Re: Off-Topic, New Orleans Images

Years ago, I did some photojournalism work. One photo of mine that was
published was a wide-angle 'right there' photo of an elderly lady being
attended to by EMT techs after she was hit by a car. No blood, no gore,
just a poor old lady badly shaken up after trying to cross a very busy
street against a too quick-changing traffic light.

The response to the paper by readers was interesting. A mix of letters
expressing outrage that the newpaper would print such a photo and other
letters denouncing the careless drivers in town and the
pedestrian-unfriendly traffic lights. So I've been there, in the midst of
controversy surrounding the presentation of photos depicting tragedy.

I have no problem with Dan's photos of New Orleans. I think they're
beautiful. What kind of photographic process is that? It's obviously not
straight color film photography. Computer manipulated?

I do take issue with Dan's snide comment about Dick Cheney. What the hell
does Dick Cheney have to do with this natural (man made) disaster? Rather
than direct thinly veiled insults against Republicans, wouldn't it be more
productive to ask why this city was built below sea level in the first
place?

Dave in Wyoming

I'd have to say this is way off topic. The HDR thing is intesting but to
make images of devestation and then eventually sell these images in an
exhibition is just vampirism for me. Sorry list. I'm not with this at all.
Keep this stuff to yourself.

Gerry G

-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Burkholder [mailto:fdanb@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 11:55 PM
To: alt-photo-process-L@usask.ca
Subject: Off-Topic, New Orleans Images

Sorry that this probably has nothing to do with alt-photo (unless I do a
few in pigment-over-platinum) but I wanted to share this first group of
images from the trip to New Orleans that Jill and I made earlier this week.

In most of the places we photographed, the high water line was at eye
level or higher. The "slime line" is often more visible but is lower
than the high water line because the chemical sludge didn't move in
until a few days later when the water level had started to drop. I've
never before seen anything like this. Dick Cheney should be forced to
quail hunt in the 9th Ward.

There were so many ironies slapping us in the face as we walked through
homes that were washed from their foundations. I'm especially intrigued
by the living room with the fish tank. Can you imagine what a freak-out
it would be for the fish to see the water level OUTSIDE their tank rising?

These are not literal captures of the scenes. I was trying to find
design and beauty to contrast with the human suffering and material
devastation:

www.danburkholder.com/new_orleans

There are a few clich destruction shots up at the following:

www.danburkholder.com/katrina

It's somewhat amazing that after seven months there are still piles of
destroyed cars and trash. And not to sermonize, but some may not realize
that the destruction covers an area approximately five times as large as
Manhattan.

More to come soon.

Dan

-- 
www.DanBurkholder.com
www.TinyTutorials.com