T
he road. It may come soon enough. Oh, I’m not thinking about traveling for work. There is no work. I just need to be away from this place for a while. Or, forever.
I’m going talk about Portia, my friend who was murdered a couple of days ago. But, first, a little bit about this picture.
It’s pure art. Art that was made in the camera. Art, that for me, symbolizes travel. A storm is brewing. Cars and trucks are racing through the low light. The land seems to be glowing.
That’s the picture.
This is about a murder.
Portia was stabbed to death a few days ago. The story remains at the top of our local media, both print and broadcast.
Because.
Portia was a physical therapist who worked with the elderly all over the state. She went wherever she was needed.
Portia was also a drummer. She could be found in drum circles playing at Congo Square. She could be found playing drums on second lines.
The police chief said it hurts so badly because she could have been his mother. He also said that we are in the longest sustained period of violent crime since the weeks following Hurricane Katrina.
Those of you who have been thinking of coming to New Orleans, don’t. It’s hot and humid as hell already. Violent crime is through the roof. And, we are still opening up. Oh yeah, hurricane season just started. A season in which all reliable sources will be busy and violent.
Stay safe.
P
ictures like this one are mostly about seeing and adjusting your camera so you can make the picture you had in mind.
In this case, because being out on the road is about pure motion, I wanted the picture to reflect that.
I’m guessing, but it’s a very educated guess, that I made this picture at f 5.6 @ 1/2 second, with a 20 mm lens.
I hand held the camera because I wanted my natural body motion to help the picture. And, because I’m lazy.
Tripod? We don’t need no stinkin’ tripod.
And, no. This wasn’t a drive by or drive through shot. The picture was made on the side of a service road.
The color was not enhanced. Sometimes this is what you get with a relatively slow motion exposure at certain times of day.
STORYTELLER 
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