Don't drink and shoot. On second thought, do drink and shoot:

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From Steven Augustine:

Amazingly fruitful trip!



To Steven Augustine:

This photo was taken around 3AM, if not later. I had drank at three bars, one restaurant and a private home, so I was beyond fucked up by this point. I was so fucked up, in fact, I accidentally erased several hours of photos from a memory card and shot right over it. Shit happens is right.

I tailed this lady for several blocks and shot several dozen images of her. "You're taking pictures of me!"

Luckily, I didn't get a chance to meet her pimp.

Even without the lost photos, I have many more coming of New Orleans, as well as Detroit, Houston and Chicago, so it was a fruitful trip, though a bit rough. I stayed in hotel for six days, slept on bus or train for five.

On the Greyhound from Houston to New Orleans, I couldn't lean my seat back because the lady behind me was so large, or so she claimed. "I'm long, baby. Long!"

In Houston, this homeless Vietnam vet was having flashbacks.

"They're the fightingest motherfuckers I've ever seen. You should be proud!"

"It wasn't me, man," I told this dude.

"You should be proud of your ancestors. They were the fightingest motherfuckers!"



From Angela Genusa:

I am enjoying your NOLA photographs very much! You have already captured its great spirit with less than a dozen photos.

I just got back from the convenience store ... and who should I see pulling up in his Mercedes/BMW/whatever but my former family doctor (general practitioner) (I've since changed doctors.) As he got out of his car, he took off his white lab coat and stethoscope and put them in his car. I spoke to him on my way into the store.

I stole a glimpse to see what he was buying...

Lottery tickets for tonight's $171 million Powerball lottery.

Times, they are a tough.



To Angela Genusa:

That's very funny, your doctor story.

I knew I had a good set of NO photos, but I accidentally erased several hours of shots, maybe 8 decent images, if not more. I was out drinking and yakking for about 6 hours, and was still wandering the streets at 4AM. I lost photos because I was so drunk, but I also made interesting photos, some of the best of the entire batch, because I was out drinking!



From Angela Genusa:

OH no!!!! The pros and cons of drinking in NOLA while photographing... ha ha ha!!!

I am so glad you got to go there and see it!!!



To Angela Genusa:

I don't know how world art will recover from my lost photos? This is the greatest loss to human culture since those buddha sculptures were blown up by the Taliban. I think Obama should declare a national day of mourning, frankly.

[Laura McKnight]







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