New Orleans Daily Photo

The Saenger. The dream sellers of my childhood.

2011-07-17T14:41:00.001-05:00

The old Saenger Theater in New Orleans. The photo arouses long sleeping images of Saturday mornings watching Sinbad the Sailor movies. Today I would probably laugh at how hokey they were. But back then, we lived in fear that the next adventure with a dragon could be his last. We clung to a tugging believe that he was the true hero that could escape any peril.

Water wonders

2011-06-21T21:45:00.001-05:00

My grand-niece shows fascination with the water fount at the St. Joseph's Abbey Church in Abita Springs, LA.

A Trace of light rationing

2011-05-09T20:37:00.001-05:00

Another flower shot from my walk along the Trace in Mandeville one Saturday recently. Even in the bright afternoon sun, sunlight is a precious commodity along the shadowy lane that weaves from Mandeville to Abita Springs.

Iron fence, rusted future

2011-05-08T18:25:00.002-05:00

Those old cast iron fences that stand sentinel along the streets of New Orleans, have a hard enough time beating off the elements in good years, but add to that hurricanes, and several storms and dozens of years, and the years start to take their toll. The flaky paint seems to be holding the rust in as much as it is hold the moisture out. But this fleur del lis stands strong, even if it doesn't still stand straight.

A Trace of beauty

2011-05-03T21:46:00.002-05:00

I stopped for a moment along the Trace in Mandeville and notice a simple white flower in the sea of green trees, vines and bushes. I think I often miss little treasures like this.

Earth's canopy -- Live Oak

2011-04-30T00:12:00.001-05:00

Live Oaks have a way making their roots the center of grace, leisure and tranquility. This grandfatherly oak connects the earth and sky with stretched-out shadows and ray-catching Spanish moss. The shot is on the inspiring lawn at St. Joseph Abbey near Covington, LA.

Beam it down, yttocs

2011-04-26T10:29:00.000-05:00

Along the way of the St. Tammany Trace, a beam of light lasers through the dense foliage and sheds light on a young leaf.

Party in the pollen

2011-04-25T21:27:00.001-05:00

Somebody had an Easter party on this Easter lily. Who could it bee?

Spinning earthward...

2011-04-25T07:03:00.000-05:00

Our niece Rebekah is in a quandary. She is going to exit this limb in a split second. The trick is to land gracefully, with all limbs in tact. I glad to report she was successful. The scene is on the lakefront it Mandeville. Spring is a great time to enjoy the fresh lake breeze and warm sunny days.

The path remembered

2011-04-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Maybe these are the kind of days you remember -- running, walking riding a bike through the park. Worry free. Thoughts roaming.

Climbing on the Live Oak

2011-04-21T23:42:00.001-05:00

This tree just invites kids to climb. You can get on it by practically stepping up a few inches. You can't easily go very high because the limb gets steep quickly. The shot is from the lakefont in Mandeville on the northshore of Lake Pontchartain, across from New Orleans. You can see the 23-mile Causeway Bridge on the horizon.

2011-04-15T20:51:00.001-05:00

I can't tell you what captured my fancy about this.... this... well, this weed. It had found a shaft of sunlight in a dark corner of a cool bayou bend and was soaking it up. It had a bit of loneliness to it, as well a bit of pioneering spirit. But, mostly it just seemed content to be out of the dark, gathering strength from the light.

Rub a dub dub?

2011-04-08T06:51:00.001-05:00

Starting out on a fishing trip on a chilly morning with the mist rising from the bayou. These three men, sailing out from Mandeville Harbor have great hopes of a good day of fishing.

Canine curiosity focuses on camera

2011-04-07T06:31:00.000-05:00

Another shot from the Mandeville Dog Parade held recently on the lakefront. I think from the interest she was showing in my camera, that this dog was inquiring into photography lessons.

Ducking out....

2011-04-06T05:54:00.002-05:00

Was it something that I said? This Grebe out on the lakefront of Mandeville wanted no part of being around me. As I approached straight to the lake wall, he caught site of me and you can see how fast he flashed out of there --1, 2,3,4,5 water slaps showing in this picture. The shot was taken at 1/320th of a second!

Here we go round the.... oak tree?

2011-04-03T17:37:00.002-05:00

It may not be exactly climbing a tree, but it's just as much fun. Our grandson, Sullivan, and his cousin Kristin were having a lot of fun on the roots of this giant oak on the Mandeville lakeshore.

Every bird knows -- kids means treats...

2011-03-27T15:22:00.000-05:00

The gulls were lining up for bombing runs at the water when the crowds were gathered for the annual dog parade in Mandeville, La. They recieved some notice from the crowd sitting on the lakefront wall. But most of the crowd was focused on mingling and dog gawking.

Early morning adventure in Lake Pontchartrain

2011-03-27T13:40:00.000-05:00

Heading out from Mandeville's harbor on a cool morning with the steam rising from the lake-mixed bayou water as the sun's warm rays glance of the cool water.

We all stand on the shoulders of others...

2011-03-26T15:22:00.000-05:00

When you're at a parade (especially the dog parade in Mandeville, La.) you'll do whatever it takes to see that cute canine that is passing by. Hey, look at me! Look at me!

Its a parade of paws on grassy green Mandeville lakefront

2011-03-25T15:22:00.000-05:00

Parading perfectly down the Mandeville lakefront not only shows off the dogs of the northshore city, but also shows of the grace, elegance and leisure-loaded highlight of the city. The annual parade was a couple weeks ago

Dogs parade down Mandeville Lakefront

2011-03-24T19:27:00.001-05:00

The annual dog parade in Mandeville is a pretty big affair. The canine cutties carouse carefully past the crowds along the lakefront

It's mom time now -- egret

2011-03-10T06:32:00.001-06:00

Mom egret gets a few minutes for personal grooming while the chick is satisfied and not hungry for the moment.
You can just barely see the chick through the branches to the right of mom. They get to spend a lot of
time together in these younger days. This is old shot form a couple years ago in Audubon Park.

Double Take and Double Stop

2011-02-27T10:37:00.000-06:00

Hey, what can I say, it just caught my eye. Two ways to stop people.

High in the Pecking Order

2011-02-26T10:16:00.001-06:00

As I was getting in my car at my in-laws house, this Redheaded Woodpecker slashed by.  He zoomed up to the top of this damaged tree across the street and got to work looking for insects.  Unfortunately, he was pretty far away and was working on the opposite side of the tree out of my line of site.  But slowly I worked my way around to capture this shot.

Dragonfly -- loading up on heat

2010-12-02T06:36:00.001-06:00

This dragonfly was enjoying sunning on a trunk of what had been a bush but was not in the greenish water of Bogue Falaya Park in Covington, LA.

Standing strong in death

2010-11-14T20:23:00.001-06:00

This tree corpse stands at the main junction in Fontainebleau State Park, across the Lake (Pontchartrain) from New Orleans. It was a favorite place to go for a childhood weekend fun time. Linda and I drove through there the other day, so to reminisce. It was amazing the damage done by Hurricane Katrina. I am sure that Hurricanes Rita, Gustav and Ike did a lot of tree snapping, too.
The tree was soaking its few hanging strands of Spanish Moss in the last stray beams of sunlight gliding in from the lake

Park, Louisiana, FontaineBleu

Boyhood park brings memories

2010-10-27T20:59:00.001-05:00

I would call this image pastoral, but their is no pasture. The shot is from the Bogue Falaya Park in downtown Covington, LA. The park was a favorite for us as kids. We would head across the Causeway, from New Orleans -- it was a little bit frightful crossing a 23-mile, two-lane bridge. The trip was worth it though to splash in the cool waters of the Bogue Falaya River. As you can see the water is deep enough for a boats to skim by.

Covington, Louisiana, Nature

Lakefront leisure in Mandeville

2010-09-19T16:00:00.001-05:00

In the evening the Lakefront in Mandeville is a time to get out and away from the house. Walk the dog, fish, sit and watch the sunset or just contemplate. How do you use it?

Five years since Katrina

2010-09-18T15:55:00.001-05:00

It was 5 years ago yesterday, that we went back to see the neighborhood where we used to live in Slidell, Louisiana.
Five years after Hurricane Katrina, that stench still lingers in my mind

Hurricane Katrina, Slidell, Louisiana

Shadows for the Night Heron

2010-09-11T15:30:00.001-05:00

The lighting was a little hard for this young Black-Crowned Night Heron at New Orleans' City Park. I ran into this fellow is a shady part of the bayou shore a while back

--steve buser

heron, City Park, New Orleans

Water park wonderment...

2010-08-26T20:12:00.002-05:00

We were at the water park in Sulphur a couple of weeks ago with the grandkids. I had a new waterproof camera, which of course means I am going to try stupid things. Like standing under the big bucket to see what it looks like when it dumps.

Being under a ton of water crashing to the ground is more of a feeling thing than a seeing thing.
--steve buser

Suspense...... well suspended

2010-04-15T21:11:00.000-05:00

I will venture a guess that when you go bowling, you are used to the ball moving rapidly if not blindingly fast toward the target -- 10 defenseless pins, 60 feet away. Then the violent smash, snap, clacking frensy that ensues. There is the more patient way of playing as my two neices Sarah and Rebeka demonstrate here. "We will knock down no pin before it's time." Surely patience is a virtue.

Butterfly sucking up

2010-04-13T20:33:00.000-05:00

This Painted Lady was having so much fun sucking up nectar (you can see her proboscis, that seems to come from under her jaw) that she let me set up the shot and get well focused. Nectar will do that to one.
--steve buser

Resplendency

2010-04-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Azaleas are resplendent this year. I have been drawn particularly to the white ones. They are eye popping. This shot in downtown Beaumont, looking toward the Tyrrel Library, was actually a couple of days late. A few days before this shot, you could barely see the green leaves of the Azaleas.
--steve buser

Hush-hued wall

2010-04-10T17:00:00.001-05:00

Ivied, dappled wall at Nuvolari's along Monroe Street in Mandeville. Bister, sienna, henna, sorrel, russet colors mixed in. It has a look of serenity and repose to me.
--steve buser

Flower fest fills the air

2010-04-09T20:38:00.000-05:00

The passions of Spring -- the eagerness of motion, the torque that twists us and transports us away from the cold, motionlessness of winter. This day lily greets the morning with a flailing zeal: a sister ready to blossom through her bloom. Each flower has its own story of life and amour. In Spring, their exhilaration builds to a choir of color singing a story of vital longing.
--steve buser

What lives?

2010-04-05T18:58:00.000-05:00

The goal of this shot was to get out early in the morning and capture sprigs burst forth in the early Spring. As I was shooting this branch, (there is a sprig on the far right, top) I was caught by the strange things that inhabited this branch while the green leafery took the winter off. It was a brutal winter (as far as New Orleans winters go), and lots more leaves than usual spun to the ground. This cypress had quite a few branches such as this that would make a mycologist druel.

--steve buser

Sundown rocket

2010-03-27T21:58:00.000-05:00

Sailing into the night. The sun had fallen beyond the horizon and was only sending rays to top of our darkening skies. They captured the tail of this bird, making it appear as though a rocket. It seems a shame that the folks in the plane couldn't see what was happening behind them.
--steve buser

Airplanes, sundown

Don't hit the road Jack!

2010-03-25T21:01:00.000-05:00

What do you want to bet this is a family conversation going on with Mom and Dad trying to convince youngster it is not safe to leave home at such and early age? The shot is in Audubon Park in New Orleans.
--steve buser

egret, New Orleans, Louisiana

Mardi Gras Rock and Roll Marathon

2010-03-15T21:07:00.000-05:00

I didn't get a chance to show photos from the New Orleans Mardi Gras Rock and Roll Marathon a couple weeks back. Our son, Charles, was racing in it. We've been to a few of these, but this was perhaps the best (for us spectators) -- the scenery of City Park, the magnificent, stately, shady oaks along the path, bands every mile. It was a pleasant day in the park.
--steve buser

marathon, New Orleans

Morning, Mourning Dove

2010-03-09T19:09:00.000-06:00

Two years ago this week, we were watching this Mourning Dove cuddle her two new born chicks just outside our bedroom window. Those were exciting time. We would wake up each morning to see how much they had grown.
--steve buser

Mourning Dove, New Orleans, Louisiana

Devilish delights on New Orleans streets

2010-03-08T22:03:00.000-06:00

Like they say, you never know who the devil your going to run into on the streets of New Orleans -- its worth a meander
--steve buser

New Orleans, Costumes

City Park waters reflect memories

2010-03-01T20:36:00.000-06:00

Old Bayou Metairie lies still and somber in New Orleans' City Park. It once carried water from the Mississippi River, but now seems just nothing more than a water for the grand-fatherly oak-laden play land.

It's whiskery Spanish Moss, and tannin-darken waters meander around the 1,300 acres, tying the golf course, sleepy oak trees, playground, Pan-Hellenic buildings and more, together. I remember the first time we canoed and labored paddle wheels boats around the mirror-like waters back in the 60's. Those memories are like the reflections in the bayou -- gloss-filled images that are easily lost in the waves of time.
--steve buser

City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana

Pick me, Pick me

2010-02-24T19:30:00.001-06:00

Is this a good photo? The reason I ask is that I was driving through a rural area today, sans camera, and I saw shot after shot that I wished I could take.  Correction, of course, if I didn't have a camera it's not a shot. It is more a mental image of shot.

That got me to thinking. Does the photographer create the "shot" before the camera? Well of course, in most instances --though, I have had a few great shots that I thought were junk until I pulled them up on my computer.

But, this picture, for instance, what makes it a good shot, mediocre shot, poor shot, or even worth shooting? Why did I shoot this shot? There were lots of other ducks on the lagoon in Audubon Park in New Orleans when I shot this. Does a duck shaking the water off his wings have more of a photographic value than one gliding on pollen-populated water?

Well, of course it does.... to me. That is why I shot it. Why did it have more value to me? Because I got my start as a newspaper reporter. This is the proverbial "boy bites dog" -- the story that sticks out as unusual. You see thousands of duck photos. Few of them are shaking their wings off. That makes it at least mildly unusual. So it is worth shooting to see how it comes out? That's where my value system ranks it. I saw the photo in my "photographer's" mind, then shot it.

So, the photographer makes the photo, then shoots it.

Do you agree?

Photography, New Orleans, Louisiana

Imagination Sparks at Lousiana Children's Museum

2010-02-18T20:32:00.001-06:00

Hope this sparks your imagination. It's the guts of one of those sparking balls and sits in the lobby of the Louisiana Children's Museum on Julia street in New Orleans. I think its kind of symbolic of the creative spark that goes on as little minds enter each day and expand and expand through their play.
--steve buser

Louisiana Children's Museum, New Orleans

French Quarter, street corner music

2010-02-14T18:40:00.002-06:00

On the street corner, the day after the big Superbowl game, these French Quarter musicians were make quite a lot of good sounding music with simple instruments. I was impressed with the deep rich sounds, the base player was getting out of that washtub.
--steve buser

French Quarter, New Orleans, Music

The Big Clean Up -- Superbowl style

2010-02-13T17:54:00.000-06:00

So there we were, pushing our way down Bourbon Street after the big Superbowl game Sunday. The crowds were so packed, forget about moving, it was getting hard to breath. Were the streets dirty? Every once in a while you could catch a glimpse below you and it was not a pretty sight. Most of the time, you were lucky if you could see your shirt pocket with the crowds being so packed sardine-like.

Then the next morning you walk out and the streets are shining -- slightly damp from a night time hosing, but clean and fresh smelling. This is a shot from Royal Street as we walked down to breakfast.

New Orleans is the best in the world at three things: the Superbowl, Mardi Gras, and cleaning up after the big party.
--steve buser

Superbowl, Mardi Gras, New Orleans, French Quarter

New Orleans Night

2010-02-11T19:55:00.001-06:00

This was the view out of our room at the W Hotel in New Orleans Sunday night after we survived the celebration in the French Quarter for the Saints Superbowl win. Just minutes before I shot this, Poydras Street which is down below was circular parade of horn honkers and "Who Dat" cheerleaders. You can see the Loews Hotel on the far right and next to it is the Harrah's Hotel. Just across Poydras with the lighted purple emblem is Harrah's Casio. You are looking out toward the Mississippi River. The Hilton Hotel on the right looks out over the river. The French Quarter is out of the picture, two blocks to the left.

It's a few blocks heavy on the tourism.

By the way, a little known fact, the Mississippi at this point is flowing directly North for a few miles.
--steve buser

New Orleans, Hotels, Superbowl, French Quarter

French Quarter Feathery Festival Finery for Mardi Gras.

2010-02-11T19:46:00.000-06:00

You could be well dressed for Mardi Gras in New Orleans just by donning one of these fashionable boas. The boas were all laid out in a French Quarter shop we passed on Monday, but few minds were on Mardi Gras -- they were still harkening back to the Saints stunning (not so stunning for the true believers, just incredible) win over the Colts. Now that the big welcoming-back parade for the Saints is passed, the city can get back to Mardi Gras.
--steve buser

Superbowl, New Orleans, Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras football -- Superbowl style

2010-02-10T19:39:00.000-06:00

Hey, every dog has his day on the gridiron, doesn't he? This was the Krewe of Barkus parade in New Orleans just a few hours before the big Sunday game between the Saints and the Colts. Mardi Gras was almost on hold for the Superbowl, but when you march through the French Quarter just before the game, every street has a ready-made crowd.
--steve buser

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Superbowl

"Who Dat" 'ers fill the streets.

2010-02-08T20:50:00.000-06:00

Before the big game Sunday night, fans turned out en masse in the French Quarter, to nervously cheer on theire team. I didn't catch any pictures after the game, because it was too packed to try. The French Quarter was filled with revelers, and Poydras Street became and impromtu parade of cars sounding their horns to the sounds of who dat?

I didn't hear any estimates of crowd numbers, but the real crowd numbers are likely for Tuesday night when the city welcomes home it's heros as the Saints parade through the the Central Business District.

"Who dat say they going to beat the Saints?" Nobody now.
--steve buser

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

2010-02-04T20:21:00.000-06:00

A group of Black bellied Whistling Ducks enjoys the quite of the Audubon Park heronry in the bayou. The New Orleans middle-of-the-city park is know for its scenery, jogging, walking, golfing and more. It is however, a wonderful bird watching stop for the out-of-towner.
--steve buser

Dndrocygna autumailis, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, ducks

Glossy Ibis

2010-01-30T08:33:00.000-06:00

It's hard to feel sunny sitting in a cold wet rain. This Glossy Ibis does its best to get interested in fishing. This just may be one day he goes to be hungry. The photo is from Lafreniere Park near New Orleans.
--steve buser

Cloud and sun play

2010-01-28T20:09:00.000-06:00

Vaporous beings both, the cloud and sun team up to dazzle in the fading light. The nearby building must make a spectacular perch to watch this evening expo of ether. Harahan, just out side of New Orleans is the stage.
--steve buser

Sunset

Christmas is a time to learn, too.

2010-01-02T22:27:00.000-06:00

I hope your holidays were grand and filled with family, friends and faith. Our granddaughter, Sophie, had to put the new Christmas baby in the bath immediately, and make sure she was really clean. Unless my eyes are deceiving me, the position of the feet indicates the baby is face down in the water. Oh, well, mothering takes some time to get down right.
--Steve Buser

Christmas, holidays, family

Grandkids take down music.

2009-12-16T21:12:00.002-06:00

It was too wet outside to play, so they sat there they two. Nothing to do. Then, they hit upon an idea. They would play some music, just like mommy does. So our two grandkids, Sophie, 2, and Sullivan, 6, pulled out some music books and chose their song well. (Me? I was surprised they had them upright. I wasn't even worried about the two different books, two different songs thing.) They had it down -- where to place the books, how to look over the notes, the calmness of preparation. Then came the music. Sweetness to a grandpa's ear. Of course, not so much sweetness to the dogs ears.
--steve buser

kids, Louisiana

Misty morning malaise

2009-12-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

The driving was a hard puzzle this weekend with all of the fog. We were in Baton Rouge babysitting the grandkids. This is the Mississippi River Bridge Sunday morning as Linda drove across and I was riding shotgun.... er, make it shotcamera.
--steve buser

Fog, weather, Louisiana

Wasp -- diving down for nectar

2009-11-29T20:04:00.000-06:00

This flower didn't make it easy for this wasp to get his noon-time nectar. He had to climb down through the grove of stamen to find his treasure. He spent about a minute or two wandering in the tops of the grove, then slowly worked his way around and down to a tasty meal. All the while, he was doing the flower's work for it -- getting pollen all over his body.

wasp, flowers

Gull catches wind

2009-11-27T00:18:00.002-06:00

Catch wind.

The gusts are brisk and swirling. Cold. You have fine tuned your muscles to find stability in this. Your feathers respond to every updraft, every downdraft. You can catch wind and soar into the chilly sky. It is the reason you were born, the reason you are here. To tickle the sky's belly.

The photo is on the lakefront in Mandeville, LA.
--steve buser

Ibis eating -- Lafreniere Park, Kenner

2009-11-25T19:09:00.000-06:00

(I know I said I would show you that other shot today but I haven't got it ready yet)
This is a shot at Lafreniere Park out in Kenner in Jefferson Parish. The park was created on an old horse racing track. It now features a beautiful lagoon where Ibis and Herons and other birds share the space with muskrats, turtles and a small alligator or two.
--steve buser

Ibis, Kenner, Louisiana

Jackson Square performers evoke the feel of the French Quarter

2009-11-24T22:36:00.001-06:00

I was just having fun in Gimp with this French Quarter scene I shot a some time back. I was using some of the filters. THis is an old vintage picture photo filter with a frame filter.

I'll show you another version of the same shot on my next post --see which one you like the best.
--steve buser

New Orleans, Jackson Square, Jazz

Rolling on the river into New Orleans

2009-11-22T00:24:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite things to do in New Orleans is to take the ferry ride across to the West Bank of the Mississippi River and then come right back -- you can do it in a car or as a pedestrian. For a buck you get an amazing view of downtown New Orleans rising up. The large building in the center is the International Trade Mart. To the left of that are a couple downtown hotels.

The dark building is, I believe the Pan American building, which only looks smaller because it is much further downtown. Far on the right, the green glass is the entrance to the Aquarium of the Americas and behind it in bright white is Canal Place which houses the Westin Hotel, offices and a very upscale shopping center. The ferry puts into dock at the foot of Canal Street.
--steve buser

New Orleans, Canal Street

Time Warp : Like mother, like daughter

2009-11-20T21:42:00.000-06:00

I saw this picture of our granddaughter, Sophie the other day. The scene is a visit to our house -- she had all her friends huddled around. Suddenly it struck me I had seen this before. Or something pretty darn close. So, I scoured my photo store until I found it. The picture below is her mother, Vicky -- quite a few years back. The very bottom picture is of her mother at about the same age as Sophie. Indeed. Like mother, like daughter.
--steve buser

Swinging carefree in the heart of St. Tammany

2009-11-18T21:24:00.000-06:00

This is our granddaughter, Sophie, enjoying a swing at the trailhead park of the Tammany Trace hike and bike path from Slidell to Covington, LA. THe trail is old rail line right of way that was abandoned back in the 1980's. I was trying to capture that carefree feeling of swinging. I think I got it, even if the focus wouldn't cooperate.
--steve buser

Kids, fun

Bee and wasp -- fighting it out in pistil dual

2009-11-15T22:52:00.000-06:00

Our protagonist on the right, the bee. Was enjoying his romp in the pollen on this afternoon where I just happened to be shooting a picture of this flower. It was only seconds later that our antagonist, the wasp on the right, flitted into this pollen patch. Both the bee (on the right) and the wasp (on the left), kept their distance and didn't seem too distracted with having to share their nectar neighborhood. But soon, the bee got jealous and buzzed a little to close to the wasp's side.

That's when the pistil fight commenced --each making menacing passes at each others' stamens. The wasp's jabs were obvious more threatening and the bee eventually backed off -- remembering that discretion is the better part of valor. He zoomed off to another flower in the neighborhood where he quickly took back up the task of pollen powdering in pursuit of nectar.

--steve buser

bee, wasp, flower

Tri-colored Heron -- patience practice

2009-11-14T16:00:00.001-06:00

A tri-colored heron, doing the patience thing at Lafrenniere Park in Jefferson Parish, which lies next to New Orleans. This park was made from an old race-track, Jefferson Downs. I went to a few Scout events there as a youngster. I like the park a lot better.

This guy stood in this position for 15-20 minutes before was satisfied I had enough shots and I wondered off. For all I know he is still standing there like this, trying to get in the Guiness Book of World Records.
--steve buser

Tri-colored Heron, Louisiana, New Orleans

The hats have it.

2009-11-13T22:46:00.001-06:00

My nieces were having fun when I was shooting pictures of them one day. To add to the picture, they ran out to Linda's car, and grabbed a couple of my hats and one of Linda (center).

From the left are Paige, Sarah, and Rebekah.
--steve buser

Kids, New Orleans

Street Car Sightseeing in New Orleans

2009-11-12T20:50:00.000-06:00

This is our son, Shawn, and his wife, Sarah, on a visit to New Orleans last year. A ride on the St. Charles Avenue street car is always part of the tour.
--steve buser

New Orleans, Street Car

The proper Mardi Gras is about having the accoutrement

2009-11-10T21:18:00.000-06:00

Since we are on a Mardi Gras theme of sorts for today, I thought I would get a little on the technical side and go through some of the required paraphernalia for the perfect family celebration of the carnival.

You will notice the float is passing by a large antebellum home, giving away the fact that this is a shot on St. Charles Avenue -- with its wide neutral ground (median, if you are not from New Orleans). Everyone on the ground in this picture is on the neutral ground.

We will start with the folding table in the middle with the food to munch on all day long. To the far right is the large trash can -- they can never put enough of these on. To the right of the trash can , the black hump is a barbecue pit -- you're going to be out Mardi Gras day from very early in the morning to late in the afternoon -- come prepared.

If you follow with your eyes on the same level to the right, you will see two white humps -- of course, the baby swing. Move your eyes up a little and you will notice another black barbecue pit. Did I mention that you eat all day?

If you are extra observant you will notice the baby stroller, a couple of chairs, a child's seat, a blue tarp on the ground (on the right -- it claims your territory and anything that falls on it. On the middle bottom you may be able to pick out a yellow square -- below the barbecue. That is a big sack for holding you goodies. You will need several of these to haul off your loot.
--steve buser

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, St. Charles Avenue

When angry sea storms billow and rage

2009-11-09T22:50:00.000-06:00

The tropical storm Ida pounding into the Alabama and Mississippi Coast tonight, reminds me of a little more that a year ago when Gustav was bearing down and we decided to head to the Alabama coast to ride out the storm. We learned that these systems are so big they make life miserable a long way from land fall -- especially on the coast.

My sister and her husband rented a condo on Perdido Key on the Alabama coast line where we all watched the anrgy sees and agitated winds pound the coast line. Our power went out the first night and the condo grumbled and moaned through the night. Just crossing the street was strenous, and any attempt to attack the beach was beaten back with spray of salt, water, sand, wind and whatever could be loosed from the earth.

--steve buser

Style rules for catching Mardi Gras beads in New Orleans

2009-11-08T21:49:00.000-06:00

There is a certain style to catching Mardi Gras beads in New Orleans. 1) keep you eye on the catch. 2) extend your arms 3) close in on the target. 4) Let your excitement run away with you. 5) There is no such thing as a bad catch. 6). There are no rules on how to catch beads at Mardi Gras. Everything goes. Don't believe me? Stay tuned.

By the way, our guide for the day is Nino, How does that work, a second nephew? A nephew once removed? Let's just say a relative.
--steve buser

The Duck Book of Rules

2009-11-06T23:02:00.000-06:00

You get a mouthful of tasty stuff from the bottom of the pond and then strain out the water -- you want this to be better tasting, not more filling, right?
--steve buser

Squirrelly beggar tugs the heart strings

2009-10-31T13:51:00.000-05:00

You know those beggars at the traffic light that bring their pets to tug on you emotions. This little squirrel decided to strike out on his own and came right up to our table as we were eating outside a restaurant in Mandeville a while back. Hard to turn a cutie like this down.
--steve buser

Squirrels, Louisiana, Mandeville

Nourishing nature's long-necks

2009-10-29T19:56:00.000-05:00

Little Sophie gets a close up view when my wife, Linda, shows her how to feed the giraffes at Global Wildlife Center -- a free range preserve in Folsom -- about an hour out of New Orleans. I thought for awhile that the smiles on the kids faces my be permanently pasted on. But, like kids tattoos, they wore off in a few days.
--steve buser

Giraffes, Global Wildlife Center

Global Wildlife Center --head butting

2009-10-27T22:31:00.001-05:00

Two young buckS tangle antlers trying to prove their "staghood." We were at the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, La -- a pleasant country drive north of New Orleans.
The animals would come right up to our wagon train for food, but I was surprised to see how many tussles and arguments ensued as they fought their way to the front and then wanted exclusive territory. The kids loved it all (as did the adults -- our daughter Vicky and husband Aaron pulled triple-duty -- feeding the animals, taking pictures and helping our grandkids learn who you could feed by hand and for which animals you had to drop the food on the ground.)

--steve buser

Global Wildlife Center, Louisiana

Fill 'er up!

2009-10-26T20:24:00.000-05:00

Linda and I, went with her family to the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, LA, his weekend (its about 45 miles north of New Orleans. It consists of about 900 acres of free range for some wild animals including deer, buffalo, camels, giraffe and other exotics. If was amazing to see the kids' faces (and the adults') as they animals came right up to the wagon train to be fed. Here, Linda loads up a longhorn steer with a cup full of feed, as Sullivan gets ready for his turn.
--steve buser

wildlife, Global Wildlife Center

Sacked out

2009-10-23T21:15:00.000-05:00

Sitting on the Canal Street ferry wharf, these two Brown Pelicans wait for the ferry to come and whip up fish from underneath the rolling Mississippi River. Notice the pelican on the left. He has leaned his head so far back and opened his beak so wide that it has pushed his gular sack - usually hanging below his beak -- up through the top of the lower mandible -- a sight I have never seen before.

--steve buser

Brown Pelican, New Orleans, Mississippi River

Get your parade face on

2009-10-17T21:34:00.000-05:00

I am proud of myself. I suspect you are pround of me, too, even if you won't admit it.

I will take your silence as a an acquiescence that what I say is true. (silence speaks louder that words). But, just for the others, let me inform them of that which swells my pride.

I have made it to the middle of October and only shown one or two Mardi Gras shots (Out of season that is, not the ones during and just after Mardi Gras.) this year on this blog.

I would fill this blog daily with Mardi Gras pictures if you would allow it. I suspect my Mardi Gras parade of pictures would even spill over into other nearby blogs (much to their "consternation", as they say -- personally, I am not sure I have ever been consternated, for if I were, I would have visited a drug store for relief. But, I digress).

I have dutifully withheld my bounding joy for the Carnival -- Carne Vale, perhaps is derivation. I will leave to your Latin learning to fill in the rest.

No, like a good Felix Sit Annus Novus! reveler then penitent, I have fullfilled my resolution for the year and kept aulld acquaintence from mind -- the mnd of this blog, at least. While I looked personally back, I did not let that aquaintance fetter your enjoyment.

Nonetheless. There comes a time when one must act on that which burns inside himself. That, I do today. Please accept this montage of float-leading parade faces from the 2008 season not so much as a failing, but as eruption of memory, suppressed for a time, but no less powerful.

One can put it out of mind for a while , but at some time, Les Bons Temps va rouler.

--steve buser

Glossy Ibis

2009-10-13T22:11:00.000-05:00

This Gloss Ibis is a frequent wanderer around Lafreniere Park in Jefferson Parish (the neighboring parish to New Orleans)
--steve buser

Reflecting the times

2009-10-09T19:38:00.000-05:00

The Conservatory of Two Sister in City Park in New Orleans is the visual icon for the gardens. This was shot there during the Celebration in the Oaks some time ago. I just hope my schedule will allow time to make it again this year.
--steve buser

City Park, New Orleans, gardens

What a lily..

2009-09-27T17:21:00.000-05:00

This water lily was at the City of Gonzalez Jambalaya Park. We went there today to take our grandchildren to the Splash Pad. This lilly was in the fish pond in front of the splash area. I applied a watercolor filter to the shot to give a painting effect.

O, yeah, the kids had a great time dashing and getting splashed.

-- steve buser

Water lily, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Bitty Bee Bib Needed

2009-09-26T14:04:00.000-05:00

Someone needs to invent a Bee bib. If you going to stick your face down into a flower, you're going to get pollen all over the fine hairs on your back. This bee at the Nature Center in Mandeville demonstrates the problem. What we need is a volunteer inventor ( I doubt if there is any money to be made) . Any takes?
--steve buser

Bees, Mandeville, Louisiana

Shake your claw, feller

2009-09-23T21:24:00.002-05:00

This fellow was at the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. I had a sneaking suspicion that he was holding out his claws to shake hands. Thanks, but no thanks.
--steve buser

Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans, Louisiana

Garnish Grows near Gargoyle Guards

2009-09-20T20:12:00.003-05:00

Built in 1871, the magnificient St. Stephen's Catholic Church on Napoleon Avenue in New Orleans is adorned near the top with these gargoyle guards. Originally gargoyles on churches were for water runoff spouts. I don't think these serve that purpose.

Notice the green plan growing on the left of this 40-some-odd high creatures. On the right, and even on the top, if you look closely, you can see some new sprouts, trying to get hold. They are totally white, which to me, does not signify they have got a good lease on life yet.

--steve buser

Gargoyles, Church

Aerial assaulters

2009-09-16T21:27:00.002-05:00

I was getting read to delete this photo when I saw the sing. Manatee area? Mandeville? Times have surely changed. When I was a young man living in Mandeville, you could hardly get the courage up to swim in Lake Pontchartrain.
To me this shows what we can do when pay respect to our environment.

Now, what to do about those Manatee hunting gulls?
--steve buser

Gulls, Mandeville, Louisiana, Manatee

Hurricane Katrina's collection

2009-08-29T20:08:00.002-05:00

This is what awaited us four years ago when we returned to the old neighborhood where we lived back in the early 80's. Of, course we didn't have to wait to get to this neighborhood to see this. Hurricane Katrina had left destruction in every single street in the region. This neighborhood in Slidell had about 8 feet of water.

What you don't see in this picture is something that was happening in neighborhoods all over -- the residents were hauling everything out of their house, including sheet-rock and cabinets. When they needed a break, they would stand around with neighbors and commiserate that they had not "home" to go back into.

--steve buser

Hurricane Katrina, Slidell, Louisiana

Katrinaversary

2009-08-28T22:44:00.002-05:00

Remembering Katrina -- four years ago. This was taken about three weeks after the storm in Slidell, Louisiana. The top of the house in the background did not start out there before the storm. It is from at least a half mile away.

The scene is a canal (under the rubble) about a mile and half from Lake Pontchartrain. If you are interested here's the location (Google Maps).

It's interesting, this is the first time I have posted this photo. It makes me think. There must be millions (maybe billions) of pictures out there that the world has never seen.
--steve buser

Hurricane Katrina, Slidell, Louisiana

Summer floating

2009-08-08T17:43:00.002-05:00

Oh, those lazy, cloud floating days of summer. These clouds were just drifting aimlessly -- no lift in their spirit and just a listless wind to push them around. I guess to a cloud this is like floating on one of those pool rafts. No deadlines. no where you have to be.

Ah, summer.

--steve buser

Summer, clouds, floating

White lightning

2009-07-31T21:43:00.002-05:00

Hey, it's all fake, but fun. I was just playing around with Photoshop following some tutorials. The sky started out as a real cloud shot, but the white lightning is pure fantasy.

--steve buser

Lighting, photoshop, weather

Rain high

2009-07-27T19:30:00.002-05:00

It's fun to watch the rain sweep across the city and the sky go dark during the day, from the relative safety of a high skyscraper towering over the Central Business District of New Orleans.
--steve buser

New Orleans, downtown, rain

Hope your day is a French Quarter Day

2009-07-23T20:50:00.002-05:00

Another fun day in the French Quarter, nuff said.
--steve buser

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

Cultural climb

2009-07-21T20:20:00.002-05:00

At the corner of the Plaza D'Italia in the warehouse district of New Orleans, a shear wall and neatly restored bluish building serve as foothills for the Harrah's Hotel mountain a block away.
--steve buser

Plaza D'Italia, New Orleans, Louisiana

Starry plaza

2009-07-20T20:43:00.002-05:00

From high above, this is the plaza on the Canal Street side of Harrah's Casino. That isn't a statue in the middle --it's someone walking slowly across. Notice the shadows are stretching out across Canal Street and toward the French Quarter as the evening tones down the colors.

Canal Street, in early times was to have a canal running down it to connect Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River. But, it ended up being a just a wide median. Or, in New Orleans parlance a "neutral ground." Actually,one could say it was THE "neutral ground." It separated the French Quarter from the cultures on the opposite side and acted as a natural and neutral barrier.
--steve buser

Harrahs Casino, New Orleans, Louisiana

Something new, something old, something lives on

2009-07-19T20:19:00.002-05:00

One of the amazing things about downtown New Orleans is the juxtaposition of the new and old. I guess that is pretty common in most cities. But it really seems to fit here. Old buildings are hollowed out and refit with modern comforts, but they keep the same old faces pointed outward. New building spring from empty lots or where old buildings have lost the will to keep living. And together, they make a old city live on.
--steve buser

downtown, New Orleans, Louisiana

Come on, let me see you shake your tail feathers

2009-07-18T09:51:00.002-05:00

If you're hanging around in the water all day, sometimes it feels good to just get out and giver your feathers a good body shake.
--steve buser

NewOrleans, Duck, feathersPowered by ScribeFire.

Straighten them up so you can fly right.

2009-07-14T20:33:00.001-05:00

If you're going to fly, you better have wings. That means you better have your feathers on those wings all line up and pruned well.

It may look like these Ibis at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, just outside of New Orleans, are picking for insects, but more likely they are just straightening their feathers -- not the one on the right, picking up a crop of feathers and laying them back right.
--steve buser

Ibis, Lafreniere Park, Metairie, Louisiana

Take a walk on the Park walk

2009-07-12T17:32:00.002-05:00

This was the group setting up for the start and finish line for a charity walk a year or so ago at Audubon Park. I love this little pavilion that looks out over a grove of ancient oak trees. Or, you can look out the back of the pavilion to a the lagoon at circles in the center of the urban park.
--steve buser

Audubon Park, New Orleans

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Sharing dreams

2009-07-11T10:39:00.002-05:00

This is what happens when you visit Papa and Nanny's house. They have a grown a little since I shot this picture, but the results are still the same -- a kid has a limited amount of energy (I know this is hard to believe but it is true.) Even New Orleans can't keep a kid awake for ever.
--steve buser

kids, sleep, New Orleans, Louisiana

I'm walking in New Orleans

2009-07-09T19:09:00.002-05:00

There's a more residential side to the French Quarter in New Orleans. It's not all just tourist shops, bars and restaurants. There are a significant number of houses, condos and apartments. It's a pretty exciting life -- you're able to catch a lot of festivals and fun and just walk home.
--steve buser

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, festivals, music

I don't like the looks of him

2009-07-08T23:07:00.003-05:00

Hey, I agree with you. Totally. You're right. I shouldn't even expect you to be here still.

But, just hear me out okay? Please?

I do agree with you.

I agree that I have posted too many of these creatures lately. I know it can get boring to see the same old dragonflies just sitting there posing.

But I only show you this one to ask you this question -- Is this guy making fun of me?

Seriously, is he?

Because if he is I will walk back over there and beat the bushes, every last one of them until I find him and all his brother and alll. and I will... Okay. Okay. Let me go.

Okay, I'm okay, I'm settled down. I just don't like his ilk making fun of me. I'm sensitive about that kind of thing.
I'm okay. I'm sure. He's probably dead by now anyway. Lockjaw, I hope.
--steve buser

Dragonfly, New Orleans, Louisiana