Comments on: A Cajun Mardi Gras

By: Celjun

Celjun — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 01:16:17 +0000

Great Pics! I was a Co-Capitan on this Courir and thats my little girl at the top of the page. We often see alot of people with camera’s on our run and never get a chance to see the footage they take. The pictures you got are truly fantastic and really captured the essence of the Courir, great job and we hope to see ya’ll on this years run.
Thanks guys!

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:45:55 +0000

As someone who has celebrate the Cajun Mardi Gras since I was 16 years old (and yes, we drank back then too), I am relieved to see that you guys took the time to capture the real essense of Mardi Gras. The traditions are rich in history and you captured it perfectly. I have a niece that celebrated her first Mardi Gras in Eunice this year. Even she was dress in costume. She had a blast meeting the Mardi Gras’ and seeing the chickens they cought up close and personal. She was 1 1/2 years old! Traditions in South Louisiana are hard to break, and I know her children will be celebrating with ol’ Uncle Jeremy one day, alongside my kids as well! Thanks for the wonderful article.

By: Ross

Ross — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:24:32 +0000

Thank you everyone for your comments. We really appreciate the feedback and support! We’re dishing it out as fast as we can, so ya’ll just hold your bucking broncos!

By: Ross

Ross — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:22:40 +0000

Sean,
The Zorro guy was a ‘Co-Capitane’, which entitles him to keeping order throughout the day. There is a playful dialogue between the co-capitanes and the participants. Mr. Zorro liked to chase people around and whip them. Taunting the co-capitanes seemed like the thing to do. Participants tried to get a rise out of them. Some of the things that happened that day had no order or explanation. It’s controlled buffoonery.

We did not actually eat a meal at the end of the day with the animals that we collected. It would have taken too long. When the parade was over, we returned to the house and chicken and pork gumbo was waiting for us!

By: Ross

Ross — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:16:12 +0000

Dawn,
Mark is right. The event was one of the best days of our lives, and clearly we were greatly impressed by the festivities and all the wonderful people we met. We were trying to add a little humors in our attempt to describe the costumes to our readers. It was not to be derisive.

By: Dan Milo

Dan Milo — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:08:14 +0000

Fantastic work fellows – a wonderful portrait of America’s idiosyncrasies. I check it every day!

By: Erin T

Erin T — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:49:52 +0000

The photo of the young girl in light pink is my favorite. Everything about is perfect. way to go. Glad to see your on the road again.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:44:59 +0000

Wow. Wow. Wow. Stunning. I feel like I was there!

I love the Anton Corbijn-esque-Joy-Division-march shot.

The compositions are terrific here (pointing in the sky, various random exposures etc…) and the colors are so rich. Great timing with people’s facial expressions and nuances. These are my favorites so far!

By: Mark P

Mark P — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:25:30 +0000

Dawn M, you didn’t actually read the story, did you? They clearly loved the festival and the people.

By: Dawn Miller

Dawn Miller — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:32:42 +0000

“KKK pajama party?” Oddly derisive and so very far from reality. Your selection of those words is quite telling of YOU. Sad really. These are wonderfully, joyful, and hospitable people.

By: Sean McDermott

Sean McDermott — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:07:21 +0000

Wow. Good job Andrew and Rosso. I love the picture of the couple laying in the grass with the chicken. At first you don’t think there is anything special about the picture–but after you notice the costumes and the chicken…ha! I was wondering what role the Zorro guy had? It looks in one picture that someone is trying to attack him? And how was the meal at night with all the animals? Thanks again and keep them coming, looking forward to see what the West holds for you both,

By: Cat

Cat — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:55:08 +0000

The photo of the little girl in the road is AMAZING.

You two look like giant pinatas!

I was born in New Orleans, and though I was too young to do Mardi Gras at the time, I’ve been told that NOLA mardi gras parades are much more family-oriented than people assume. This must have been even more special, as an event that is truly invested “in participating, not in spectating” seems to be the most supremely genuine experience. I wish I could have been there!

By: Craig Volpe

Craig Volpe — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:54:54 +0000

I’ve been dying to see what you guys got and I loved them! So fun and educational seeing the same event through another photographer’s eyes. Great meeting you and great job!

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:27:59 +0000

KKK pajama party?! haha.
oh wow, this is unbelievable. I wonder what it would have been like if you hadn’t shown up in costume?

By: Will K

Will K — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:56:14 +0000

Nice work lads. You really capture the spirit of the day through you images and video. It’s heartfelt coverage — folksy, very authentic and intimate.
Keep it up!

By: Mark P

Mark P — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:08:55 +0000

Fantastic!! If I’m in the US this time next year I wanna go. Good video, great shots! And the story with it was great too.

Shared it on my Google Reader and I’ll prolly get around to throwing some pics and a link on my blog sometime.

Great job guys.

By: Ross

Ross — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:28:49 +0000

Thanks Nitsyrk! Yeah, we are super proud of these new images. We did not get to keep the costumes, as they were lent to us by locals in the area, but we did get to keep the masks. We are already planning our costumes for next year and brushing up on our sewing skills!

By: nitsyrk

nitsyrk — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:09:08 +0000

Oh yeah… So did you guys get to keep those costumes?

By: nitsyrk

nitsyrk — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:08:27 +0000

WOW! These truly ARE amazing!!!!!! Definitely some of my favorite photos so far.