
Battery Grip: Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip (B&H)
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens (B&H)
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Processing: Photoshop CS5
Processing: Topaz Adjust 5
Friday, February 17, 2012
Krewe of Mid-City (Click image for larger view)
This is an image of float 5 of the Krewe of Mid-City working its way up Napoleon Avenue in the 2010 parade.
Like most floats, it’s built on a trailer towed behind a tractor. Very few of the floats are self propelled. The huge advantage of this approach is that if a tractor breaks down, they can simply tow it out of the way, hook up a new one and continue with the parade. Consequently you might see a one or two lone tractors in a parade.
So you have choice on most routes of standing on the sidewalk or the neutral ground (aka central reservation). One advantage of the neutral ground is the general absence of trees. If you look in the upper left corner of this photo you’ll see all manner of strings of beads caught up in the trees.
You have to teach your kids not to reach for items on the ground – let them lay till the float has gone by. If a doubloon is rolling around, teach your kids to stand on it with their foot. If they reach with their fingers they’re likely to get stomped on. Also, you can see that the crowds get very close to the floats so stay by your kids to make sure they don’t run too close to (or under) the float!
And no, I’ve no idea what the lady in the Drew Brees shirt is doing nor exactly what the police officer is looking at but neither of them seem overly concerned with the approaching float.
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II (B&H)
Battery Grip: Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip (B&H)
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens (B&H)
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Processing: Photoshop CS5
Processing: Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4 (Nik Software)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Krewe of King Arthur (Click image for larger view)
The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are gold, green and purple and these colors are often reflected in the costumes of the riders.
This lady was riding with the Krewe of King Arthur in their 2009 parade. Her costume and face paint are resplendent with these traditional colors. She’s chosen to use face paint in place of a mask. Almost certainly this was a more comfortable choice for her. I often wonder how the riders tolerate the plastic masks that most of them wear. I guess the idea is that the crowd are not supposed to know who the krewe members are.
Often, krewe members will tell family and friends which float they’re on an which side to stand in the hopes the rider can pick out the familiar faces in the crowd and throw more stuff in their general direction.
Clearly at this point this lady isn’t looking for anyone in particular. She’s gazing at the crowds and preparing to throw a string of gold beads into the sea of raise hands she’s gazing upon.
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Processing: Photoshop CS5
Processing: OnOne Photo Suite 6 (OnOne) 10% discount with coupon code rdavisphoto
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Trombone Player (Click image for larger view)
I can’t look a the this image without wondering what was the joke? What was it this guy saw or heard that so obviously cracked him up?
So New Orleans is music and music is New Orleans. The music of New Orleans transcends all manner of cultural boundaries. Unlike the students in the high school marching bands, many of the professional or semi-professional musicians get to ride on floats. They typically play traditional New Orleans jazz.
I just get a sense that this guy partied a little hard the night before from his unshaven, unkempt look. But boy, is he having fun time or what?
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Processing: Photoshop CS5
Processing: Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4 (Nik Software)
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Throw-In (Click image for larger view)
From this guy’s pose, I’d reckon he’s played soccer at some time. This isn’t your ‘quarterback’ throwing position, it’s your ‘throw-in from the sidelines’ in soccer throwing position.
Clearly this guy has identified someone he knows in the crowd and is about to throw them a whole bag of beads. You have to be on the look-out for things like this. Being hit unexpectedly by a sting of beads can be painful enough, being hit by a whole bag can bring a world of hurt in a whole different order of magnitude.
For that reason, it pays to keep watching the parade and the throws while they’re passing by, particularly if you have youngsters with you. You may have to play a little defensive ball to ensure your kids don’t get whacked accidentally.
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
Processing: Lightroom 3.6
Processing: Photoshop CS5
Processing: Nik Software Color Efex Pro 4 (Nik Software)
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by Richard Davis
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