Not all Outer Focus Photos "Photos of the Day" can be bright, loving, and cheery. One of the larger intentions of my work is to capture all facets of humanity--the pretty, the odd, the marginal, and the sad. This picture, to me, reflects that effort.
The image was taken in New Orleans' once-flooded lower ninth ward neighborhood one year after Hurricane Katrina. I did not intend to take photos of this area during my trip to New Orleans (I just happened to be staying at a bed-n-breakfast a few blocks away). I didn't want the residents to feel like some sort of side show attraction or tourist destination. But upon arrival, when I realized there WERE NO PEOPLE, a totally different feeling came over me.
I felt it was important to document how nature can so easily affect our fragile humanity. The memos spray painted on homes served as sad reminders: "Please Bulldoze This Home", "Three Dead", "No Pets Found"... This fence in this photo displays a number of codes from search parties, law enforcement, etc. I still love the aesthetic beauty of this photo, but am also humbled each time I view it. It reminds me to reach out, become part of solutions, appreciate all wonderful people and material things in my life.
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