can't get enough of that good stuff

hi,

2 weeks ago I returned to New Orleans to photograph an event known as West Fest. A unique Mardi Gras Indian event started by Chief Tyrone Casby of the Ward 15 (Westbank, Algiers) Mohawk Hunters. It's the day when Mardi Gras Indians from the other side of the river, where most gangs reside, come accross to parade for the people of Algiers. Other Mardi Gras subculture groups parade as well. this year I know there were some #Baby Dolls participating. If you're intrigued by the concept of Baby Dolls, i would strongly urge you to seek out this book (shameless plug);

The "Baby Dolls": Breaking the Race and Gender Barriers of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition by Kim Marie Vaz

Ms. Vaz has written a fascinating, enjoyable, readable book tracing the Baby Doll Mardi Gras subculture from the beginning to present day.

ok, back to shameless self promotion. No Indian pictures this time. Those are being saved for a later date. I stayed an extra day and took a few photos around the City that Care Forgot. I hope you like them 

these were shot in several neighborhoods of the city. in order; Algiers, the Garden District, Ninth Ward (2), Prytania St. in the lower Garden District, and Upperline St. in the Garden District/Uptown.

there's a plan in place to return to nola in late June, with my friend Danny Cohen. As always, I look forward to my next visit with great anticipation. It will give me the opportunity to show Danny more of the city than he's previously experienced, allow me to add to my collection and get some work done on my book.

i have my first authentic photo shoot today, thanks to my friend Maria Oullette. I'll be shooting for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Information Network. The group is involved in advocacy and education for patients who survive blood and marrow transplants.  Patients who have faced things like leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma for instance.
Every year they put together a calendar of transplant survivors from across the country, to serve as an inspirational piece for other people facing transplants.  The transplant centers around the country nominate a survivor that they think should be in the calendar. I'm shooting with a survivor from Lancaster MA. Some of those exposures will be posted over the next week.

stay tuned

the first

this is my first blog. exciting, isn't it? more than a year after graduating from Boston University's Center for Digital Imaging Arts, it's time to jump out of the airplane. i don't have enough opportunities to shoot, it's a full plate that i juggle.

I built a studio in my home, which was finally completed in February. Getting it done is a long story that I won't bore you with here. i have a set of +elinchrom monolights and softboxes. I also purchased an Elinchrom grid set and the Lastolite 8 in 1 umbrella

I want to specialize in portraiture and product photography. My true passion is documentary, and I've been at work on a project that was first suggested by +Sharon White - a great photographer, instructor and cheerleader.

I haven't done any branding or marketing yet. Free time is a premium. I recently went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and was able to take photos for a documentary project.

i shot the zulu parade on mardi gras morning.

yes, that is a pair of see thru lace panties going to some lucky parade watcher. i was only able to procure a hand painted coconut, a much prized throw from the Zulu krewe.


With former class mate and shooting partner +David Salo, we then went across the Mississippi to Algiers to photograph the parade of the Mohawk Hunters, a Mardi Gras Indian tribe. The Mardi Gras Indians are one of many Mardi Gras subcultures that have been created through the years. Most of the subculutures developed in the African American communities, in a time when the large parades were segregated, so African Americans created their own unique forms of celebrating Mardi Gras Day.

the suits worn by the Indians are sewn by hand, take almost a year to create and are only worn that year. The day after Mardi Gras, it's time to start working on next years suit.


I also had to the opportunity to shoot with former class mate and shooting partner +David Salo with models +Meredith and +Kateryna. i have not yet had a chance to edit any of these, so the next time I post, I'll post some of them.

you can always see more photos at www.michaelneustadt.com or www.facebook.com/photographsbymichaelneustadt