St. Louis Cemetery #1

The main thing I wanted to shoot in NOLA was an above-ground cemetery.
Decided to use the F828 infrared camera, and it appears to have been a good choice.

We took a two hour tour, which was great.
The main points are:
The city is below sea level, so a good rain will float a casket out of the ground. Not cool!
People buy a deed to the space and build what they want. Upkeep not included. You can also rent, and owners can allow anyone they want to share space. Very practical.
You spend a year and a day on the top level, in a wood box. The heat pretty much cremates you. After that, what's left gets dropped down and eventually swept to the rear. Before too long, all remains end up seeping into the ground.
My sense for these things as well as electronic devices found no evidence of haunting in this particular cemetery. Kinda disappointed, but on the other hand I was able to concentrate on photography instead of ghost hunting.

Samsung Pics #1

As I mentioned before, many cameras including the Galaxy S3 went to Austin.

On the grounds surrounding the capitol building I found a rather new Vietnam War Memorial that was pretty nice:

 

With only minor phone manipulation it was possible to get an exposure that revealed much more of what was actually there. Very impressed sometimes by how camera-like Samsung phones can be. 

 

Back at the state cemetery, this view of the 9/11 Memorial turned out nice straight from the phone, and a tiny bit of Photochop didn't make the file get all wonky: 

 

That's WTC steel girders in the middle, with actual battle damage alongside the artistry. 

Had no idea such a display was here in Texas, and as someone who spent many of the most important years of my life living in New York it was good that none of my friends were nearby when I found this shrine. Got a bit misty-eyed, or maybe allergies.  

The Texas State Cemetery In Good Old Black & White

Took 4 cameras with me that day, and used three. Yes, I count my Galaxy S3 phone as a camera because it sure acts like one much of the time. Didn't end up using the Vivitar HD videocam.
These were shot with my 2003-vintage Sony F828 which is rigged to block all visible light and only record infrared. I just like the way things look this way, from the bright foliage to the dark skies. It's different without being too wacky.

 

This is the money shot. The wrecked headstone drew my attention right away, and this in-your-face composition really works for me. Your mileage may vary. 

Next Up: We visit the Capitol building.

Texas State Cemetery

A few weeks ago I escorted 75% of my 2013 Lake Tahoe Vacation "Duckies" on a day trip to Austin to visit the resting place of some important people.
Located a mile or so east of the heart of Texas partying--on the other side of Interstate 35 from 6th Street:

 For my international readers who might not know, Texas Governor John Connally was seriously wounded while sitting right next to President John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated in Dallas.

Ann Richards was a much more recent Governor, and the first woman to hold the highest office in Texas. A good sport, she lent her voice and image to an episode of the cartoon "King Of The Hill".

Now we bring things up a notch in the pecking order around here.
Tom Landry was THE coach when the Dallas Cowboys football team meant something.
His body isn't actually here, but his legacy means enough that a monument is mandatory.
His hat is a Texas Icon that rivals those worn by the cowboys and patriots who settled our great state.