Rita
You may or may not know that Susan and I lived in Louisiana for four years prior to coming back to the west. While there I spent a lot of time photographing and birding the coastal marshes. In the last month two of my favorite Louisiana locations have been all but destroyed.
Plaquemines Parish, basically the delta area southeast of New Orleans is almost totally under water thanks to Hurrican Katrina. Most of that parish was water anyway, but the thin strip of land bordering the highway was great for birding and was really interesting to photograph, though I didn't photograph it much.
Cameron Parish, the southwest coastal area of Louisiana is now probably destroyed thanks to Rita. I spent as much time as possible between work and school photographing and birding in Cameron. Spring migration especially was unbelievable. Now I'm wondering how the coastal woods fared. This area is already economically depressed; most barely scrape by fishing, shrimping, and working in the oil and gas industry (if they're lucky). I'm wondering how and if they will rebuild.
This spring I had a chance to return to Cameron Parish. I spent most of my time photographing the coastal woodlands and communities of the cheniers (coastal ridges). I'm glad I had the opportunity, I'm wondering what's left.
I hope to get back soon (but don't know how) to document the destruction and resilience. Anyway, here are a few photographs of Cameron Parish as I'd like to remember it:
Marsh Fire, Holly Beach, LA 1999
Wind-blown Oak, near Peveto Bird Sanctuary, LA 2005
Submerged Gas Line, Cameron Parish, LA 2005
To see more Cameron Parish and southern Louisiana photographs visit these two galleries on my website: Southern Louisiana Landscapes or Chenier
Plaquemines Parish, basically the delta area southeast of New Orleans is almost totally under water thanks to Hurrican Katrina. Most of that parish was water anyway, but the thin strip of land bordering the highway was great for birding and was really interesting to photograph, though I didn't photograph it much.
Cameron Parish, the southwest coastal area of Louisiana is now probably destroyed thanks to Rita. I spent as much time as possible between work and school photographing and birding in Cameron. Spring migration especially was unbelievable. Now I'm wondering how the coastal woods fared. This area is already economically depressed; most barely scrape by fishing, shrimping, and working in the oil and gas industry (if they're lucky). I'm wondering how and if they will rebuild.
This spring I had a chance to return to Cameron Parish. I spent most of my time photographing the coastal woodlands and communities of the cheniers (coastal ridges). I'm glad I had the opportunity, I'm wondering what's left.
I hope to get back soon (but don't know how) to document the destruction and resilience. Anyway, here are a few photographs of Cameron Parish as I'd like to remember it:
Marsh Fire, Holly Beach, LA 1999
Wind-blown Oak, near Peveto Bird Sanctuary, LA 2005
Submerged Gas Line, Cameron Parish, LA 2005
To see more Cameron Parish and southern Louisiana photographs visit these two galleries on my website: Southern Louisiana Landscapes or Chenier
6 Comments:
you know darren you are one hell of a good photographer
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I have to agree with Mark; those are very beautiful photographs, and you are extremely talented. I feel very lucky and fortunate to have studied under you.
It is sad that some of those places on the gulf coast have been damaged or destroyed.
you guys are making me blush.
They always rebuild... always will... they may be down but they are never out...it may look horrible now but Mama Nature has her way.
Darren, thanks for the memories! The photos are beautiful. Aren't you happy you spent so much time down near the gulf while here in the south? Rita and Katrina really did a number on the region but we'll survive...
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