So, being a native New Orleanian and having friends who are also native, it comes as no surprise that I had to find out about this one-month-after-Mardi-Gras parade from a friend from Seattle.  How did I miss this for the last 25 years?

I take no credit for myself.

Sunday afternoon the Mardi Gras Indians were marching in their own very laid back parade.  And honestly, it was probably the best parade I've ever been to.  Short; a busy but not overwhelming crowd; and short.  It was good.

At a parade this last week I snapped this over my shoulder.  It's a huddle of people passing around a fatty ("who told you that?" ...Wedding Crashers).  I was really impressed with the shot--the timing and the composition, as well as the character elements that all came together at the right moment.  I won't go into all the reasons I like this picture, but it got me thinking about what makes a great picture.  In this case (and probably much more than I want to admit right now), it's quantity.  Taking a lot (read: a Lot!) of pictures.

The laws of probability dictate that if you shoot enough pictures one or two have to come out good.  It's inevitable.  I shot almost 500 pictures that day but only posted around 20.  That about a 4% success rate.  Put another way, in 2009 I took an average of 65 pictures every day for the entire year.  It's for reasons like this that I don't feel egotistical when I remark on how impressed I am with a picture I captured.  If you only saw all the other crap... never mind.

I've learned to understand that so little of an image is truly the result of the photographer's technical skills but just being in the right place at the right time.  Of course, all the technical stuff is still a prerequisite, but at the end of the day, it's not what gets the shot.

This is kind of a random post, but I'm writing to encourage anyone who might still be looking for the secret.

It's take more pictures, by the way.

Lately I've been inundated with Mardi Gras...as my blog has shown. this will be my third day of parades. or is it forth. this is getting out of hand. where have my principles gone? I haven't flashed anyone this year. so that's something.

Today I've put myself on assignment to take non-Mardi Gras pictures. without leaving the city. of course.

I got this.

Until then, here are my very-MardiGras shots from Sunday.  thoth, mid-city, bacchus, and probably some others.

Those of you who know me know I'm not big on parades.  I've lived here forever, and it's kind of the same thing each year.  That being said, I still try to make at least one each year, because after all, it's a city-wide party.  And that's fun.

This year (you might have heard) the Saints won the Superbowl.  In honor of their win (or lose, regardless), New Orleans--and by New Orleans, I mean, like, the entire city showed up for this--held a Saints Parade.

Since this is now a part of history, I felt it important to document.

Last night I drove home dodging effervescent Drew Brees clad New Orleanians dancing in the streets as passerbyers slowed to honk in celebration.  Apparently, no car roofs were off limits.

Fireworks began echoing about 3 minutes before the Saints won and continued on well into the night, long after I had fallen asleep.

Earlier that day, Katie and I agreed it was necessary to document the celebrations going on in the French Quarter, which happend to include a few parades, as well.  At this point, the Saints hadn't won yet, but I don't think there was much doubt in anyone's mind that they would.  After all, with that much alcohol who had room left for doubt?

Good times:

And my favorite: