……and as I was crossing Bourbon, a local passed by and said to me, “I see you shooting lots of nothing”. I replied back, “no sir, I am shooting history”….
I have been wanting to shoot the empty streets of Nola for a few weeks now. However, I was waiting for the right time. When I first wanted to go, my gut was telling me that it wasn’t right yet…..so I waited.
This past week, I started debating it again and up until this morning, I didn’t know for sure that I would be going today. When I woke up, I prayed and mediated and felt peace-and something told me that it was time to go.
Part of my heart and soul belongs to Nola. It s where I feel like I belong and it’s always the first place I run to when I need to heal. So, even though I wanted to go, I was also scared to see it in dismay.
As I took the Esplanade exit, my heart started beating fast. I didn’t notice anything dramatic but I so felt it. It was like a cloud of negative energy hanging over the city. This energy also had “her” calm though-calm enough to hear the sea birds in the distance. There was no jazz bands, second lines or any of the sounds that Nola is famous for–only an eerie quietness with the occasional sounds of the flocks flying over the Mississippi.
I turned right down Decatur and was taken back at how empty the streets were. You would never guess that it was a Saturday morning. The only people I saw were the occasional homeless that were respectively keeping to themselves.
For the first time in my life, I was actually able to park on the street, instead of fighting to find a public parking lot.
Before stepping out my car, I prepared myself with a filtered mask, double gloves ( a nurse thing) and made sure I had my Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer. I was also prepared not to stay long. My agenda was to shoot quick, lay low and haul it back. I didn’t want to stay long enough to be an imposition to the residents that actually live there. It’s their neighborhood, not mine.
Surreal. That is the only word that I can think of that can describe it. All of the shops and restaurants are all boarded up and/or locked. There were no performers and artists in Jackson Square.
My heart ached when I saw Cafe Du Monde. That was my grandmothers favorite place. When I was a kid, my grandma brought me to Nola all the time. The first place we went when we got there was Cafe De Monde. Seeing it empty made my heart sink into my stomach.
Another thing that tugged my heart was seeing St Louis Cathedral locked up. I lost my grandmother to suicide in 2010. Since then, I have lit a candle for her in the Cathedral every time I have gone. It makes me feel like she is still with me when I am in the city. Seeing both Cafe Du Monde empty and the Cathedral blocked off was heartbreaking and it made me feel like I was there alone-without her in spirit. Today was the first time, since 2010, that I haven’t been able to light her candle.
Bourbon Street. It was unbelievable. I never thought that I would see Bourbon street boarded up and quiet. No club music, street performers, etc. Only an occasional car and local running through the neighborhood or riding their bike. It was also actually clean–very clean
Canal street was also crazy quiet.
The river was very peaceful, with the exception of a group of cyclists that came through blaring their music.
After leaving the river, I walked down to the empty French Market. On my way back, I heard a sound of hope coming from the cathedral.
Shortly after that, I felt my time was up so I left and drove straight home.
It was a very emotional day for me and I am thankful to be home and feeling “safe” again.
I ll be processing and dropping the rest of my shots in the day next or too. I ll be posting them on my FB biz page: https://www.facebook.com/tmattphoto/?eid=ARDoaupkLeu6U-xkZO_lZdxyyPLII1geJQsc-kx6hfIDnXSGbFfjlR9eS78qTpgbp1O8GXdkR6HmoOaE