Smiles Admist Chaos - Hurricane Katrina Photo

Photographer’s Note

I apologize for not posting more photos lately. I have no other excuse than that I have been too lazy. I dug this photo up sometime ago after trying to come up with photos for my portfolio. I hope you guys like it.

This photo was taken 4 days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall at New Orleans. My partner and I arrived at the evacuation center hours upon entering the devastated city. Having never been in a warzone, I got a first hand look of what it could potentially look like. Buildings torn in half, a few people walking about the streets aimlessly, and all around me are helicopters and military vehicles. While the storm has passed, the destruction left in its wake is felt through the entire city. Sections of New Orleans were completely underwater while other parts have been so damaged by wind that roofs have collapsed.

Mother and daughter enjoy a moment admist the chaos at Louis Armstrong Airport which was then turned into a mobile hospital and evacuation point. Some occupants of the facility have been stranted at the airport for multiple days while waiting for buses to transport them out of the city. Seconds after taking this photo, they were rushed onto a departing bus to a new city and a new life.

Albrecht, Rinie_Hoff, Bien, EdrikaSe, don_narayan, KevRyan trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

entrelec (8342) 2005-11-16 3:44

This picture is good; nice moment between this mother and her child;
people in background are well placed too,
this image is a living one, with feelings,
a pity you don't have more points...
joel

Furachan (0) 2005-11-16 3:54

Good choice of the square format here, Mark. Very strong composition.
Beauty and love in the midst of chaos superbly captured.
BW,
Francis

ALSOM (6616) 2005-11-16 4:59

Hi Mark,

This is brilliant, maybe one of the best I've seen to far: strong composition, strong informative message, full of emotions & hopes despite the drama.

Look at the moment shared between the baby and her mum, that's true love. We can hardly believe they just survived from the hurrican. The background also delivers some information.

This photo does not deserve any points but only recognitions of your talent.
Congrats !

Thanks for sharing. Al.

sandip (3492) 2005-11-16 6:13

fabulous Mark... after a long time i am able to see your posting here..
this is just superb with the emotion and the affection between the mother and the child.perfect DOF here to enhance your subject from the other.. I am sure you have some more with this kind of shot.. why dont u make a story like New Orleans after katrina...
a perfect reportage kind of image..

don_narayan (2014) 2005-11-16 8:13

Hi Mark. Great to see another shot from you... this is a great image, a lot of emotion here, very clean composition. nice work.

Narayan

Rinie_Hoff (9334) 2005-11-17 2:57

Oh wow, Mark, you being lazy! ;-)
It's good to see a picture of you again, and I like this emotional shot very much. There has been so much misery around Katrina, that this uplifting picture of the love between a mother and her child is very nice to see.
It's a well captured moment, and your background shows enough of the chaos to give a good ideas of how it was.
I hope you're getting somewhere with your plans of being a photo journalist.

Albrecht (11189) 2005-11-17 13:34

Hi Mark
What a lovely smile of both the woman and the child. Great captured moment. Love the light and atmosphere.
Take care, Albrecht

KevRyan (22418) 2005-12-06 2:14

A beautiful and touching image Mark - such a strength in that look between mother and child - really very realised and a good candidate for the square format i think - the inclusion of the back ground detail adds to the image without being too overbearing - great colour.

bw Kev

Ah_Thong (464) 2009-02-26 0:18