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MOTION THOUGHTS
Saturday, June 09, 2007new orleans on filmsometimes i doubt my ability or talent in photography, or anything else i do really. and then sometimes i see what i've been able to do.    i love film. if i had all the time (and patience) in the world, i would use it exclusively. nothing can replace its magic. it makes you see and understand better than digital. Labels: black and white, New Orleans, photography Friday, April 20, 2007camellia grill reopens in riverbend.Camellia Grill is a trademark New Orleans diner. Operated by the same family for over 60 years before Hurricane Katrina, it became part of the heart and soul of Uptown New Orleans. After exchanging ownership, the Camellia Grill re-opened with a private preview day on April 20, 2007. It's just another sign of the slow but steady revitalization of New Orleans. The Camellia Grill accumulated hundreds of love letters in the form of Post-It notes on its façade in the over 20 months of its closing.  Harry Tervalon, 87, was present to cut the ribbon in the opening ceremony. He was a longtime head waiter at the diner.  New owner Hicham Khodr, Harry Tervalon, and a city councilman prepare to cut the ribbon during opening remarks.  Khodr receives a proclaimation in celebration of the re-opening of the Camellia Grill from city council members after the opening remarks.  Privileged citizens of New Orleans enjoy the first food off of the grill in 20 months.  New Orleans Police Department Captain Warren Riley was present to witness the re-opening of the diner, and to enjoy a meal.  A waiter presents a customer with a straw after the classic chocolate freezes are served.  The traditional linen napkins have reappeared at the Camellia Grill, keeping more than a touch of class.  Much of the wait staff from pre-Katrina Camellia Grill is also back. Everyone was in especially good spirits.  Love notes once again dotted the façade of the diner during the first meal of the day.  The Camellia Grill opens to the public on Saturday, and long, long lines are forecasted. Labels: black and white, New Orleans, photography Monday, February 26, 2007february portraits.i like these people a lot. and because they say i never share. awe-struck brandon jovial and mystical aldo rachel with sketchbook leroy (also) for mayor warren and campo: two normal american boys a boy i met at a swanky suds social via cadet warsley (right) admiral alanna and jenny at the campfireLabels: cadets, New Orleans, photography, portraits Sunday, February 25, 2007burning bush i was intending to post this forever ago, when it actually happened (january 23), but i could never decide if i wanted to post more pictures than just this one. tom's post probably covered all my bases. except for mine are in color! if you're interested in more, let me know. so yes, this is from the state of the union party at the iron rail book collective in the marigny of new orleans. and yes, we are burning an effigy of the president. lagniappe:     Labels: anarchy, fire, fireworks, New Orleans, photography, president bush Wednesday, February 14, 2007tornado tuesday."A powerful early-morning storm spawned at least one tornado that skipped across the New Orleans area Tuesday, destroying homes and a hotel in Westwego before crossing the Mississippi River and slamming the Carrollton and Gentilly areas." -The Times-Picayune, Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Damage is extensive on a house missing its entire façade on Freret Street between Broadway and Carrollton Avenues. Other houses on the block lost roofs, while still others were entirely untouched. Incredibly, no one was injured.  Powerlines are down all along the path of Tuesday morning's tornado. The Uptown New Orleans area suffered power outages from approximately 3AM into the evening.  A house on the 7800 block of Freret Street suffers damage to its roof, including impact from an airconditioning unit, slung against it by the F2 tornado that hit the neighborhood.  Wreckage from the storm paints a grim image of uncanny resemblance to the wind damage sustained by the area only a year and a half before from Hurricane Katrina.  Local and state police, as well as national guard troops and military police, spared no time in setting up a command camp in the Riverbend neighborhood of New Orleans on Carrollton Avenue.  Law enforcement officers meet in a Carrollton Avenue shopping center parking lot between Hampson and Maple Street where they have set up a command center in response to Tuesday's tornado. Police cruisers and national guard humvees inundated the area and overflowed onto the neutral ground.  Many levels of government response arrive at the scene of Orleans Parish's greatest destruction. Luckily there was not much incident at all after the tornado left the area.  National Guard troops are seen once again on the streets of New Orleans, dubbed "martial law city" by some in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Soldiers are a familiar but still unnerving sight to many in the city.  Locals do their best to help victims of the storm, and those trying to help them. The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana sent its "Hurricane Relief" vehicle to the scene; an ironic presence that it should appear now after New Orleans escaped the 2006 hurricane with no harm. Locals are more than cooperative and generous to everyone involved in the recovery from the storm. Labels: New Orleans, photography Friday, January 26, 2007concerned citizens.here is my brief follow-up to the photograph i posted on tuesday evening. this all went down at the Iron Rail/Plan-B warehouse on Decatur and Marigny in the Marigny district of New Orleans. The advertisement for the event, the "State of the Union Party," touted "Fireworks! Burning effigies!" and "Fire-breathing anarchists!" And, well, I think you'll see that these claims were not unfounded... the night started out with giant 8-foot in diameter hula hoops! this gentleman hulahooped with the best of them.  he was an expert, and also assisted with the filmings inside of the art space. on this night, he played mentor to the young girl on the right, who was soon hula hooping with great finesse.  inside the art space, kids from all over crowded in for food, drink, and a showing of the state of the union address and film "death of a president." during the first half of the presentation, the audience was encouraged to throw rotten vegetable matter at the screen.  then they brought the bush effigy out, which was once seated right of the viewing screen.  amidst some varied calls of, "no, you're not going to burn it, are you?" came answers...  of, "oh, yes we are!" the effigy was soaked with alcohol first.  and then after some trial and tribulation with lighters, surfaces to light, and other concerns...  it caught fire. in the background are two undercover detectives that came to the gathering in case if things got out of hand. they called for two squadron cars when things got louder, and their true identites were revealed.  chaos ensued once george REALLY got burning.  people interacted with their flaming president in many ways. here a young gentleman sees that the effigy's head is not adequately on fire!  george soon falls to pieces, much to the crowd's delight!  some begin to toast marshmallows on the open fire.  others simply come to warm themselves on the comforting glow.  fireworks also make an appearance, bursting into the sky, skipping gleefully along the streets, and making a genuine ruckus!  bam!  basking in the glow.  the collective stamps out their fires after the cops arrive. two police cruisers pull up after the fireworks get particularly intense. they were stationed about two blocks away towards the river since the beginning of the night. they demand that the collective cease all loud activity.  our hula-hooping friend from earlier talks to police, assuring them that everything is all right, and that the collective is just going to go back inside and watch another film. everyone wishes the police a good night. fin. Labels: black and white, fire, fireworks, New Orleans, photography, president bush Thursday, January 25, 2007New Orleans Walkabout      Labels: black and white, New Orleans, photography Thursday, December 21, 2006Carrollton Transit Stationwords and photography by Cadet Tom, Autumn 2006
Hurricane Katrina threw the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority and its streetcar system into disarray. Tracks and electric lines were torn apart, streetcars were flooded and rendered unusable, and a dispersed population and payroll left the RTA in a dreadful financial position. They are only now slowly getting back on their feet, and their most famous icon—the New Orleans streetcar—is making its return slowly but surely. The Carrollton Transit Station in the Carrollton neighborhood of Uptown is the epicenter of its revitalization. Dozens of streetcars from all of the New Orleans lines fill the storage floor and general assembly floor in the station. Some, most of the green St. Charles streetcars for example, are in great condition. Others—the 24 red Canal streetcars and six of the seven Riverfront streetcars—have varying amounts of damage. The Canal Station flooded during the storm, putting the streetcars inside out of use. They were eventually taken to the Carrollton Station.
They now lie waiting. Some cars are entirely gutted, others still full of scrap and trash from the flood. Still others are in better condition, although occasionally vandalized. One Canal streetcar has been graffiti tagged with the words “GET ME BACK ONLINE.” The artist might not have realized that he was not helping in realizing his request. Another is entirely covered on one side with more intricate graffiti. These are all remnants of Katrina’s troublesome effects. The RTA is working on remedying all of these troubles and getting everything back in working order. They are depending on their skilled engineers and well-equipped facilities to reach this end.
The engineers of the Carrollton Station are especially important. Many have been working on New Orleans streetcars for over 25 years. They are highly skilled at their work, which covers anything a streetcar could possibly need. There are carpenters, upholsterers, welders, mechanical engineers, painters, metal workers, electricians, and machinists. Raymond Perossier, a man who has done it all, busies himself with all aspects of streetcar maintenance at the station. He was trained by the last man whom he considered “knew everything” about the streetcars. Perossier is an integral employee at the station.
The facilities at the station are almost equally important. They range from tools used on the original streetcars that Perossier says are “older than your grandfather’s father,” to computerized machines that can complete a job that used to take a week in a matter of hours, to hydraulic lifts that can push up an entire streetcar ten feet into the air. Thanks to a thorough modernization in the 1990s, just about anything can be done with ease. Any part required for a streetcar can be manufactured right in the station. Several shops, including an electric shop, a millshop, an upholstery shop, a welding shop, and a metal shop are astride the storage floor and general assembly floor. There are also two painting chambers (called “spray booths”) where painters can paint anything from a chair to an entire streetcar.
Workers already had a lot on their hands before Katrina. There is an ongoing restoration project for the Saint Charles line, the home of which is the Carrollton Station. Day after day, workers have been taking apart and putting together the Saint Charles cars again. Right now, there is a special emphasis on the trucks of the cars—the assembly that contains the massive engines and wheels. Work takes place on the general assembly floor with welding and construction, and in machine shops with individualized attention to each component of the truck.
Everyone is hard at work at the station. Many are occupied with projects for the restoration of the Saint Charles streetcars, including Larry McKenzie and Allen Santee who have been working with the trucks on the general assembly floor, and Anthony Maggio and Lenny Reyes in the machine shop, who are working on perfecting individual components. In the spray booths, Mr. Stampley and Eric Blasch are painting everything that needs to be painted in that trademark green or red coat.
There are also several independent projects happening. In the metal shop, James Kimble has been making barbeques from scratch for the company picnic; a humorous reprieve from the serious work elsewhere at the station. “It’s actually a pain the ass,” he says. Nevertheless, he is proud of his final products, especially with the little metal “smokehouses” he has welded onto the top of every chimney.
Things are flowing smoothly at the Carrollton Transit Station, and service is being restored slowly but surely. In late November, the RTA decorated its streetcars for the holidays. Service is also set to be restored to the downtown section of St. Charles Avenue past Lee Circle by the end of 2006. The cars that lie in waiting now will soon be rolling out of the Carrollton Transit Station and into service.
Labels: black and white, New Orleans, photography Sunday, October 29, 2006PHOTOESSAYAfter scouting it out on the evening of Friday, September 29th, Art Party Members Brandon, Alanna, Warren, and Tom visit the Valley of Trash during the daytime for a thorough investigation. Photos do follow! Mayoral Candidate Cadet Brandon Ledet and Art Party Pioneer Warren Pope walk the path to the Valley of Trash. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren mounts the first rig quickly. It was easily conquered the night before, and is already familiar territory. (Photo Tom Macom)  The Valley of Trash is likely home to many hobos, tramps, and "lost men," some of which enjoy sitting in chairs. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren is lithe and agile on the rigs. (Photo Tom Macom)  Mayoral Candidate Brandon (AP-LA) films trash, trash, trash. This includes both actual refuse strewn on the ground, and human members of the popular New Orleans band. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren continues to pioneer. (Not shown: his covered wagon; bonnet.) (Photo Tom Macom)  Rigs lie scattered everywhere, their inverted and horizontal ladders and staircases completely irrelevant. (Photo Tom Macom)  The Emergency Shut-In apparatus on one of the rigs stands useless. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren climbs a rig deeper into the Valley. (Photo Tom Macom)  Ferries and barges pass on the Mississippi river all day long, completely missing out on all of the fun. (Photo Tom Macom)  Trash trash trash? Only a fraction of the trashscape. (Photo Tom Macom)  Mysterious oxygen canisters stand in the Valley, occasionally letting off pressure in a frightening and loud manner. This is rather scary at night when you're not expecting it. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren walks all over the 53 ton rig. Many of the pieces were labeled according to weight, including a 75 ton tube. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren takes another approach to the 53 ton. (Photo Tom Macom)  Brandon films trash by the oxygen tanks in the Valley, as viewed through rig grating. (Photo Tom Macom)  Barnacles cover the lower portion of some of the rigs. They crackle and pop as you walk on them, as a scent reminiscent of a sea food restaurant wafts up at you. (Photo Tom Macom)  Alanna, xylophonist-extraordniaire and Art Party founder, documents the scene at the bottom of a tube. (Photo Tom Macom)  Pioneer Warren looks on as Alanna films baby crabs. Later, they dance on one of said baby crabs. (Photo Tom Macom)  Brandon grins at something that's probably completely insane. His hair looks good. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren eyes Alanna quizzically. (Photo Tom Macom)  Alanna ponders whether Cadet Aldo (not shown) will survive the imminent deadly tornado attack. (Photo Tom Macom)  Alanna converses with Cadet Ledet from inside the 75-ton tube. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren swings from a rope hanging from a still-erected rig on the shore. (Photo Tom Macom)  Comrade Tom and Pioneer Warren swing from the beautiful rig of love. (Photo Alanna Stewart)  Tom takes a close swing. He is utterly out of control. (Photo Alanna Stewart)  Swinging from giant rigs is good for many muscle groups, including the happy muscle, and the giant clam. (Photo Alanna Stewart)  The trashscape as seen from a still-standing rig. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren captures both ropes. (Photo Tom Macom)  And poses. (Photo Tom Macom)  Warren ascends stairs to the second platform of the right whilst Brandon and Alanna converse. (Photo Tom Macom)  Brandon and Alanna hang around the first landing, their highest point of ascent. (Photo Tom Macom)  Brandon and Alanna as seen from the roof grate. (Photo Tom Macom)  A defunct ITT Barton pressure gauge is one of many instruments found on the roof of the rig. (Photo Tom Macom)  A ska valve, a little known but very important component to petroleum rigs, is quickly attended to by Warren. (Photo Tom Macom)  Gauges and measuring contraptions are dispersed throughout the rig. (Photo Tom Macom)  Cadet Tom grasps a rope before taking off into outerspace. (Photo Alanna Stewart)  Cadet Tom and Warren pose for the camera. Sort of. (Photo Alanna Stewart)  Later at the fly, Cadet Warren rewards himself with a cold beverage which wears a shirt. (Photo Tom Macom)  Cadet Warren contentedly twists the cap off of his well-dressed drink. (Photo Tom Macom) fin Labels: black and white, New Orleans, photography, water
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