Around the World in Analogue: Mardi Gras in New Orleans with Kandi Cook

Some time between February and March, beginning on or after special Christian events such as Three Kings Day and a day before Ash Wednesday, there's what we call "Shrove Tuesday". And Shrove Tuesday is what we now call Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras (meaning Fat Tuesday in French) is a Carnival celebration meant for the last day of feasting for Christians before they engage in Lenten practices, and it's a wonderful, colorful day to be outside. Here, we have Lomographer kandi a.k.a. Kandi Cook celebrates the festivity in New Orleans. She took the photographs through the very iconic Diana F+ and the Diana Mini cameras, and with her pictures, we are also blessed with her personal tale during that day.

“Thrilled” is the word that comes to mind when I remember how I felt the day my sister texted me to invite me to stay with her for an upcoming weekend. New Orleans has always been one of my absolute favorite places, and admittedly, one I’ve romanticized my entire life. I’ve always been enamored by the easy-going, anything-goes attitude, the music-filled streets, and the instant rapport you have with nearly anyone you happen to meet. New Orleans is a city overflowing with good times and indulgence (two of my favorite things), and having grown up nearby means I show up not only desperate to reunite with the cuisine but also bubbling over in nostalgia.

The weekend of my visit happened to be during Mardi Gras season- the American South’s version of Carnival. Although Mardi Gras is a holiday celebrated all around the world, it has become synonymous with New Orleans. The holiday, sometimes infamous for its debauchery, is rooted in Christianity- the season begins twelve days after Christmas on January 6 (also known as The Epiphany) and lasts until Mardi Gras Day (or Fat Tuesday), which is the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, forty days before Easter Sunday.

The activities of Mardi Gras are a perfect testament to the spirit of New Orleanians and their tenacious city. Not unlike other times of the year, socialization is in abundance. But Mardi Gras takes this to a new level- there are exquisite galas, specialty food and cakes (my favorite are all the King Cakes, they are scarce where I live now!), and of course, lots and lots of parades. When my sister told me we’d be going to some parades, I was happy. After all, I hadn’t been to a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans in almost two decades. What I didn’t expect was the number of parades, the emotional connection I felt, or how much fun I would actually have been in the midst of it all.

The parades are the soul of Mardi Gras. For two days and nights, our group set up our own little section among the crowds on the St. Charles Avenue parade route in uptown New Orleans. Going to the parades runs so much deeper than catching beads. You’re presented with what seems like a neverending procession of floats decorated to the highest detail, people wearing extravagant costumes and beautiful headdresses- some so cumbersome they have their own steel rods to support them. There are the marching bands- each group playing proudly, entrenched in culture and tradition. Seeing all of this at first sent me to a place where I couldn’t help but think of the city, its inclusivity, and its perseverance. It invoked a sense of pride so strong I couldn’t help but cry just a little; a raw moment I hope I never forget. There is also an abundance of food and drink, beads, trinkets, specialty throws, and even snacks to catch, lots of dogs (one of the highlights of my trip was attending the Krewe of Barkus parade in the French Quarter!), and generally, just people letting loose, having fun, and embracing the “party of all” mantra.

A few months before my New Orleans trip, my enthusiasm for shooting analogue was reignited after a few friends and I bonded over our love for Holga cameras. I had originally learned the trials and errors of photography using 35mm film in the 1990s, and as digital photography made its way into the world and film processing became more difficult to access, it pushed me to move in the digital direction. The idea of a group of friends shooting Holga for a day, fortunately, turned into a reality. I soon found out that the strong admiration I’ve always had for the magic of film photography was still there all along. For Mardi Gras, knowing I’d have all moving subjects and light would be uncertain (or absent), I made sure to pack a good amount of film for the cameras I brought: my Diana F+ and my Diana Mini, and my flash (conveniently it’s compatible with both). Bringing along a couple of zippered pouches to store all my film (and keep exposed and unexposed separated) ended up being a lifesaver idea. In the craziest of times, when objects were being thrown all around and people were surrounding you in various levels of sobriety, it was easy for me to quickly grab a new roll of film, deposit the exposed film, and have peace of mind that it was all protected and accounted for.

I thought of the Ten Golden Rules when I was out at Mardi Gras. I remembered Rule 10 and embraced it. These photographs aren’t perfect but they are a perfect representation of my time at Mardi Gras, and I’m extremely grateful to have them and share them. After putting “no rules” into practice in New Orleans, I soon came home to a world with lots of extra rules as the US was just beginning to feel the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. I’ve been self-isolating for quite some time now, and spending plenty of time daydreaming about the next time I’ll be able to travel, plenty of film and cameras in hand, of course.

Want to take us Around the World in Analogue? Drop a line to ciel.hernandez@lomography.com with the subject Around the World in Analogue and share your unforgettable travels with the rest of the community! Read the guidelines here. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are hoping everyone's taking necessary measures to remain safe and healthy.

2020-05-29 #places #around-the-world #new-orleans #mardi-gras #around-the-world-in-analogue