It’s Carnival Time!
I’m a little sad to not be in New Orleans again this year for Mardi Gras, but I’m still keeping the festive spirit going with lots of gumbo, hurricanes, and king cake. This is only the 2nd time I have ever missed carnival season in New Orleans. It truly is a huge cultural tradition and family celebration for the locals. And if I’m not in NOLA, I have to at least bring the spirit and soul of my hometown with me wherever I am! If you missed out on my Mardi Gras party last weekend in Denver we had a full house of costumed guests and ended the night with a mini parade around the neighborhood. Hopefully I won’t miss too many more, but if I do you can be sure I will still be celebrating somewhere.
Last year Mardi Gras in New Orleans was as amazing as ever! I truly is the biggest free party on earth and full of the nicest, friendliest, craziest people you have ever met. I love this photo below because its so rare to get a picture with only one person in it on Mardi Gras day. But as I was taking a break from the crowds along the river I spotted this beautiful soul dancing on the rocks by herself.
Mardi Gras on the Mississippi River of New Orleans
For the first time last year I got to photograph a wedding on Mardi Gras day! It was the most non-traditional wedding I have yet to experience, full of lots of crazy costumes, a second line parade through the French Quarter, and a marriage of an owl and a cat.
A wedding on the Riverwalk on Mardi Gras day
No matter what time of year it is in New Orleans there are always musicians playing in the streets. But come Mardi Gras there are even more, as thousands of musicians bring their instruments to lead a parade, follow a dance group, or just to funk it up!
Mardi Gras in New Orleans- music in the streets
Its almost hard to describe Mardi Gras to someone who has never been. But I can assure you, its NOT Girls Gone Wild, and you DON’T have to flash for beads! I couldn’t believe when I moved to Colorado the myths and false preconceptions I heard about Mardi Gras. If you have ever thought about going, stop thinking, and just go! Carnival season is truly a time when it doesn’t matter your age, your background, or how much money you have…everyone is accepting & anything goes!
In an effort to try to explain Mardi Gras I put together a fun photo-video fusion of some of my best photographs taken from Mardi Gras 2012. Please watch my video below, and I would love to hear any comments or your own experiences of Mardi Gras.
(I know the video segments are really shaky, but that’s what I get for drinking while filming…but hey, its Mardi Gras! Plus most of the video was done with my really crappy consumer camera, but I wanted to experiment with it, so here it goes…hope you like it!
Laissez les bon temps rouler!