If I hadn't seen it so many times before, it would probably be surreal.

On a technical note, I used a polarizer filter while shooting here.  In short, when shooting at an angle perpendicular to the Sun, it creates richer skies and adds more contrast to the darker areas.  The more I can do in-camera, the happier a photographer I am.

As a caveat, polarizers can take away up to one and a half stops, so don't use them in low light.

If you're not familiar, Terrytown is technically only a large neighborhood in Gretna; although it has grown to feel like it's own city. Fifty years ago, I remember, it was only a few street big, and now look at it.  It's hosting it's own festival--and with a great turn out, too.

The Top Cats played.  Robert saw my camera and caught my eye and introduced me on stage as the Times-Picayune.

I didn't feel the time was right to correct him.

The first in my series is Greg from Mojo Coffee House, located on the corner of Magazine and Race.  It's a great little coffee shop that we used for Keith to change clothes in (that is, the restroom part of it...) when we were doing his shoot a couple weeks back.  It was one of those things where I felt obligated to buy something, so I got Keith a choc au lait.  It was good.  he said.

Anyway, as I was standing there talking to Greg, the idea hit me:  I love drinking coffee, and taking portraits, and drinking coffee. This would make a fun project. What isn't great about this.

Lastly, I have full intentions of hitting up all the coffee shops that I like, and when that's done, randomly walking the streets to find more.  But if YOU have a coffee shop you like (p.s., no Starbucks.  I..just...can't...doit.  sorry, I tried. fail), hit me up with an address, and I'll put them on here.  I love referrals the most, so let me know what you've got!

Greg / Mojo:

Greg in action.  A beast.

How did they know.

And I got to meet Lea (the cool girl with the fire-whip), who, when I asked to take her portrait, promptly replied with what's-your-name-and-do-I-get-a-copy.

It was: Joe and yes.

...

Fire.

As a result, I'm taking far fewer pictures, which brings with it a kind of ethereal feeling.  And unexpected.  Instead what happens is I get to spend more time getting to know people like Clinton and Ricky (who was doing that face on purpose).  Clinton is from Yazoo County in Mississippi.

You might remember this from My Cousin Vinny.  I did.

But I didn't mention that.

P.S. I'll be travelling with them to Austin in a couple weeks to shoot them playing the South by Southwest Festival!

It was a full evening, but at it's heart, it offered parents the opportunity to see their child accepting his award on stage and in front of everyone.  A great deploy of positive encouragement!

And Deshaad, always willing to oblige, posed for a picture.  Go figure.

Those are the first two.

And then I saw a Lamborghini.

354,000.00

in case you were wondering.

The rest is just the randomness from the day; out-takes of Keith that I liked but didn't make the final cut; lunch; and a truck.

truck:

We had lots of fun.  Between getting busted for shooting on people's front porches and the occasional curious store-clerk wondering what we're doing with  his storefront, it was a fairly mild and relaxed day.  All five hours.

And coincidentally, that nice little, yellow three-piece couch-and-chair set is only 995.  Dollars.

Circa 1920.

Don't let it get away.

Check back soon for Part 2: out-takes, misses, and other random stuff that happened, including what we had for lunch.  Maya's.

There.

Here's an introduction to this new location: