New Orleans Nightscapes

feature
Hampson
New Orleans Nightscapes
a photo essay by Frank Relle
Few photographs so perfectly capture the soul of New Orleans as the haunting images of local photographer Frank Relle.
Over the last few years, Relle has roamed the city at night with a medium-format film camera documenting architectural structures across a full spectrum, from the dilapidated to the glorious.
Beginning before the storm, Relle came to understand houses as metaphors for the people, culture, and history of the area.
He hit upon a technique, after shooting a friend’s house at sunset, and found that a combination of sodium and mercury vapor
lights, tripods, and very long exposures almost magically captured the nightmare and the beauty of his hometown. He took his
camera back to the streets after the hurricane and captured the ruins of Katrina’s aftermath with a tender and loving eye.
His photographs have won wide praise. Recently a selection of his nightscapes was purchased by the Smithsonian Institution for their permanent collection. Today Relle continues his task of illuminating the essence of New Orleans, house by house.
These photographs are a part of Relle’s New Orleans Nightscapes collection. For more information about Relle’s photography,
visit www.FrankRelle.com.
Burgundy
90
Louisiana Homes & Gardens
February 2008
91
New Orleans Nightscapes
Constance
92
Louisiana Homes & Gardens
February 2008
93
spotlight
New Orleans Nightscapes
Kerlerec
Dubruiel
94
Louisiana Homes & Gardens
Laharpe
February 2008
95
New Orleans Nightscapes
Ferdinand
Pierce
96
Louisiana Homes & Gardens
Prieur
February 2008
97
New Orleans Nightscapes
Solomon
Annunciation
98
Louisiana Homes & Gardens
Galvez
February 2008
99