I finally shot Paul the Rolling Elvi. Also shot the well known Josh Wexler last week. Check the portrait section of my site for the final choices. Click the jump for a couple of outtakes and some info.
Paul and I work together at the other job. He's an original member of the Krewe of the Rolling Elvi. They are a Mardi Gras Krewe that rolls in the Muses Parade. Paul is generally a calm and reserved person and I am inclined to think that this is his alter ego. He was a natural and really hammed it up for me during the shoot. I wanted to shoot it so that it looked like I just found this guy riding around the side streets (Which Paul has been known to do). I can only hope that you could be so lucky as to be in New Orleans and see the Rolling Elvi... roll by. Seeing them during Muses is a treat but seeing 70 or so of them roll by in full regalia on a random day is a moment of hilarity that will be cherished for years. I'm hoping to shoot all 75 current members at once sometime soon. They have also asked me to be the official photographer for them during the Muses parade. Here's an outtake.
Josh Wexler gives piano lessons and also plays piano in a band called The Soft Shoes. He has a dog named Lenny Bruce. We met up before the shoot at a "quaint" little dive bar. Everyone kept calling Lenny over to pet him and I kept turning my head thinking they were talking to me... It seems that Josh knows everyone. I met him about 6 months ago and I am amazed that it took me so long to meet him since he's friends with pretty much everyone I know. Josh had told me a few days before that a bunch of people wanted to come to the shoot and watch it go down. So I was expecting there to be 20 critics on hand. Fortunately that wasn't the case. We shot at a coffee shop where Josh and Lenny can be found just about every afternoon called the Rue de la Course. Thanks to Jerry and the staff for letting us shoot there. Here's an outtake. 
Again, please check the Portrait section of www.oneshotremedy.com for the ones that made the grade.
up next... MC Trach and Luthier Leo Esp.
Monday, November 24, 2008
2 new pics in the portrait section!
Monday, November 17, 2008
time to get personal
Well, it's finally happened. Work has slowed to a crawl at this point. The photographer I work for has unfortunately cut his rates because the magazines are having budgetary problems. Because of this he can't afford to hire me for his editorial work. Well, it's not so bad though. This will give me time to dive into my personal work.
I've been photographing some pretty interesting people for my personal project. The project itself is nothing new, groundbreaking, or kitchy. Just me shooting environmental portraits of all the wonderfully talented people I know. It's half about developing my portfolio and half about archiving a part of New Orleans. Are you familiar with the idea of 6 degrees of separation? Well, in New Orleans it's more like 2 degrees, 3 if you're a hermit. Because of this I find myself meeting all sorts of fascinating people. I've been setting up portraits sessions with anyone who is willing. This week I will finally shoot Paul who is a Rolling Elvi. Also on tap is piano player and tutor Joshua Wexler and hopefully guitar luthier Leo Esp. Also trying to line up MC Trachiotomy for next week. I met MC Trach last night at The Pearl. He agreed on the spot to let me shoot him inside of The Pearl. The place is tucked away in the bywater with loads of Old New Orleans charm (decay).
Saturday, November 8, 2008
thoughts of standing still
I've been listening to some old Memphis Jug Band music and it made me think of my last evacuation to Memphis. There is something to be said about that city. I was born and raised in Detroit and now residing in New Orleans. Memphis, I feel, is the average of the two. I've been in a bit of a rut when it comes to New Orleans. It's a love hate relationship that I will expound on more after the jump.
I love New Orleans with every bit of my soul. Sometimes it is a hard place to love. It's much like a relationship, and this is the only place I've lived where I have felt this way. Detroit, was, well Detroit for pete's sake. Chicago had lots to offer and San Diego had the ocean and beautiful weather.
I've been thinking about my career and growing as a photographer. New Orleans offers so much in terms of creativity but not much in terms of growth as a photographer. There are few magazines published down here. Visually these magazines stay on the safe side. As for photographers in this city, we have plenty. Probably more per capita than anywhere else I would guess. Most are Fine Art Photographers and don't really approached the business in the manner in which I do. There are a couple in this city who I admire greatly. Lee Crum and Brady Fontenot are two that I have had a chance to work for, and I hope to follow in their footsteps. I still have much to learn and I'm not sure if it is going to happen here in New Orleans. I want to assist more, it really is the best way for me to learn. But the list of portrait photographers who get paid enough to pay for assistants is pretty small. Which has got me thinking about moving to a bigger market.
The joke amoungst my friends is that I'm perpetually moving out of town. It's because sometimes I feel there is a ceiling for me here in New Orleans. I've been working on all sorts of plans on how I can stay in New Orleans and progress. One is a website I've been developing for the music scene here, Nolarhythm.com. The others involve ideas for books. And of course the third is to pursue editorial work for the few magazines that are published here. Also, there is still so much more personal photography I want to shoot also before I leave. I'll be working on all of this until the summer at which point I will re-evaluate my circumstances.
There are definitely times when I think I'm crazy for even wanting to leave. This last week has been a good example. I'm surrounded by sooooo many talented people and they all inspire me sooo much. The music, the food, the people, the slow pace are all things that make this such a wonderful place to be. Jilliene says people in New Orleans live in the moment, and it's so very true. I find when I am wanting to leave here it is when I am not living in the moment, when I'm thinking about the future.
In other leonard photography news;
I believe I have found my new muse. I will share some pictures soon. We are in the process of trying to set up a couple of shoots. Also should be shooting another portrait for "people I know" of my friend Paul who is a member of the Rolling Elvi. That should be an interesting one. I'll also have a new assistant for that one, which should be fun. I like helping out the youngsters. Finally, I got bumped off of the City Business shoot for the story of a push to shut down the bourbon st. stripclubs. Bummed.
ll
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Happy Halloween
Halloween is always the best holiday in New Orleans. The day started with an 8am call to assist on a photoshoot of Olympic athlete Lolo Jones. The night ended with a 3:30am performance at the Balcony Music club by a fantastic band Felix. I left the camera at home this year though because I didn't want to get silver paint all over it. I went as a B&W actor from the 30's. I've yet to see any pics from last night but click the jump to see some from years past.
Up at 6:30 and off to the airport to pick up the rep, then off to Baton Rouge. Long day. There was some confusion and lots of last minute things happening to get this shoot off the ground. But it all came together just fine. Lolo was great. She had a good personality and was a lot of fun to work with. The rep from Set Magazine seemed please with the shoot. I think the story runs in Jan. Should be fresh.
I'll leave you with two photos from past Halloweens.
This was 2006, I was dressed as a blown up terrorist.
This was from 2005, the craziest Halloween I've ever experienced. It was only a month after being back in New Orleans after Katrina. 
ll
