Shadows for the Night Heron

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

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Mardi Gras Rock and Roll Marathon

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

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City Park waters reflect memories

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

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Reflecting the times

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

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Concrete defense in City Park

There were a few ducks, geese and a Great White Heron wandering around when I shot this photo of the Hellenic pavillion at City Park. None seemed to present threats that would require a lion for protection.

I suppose that the lion is this there to defend, concretely, the ideas, presentation and themes that come alive in this lagoon-side facility.
--steve buser

City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana

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Shadowing stranger -- Yellow-crowned Night Heron

A young Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax violaceus) stops to check me out, as I wandered up on his dark shadowing nook of the lagoon in City Park, New Orleans. I think he was more after the shade than trying to find good eats.
--steve buser

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, birds, New Orleans, City Park

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Swim or stay

" I wasn't really planning on swimming this early in the morning, but with that strange guy pointing that glass eye at me, I don't know. City Park is a strange place these days -- ever since they let all those humans back in," said the Canadian Goose.

--steve buser

Geese's eye view

Everyone keeps telling you "try to see it from the other guy's view."

Well, I thought I would show you things from a geese's eye view. The New Orleans City Park Canadian Geese didn't even want me to be part of their gathering, even after I explained to them that I wanted to see the world as they see it. Apparently, years of mistreatment by homo sapiens has left them weary and afraid to let in outsiders.

I did manage to get this shot before they quacked insults at me and blinked at each other. They stuck their noses in the air and quickly wandered off gossiping.

I guess the old "Birds of a feather" saying has a lot of truth in it. It's a shame they feel that way, I was going to buy them lunch.

--steve buser

Water flying (Great Egret -- Ardea alba)

Look up flying in a Thesaurus. You'll find "quick, expeditious, fast, hasty, speedy."

Now look at the real thing. A Great Egret at City Park in New Orleans, pushed his wings out, leaned into what little wind there was and pushed the air back most unhastily. Having caught enough air to keep him suspended above the obscure bayou below, he set his sights on the tree lined shadowy realm on the other side. His silvery phantom sailed beneath the rippled surface as if it were boat of air holding him up into the sky.

Tell me again why flying is a an synonym for fast, hasty and speedy?

I can't hear you.

-- steve buser

Treasure at the end of Canal Street

This is Canal Street from up on high at its "foot" at the Mississippi River. Most visitors only get to see the downtown part of the street, but it leads from the River out toward Lake Ponchartrain. The Street Car ride is a fun adventure. It ends in the Cemetaries area. ( see Top 12 Things to Do in New Orleans on the left column for details)

That area of the city is also where City Park is -- a real urban treat that was beaten down by Hurricane Katrina but is rising back. I remember it as a child as a place of wonderment and fun. Climbing on Live Oak trees that have bent to the ground, making them accessible to little feet.

There is the amusement park with the famous carousel, the bayous with all the wildlife (ducks, geese, swans ibis, herons, racoons and more), the grecian play spaces and Story Land. Some areas are still under repair, but it is a full day of family fun.

--steve buser

Peristyle Pretorian Guard

Do you think he scares anyone away?

This old stone-hearted lion has been standing guard on the Grecian Style Peristyle in City Park for decades. The Peristyle was built in 1907, originally as a dancing pavilion. It is one of several structures in the park that can be rented for special occasions.

This looming lion, defending the majestic ionic columns from fierce creatures as swans, ducks, ibis and egrets, overlooks Bayou Metairie which wends through the park

The pavilion is a favorite place for non-profit events, weddings and the like. Of course, the rise of air conditioning has limited its use.

-steve buser

Rooted in history

This old Live Oak tree in City Park in New Orleans lays out its wrinkles and age spots -- it's a form of character that seems to invite young kids to climb on. I'm supposing that it is over 100 years old.-- meaning it has seen a lot of the history of New Orleans pass in front of it. Probably most of the leaders in this community climbed on it as children or on one of its neighbors.

--steve buser

The bare law of nature

Foot-worn story
Alongside the path in City Park in New Orleans, sits these two weather-worn and kid-worn oak knobs. Years of tennis shoes and barefoot toes have polished them and laid them bark-free to the sun that finds its way through the trees.

Those were not mean-spirited encounters. Each little foot was enjoying this form of nature -- it was that love of experiencing nature that inspired each little foot rub.

The experience has brought out their grain. But most of all, it has taken two plain-looking knobs and turned them into things of beauty. Their story lies bare on their face..

Seems an almost universal law.

--steve buser

Lagniappe -- (a little something extra)

The fog doesn't let distractions sneak in. You're fully in the moment.

The quiet stillness of fog. One could say the focus of fog.

Today on Pixel Eyed in Victoria

Fascinated with the flash and splash

Reflecting, pool side.
Fascinated by the light of the fountain, and the fish swimming around, this youth takes a reflective moment before continuing on the tour of the light of the Celebration in the Oaks at City Park in New Orleans. The holiday season tours attract huge crowds to wander through the newly replanted Botanical Gardens.

--steve buser
Technocrati Tags: Fountain New Orleans

Lagniappe (A little something extra)

WhatChaGot? The seagulls know the rules. They're zooming in close to check it out. "WhatChaGot?" Then bring it.

Today on Pixel Eyed
Publish Post

Nocturnal, aboreal, primal fête

Misty moonlight merriment
The lights of the night celebration, the glow of the fountain, the stone flautist playing through the spray, strange wanderers soaking up the scene -- the scene caught on camera is a bit stranger than the real world.

The Celebration of the Oaks is going on this Christmas season at City Park in New Orleans. This scene was on the fringe of the lighted-path show -- it seems to reminisce of a more primordial arboreal merry-making.

--steve buser

Lagniappe -- a little something extra
You've been there. The plane waits at the gate for clearance. You wait for the plane to board. The sun doesn't wait. When it's tired it slips below the horizon.

Santa's coming with his alligators, cher.

Dem gators, dey got funny names, eh?
It will not be long before Santa comes down the bayou in his skiff carrying toys for tout le monde. There will be his eight favorite alligators pulling him along. Now what you call dem gators? -- I can't never remember. Gaston? Boudreaux? I know dey got Pierre and Alcee, dat sure.

The scene is at the Celebration in Oaks at City Park in New Orleans where they have a a re-enactment in lights of the Cajun Night Before Christmas by James Rice Trosclair and Howard Jacobs. Ole Santa, he looks good all dressed up like a muskrat from head to his toes. Don't you think?

-- steve buser
Lagniappe ( a little something extra )


Okay. Here's the scenario. You take a large tube and spin it and then tell a bunch a kids to walk through to the other side. Instant body parts jumble, tumble.

Twinkling walkways

A thousand points of light
One more look at all the magic at the the Celebration in the Oaks at City Park, this holiday season. The dazzling display covers the Botanical Gardens and more. We were at the event Sunday night and there was a large crowd wandering through the newly replanted gardens all asplendor with lights by the thousands.

--steve buser

Lagniappe (a little something extra)

It's getting late. The sun is sliding from the sky. The road is getting longer. Up ahead the bridge at Whiskey Bay rises straight into the sun... what's left of the sun.

Today on Pixel Eyed

Night Light

Night reflections
It's the annual Celebration in the Oaks -- a magical lighting and musical celebration at City Park. This year has a special twist -- it's the new replantings in the Botanical Gardens (replanted after the damages from Hurricane Katrina) that makes it special. Here the Conservatory of the Two Sisters with its spectacular Glass Dome frames the popular Poinsettia Tree exhibit -- the reflecting pool adds an accent in the foreground.

--steve buser

Lagniappe (a little something extra)


They do what others do -- they shoot the photo to remember. They don't just shoot what's there. It's what's not there that makes the photo memorable... that's wha they come not to see.

Today on Pixel Eyed.

Tested by time

The beauty of age
Weathered, whorled, writhing, worn, tortile. But, still surviving.
One of the oaks by the lagoon in City Park of New Orleans. In the upper right hand of the picture, if you look close, you'll see a flock of birds taking advantage of a barren branch to roost.

The oak was weathered long before the hurricane came through a couple years ago. But, the storm seems to have put its own imprint on weathered things. Kind of like bumping up the contrast on a picture to bring out the grain in a tree.

On another note... I want to wish you a very warm Thanksgiving, full of blesssings.

--steve buser

Lagniappe
It's stuck on five o'clock and it's stuck on blue -- every shade you ever imagined and few you didn't -- azure blue, sky blue, clear blue, turquoise blue ...

Today on Pixel Eyed.

Doubting the dragon

Dragon delay
Just because a boy is brave enough to slide down a dragon, doesn't mean he's brave enough to slide down one this size. Our grandson, Sullivan, has a second thought about sliding down a dragon's fiery breath at Story Land at City Park in New Orleans. It took mom coming to the rescue to spur this dragon slayer into action.

--steve buser

Lagniappe

Today on Pixel-Eyed. It's a Texas point of pride -- horn-heavy.