Photo Essay: Washing Away
The history, culture, community, and economy of
coastal Louisiana are built around an environment rich
in natural resources, making the area home to
productive seafood industries, oil & gas production,
shipping, recreation, and tourism industries.
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| Coastal Landscapes Location: Bayou Savage - facing Slidell, La. Technique: Viewpoint Titled: Murky Edges |
This aerial image of Bayou Savage, a National Wildlife Refuge separating Lake Pontchartrain from Lake Borgne and the Gulf of Mexico, highlights that the edges where land and water meet in natural coastal areas is often not well defined. It is in these spaces where coastal environments are most fragile and productive and provide the most abundant ecosystem services.
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| Coastal Landscapes Location: New Orleans Lakefront Technique: Rule of Thirds Titled: Tranquil Expanse |
An unimpeded sunset during a summer evening on Lake Pontchartrain captures the natural beauty that attracts people to live near and visit coastal areas.
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| Coastal Cultures Location: New Orleans, La. Mississippi River at The Fly Technique: Balancing ElementsTitled: Fishing at the Fly |
A man spending the day fishing at The Fly near Audubon Park in New Orleans during a record high water event on the Mississippi River in June of 2019. During this time the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been on flood fight continuously since November of 2018.
Background: This image was captured after the man expressed concern that the photographer was taking pictures too close to the river. He mentioned that he had seen snakes and rats and didn't want anyone to get hurt. He agreed to have his picture taken and chose this pose for the photograph.
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| Coastal Cultures Location: Dulac, La. at David Chauvin's Shrimp Co. Technique: Rule of Thirds & Balancing Elements Titled: Boatman Sewing |
A shrimp boat worker mending a net while docked at David Chauvin's Shrimp Company in Dulac, Louisiana.
According to Louisiana Seafood, 1 in every 70 jobs in Louisiana is associated with the seafood industry.
The seafood industry is a vital part of the Gulf Coasts' economy, producing 1.4 billion pounds of seafood annually, 78% of U.S. shrimp production, and 62% of U.S. oyster production.
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| Significant Details Location: Delacroix, La. - End of the world Marina Technique: Viewpoint & Rule of Thirds Title: Remnants |
The remnants of a dock or fishing pier appeared as driftwood at the End of the World Marina in Delacroix, Louisiana. The dock or pier seems to have been washed away, either by time, or, abruptly, as a result of a storm.
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| Coastal Cultures Location: Delacroix, La. - End of the World Marina Techniques: Rule of Thirds & Balancing Elements Titled: "Don't tell my wife!" |
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| Context of Place Location: New Orleans, La. - Carrollton Ave. near Madigans Technique: Framing Titled: Oaks Framing Life |
Mature oak trees framing street scapes are a common element of inland coastal areas. The trees, stretching over streets, sidewalks, and homes provide much needed shade during the hot summers and aid in storm water management by soaking up considerable amounts of water.
Background: This image was taken on the afternoon of Wednesday July 10th after an intense rainfall where the city of New Orleans received between 5 & 8 inches of rainfall over 3 hours, overwhelming the city's pump system and causing flooding in low lying areas of the city. In the image the debris in the grass shows how high the water rose during the storms earlier in the day.
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| Context of Place Location: Lafayette, La. - Interstate 10 Technique: Rule of Thirds Titled: Cane Field |
Sugarcane is a vital crop in South Louisiana. According to the American Sugar Cane League 22 Louisiana parishes produce 13 million tons of cane annually.
While it is an integral part of our economy, it also provides a sense of place when seeing it on the way home from a road trip and a sense of time when smelling the fields burning in the summer and fall.
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| Significant Details Location: New Orleans, La. - West End Blvd. Technique: Viewpoint Titled: Razed |
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| Significant Details Location: New Orleans, La - The Fly Technique: Viewpoint & Balancing Elements Titled: Fissure by the River |
High water in the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana causes scouring illustrated by the compromised integrity of the walkway at The Fly near Audubon Park.
The damage has occurred despite the preventative, hard armoured interventions of gabions, or rip rap covered with galvenized steel wire mesh, visible to the left of the walkway.
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| Context of Place Location: Chalmette, La. - Paris Rd. overlooking the outfall canal Technique: Viewpoint and Rule of Thirds Titled: A City Engulfed |
The City of New Orleans, barely visible at the center of this photograph, is highlighted by the marsh that has turned to open water and its proximity to the encroaching Gulf of Mexico, leaving the city more susceptible to storm surge during hurricanes.
Background: 20 years ago, the area shown in the photograph contained more land, intact marsh, and was peppered with fishing camps built by locals.
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Coastal Landscapes
Location: Metairie, La. - Bonnabel Boat Launch
Technique: Rule of Thirds & Balancing Elements
Titled: High Water
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This image of a flooded dock in Lake Pontchartrain at the Bonnabel Boat Launch was taken as the Mississippi River was at its peak flood stage of 16 ft during June of 2019 and the Bonnet Carre Spillway was relieving pressure from the river levees by diverting Mississippi river water into Lake Pontchartrain.
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