New Orleans Bourbon Street Scenes // Smudged Neon and the Sense of Strangers in the Night [Mildly NSFW]

in #photofeed5 years ago (edited)

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Bathed in vivid flickering hues and with a quiet roar that drowns out the hum of the neon, the crowds roll down Bourbon Street. Waves of jubilance and excitement, tempered with a subtle desperation sweep plastic beads into the gutters and bright smiles into seedy parlours — it's a lot to take in all at once.

 
       Two nights in a row I watch, engulfed quietly in the swell of human vice in one of the most infamous areas of New Orleans, trying to absorb and capture some of the electric radiance that's palpable from blocks away. Proportionally, I don't spend much time in cities when I travel, I'll admit; when I do, more often than not I find myself taking measured steps with wide eyes, a slip of an observer weaving carefully through the tapestry of vibrant life around me. Some of my favourite places to slow down are those where our senses race the most.

      It's a sound: live jazz, strained laughter, bright-eyed conversation, echoing hoof strikes on pavement, over-stimulated screeches, and the low rumbles of simmering confrontation and celebration just waiting to explode. There's so much happening at once that when I close my eyes and try to pick out any one thread of noise, I can't — it's almost a deafening form of silence, because my sound doesn't matter here.

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       It's a smell: decadent fried foods, acrid hints of smoke, horse shit, the crispness of fresh rain, tendrils of delicate perfume and overbearing cologne and snatches of the excited bodies carrying each, wafted suggestions of tropical breezes leading to slightly disappointing three foot margaritas instead of sandy expanses. Each breath is a new combination of scents that should probably be unpleasant, but it's not — inhaling deeply and meditatively paints a much more intricate picture than straining to listen.

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       Taste and touch are purposeful and accidental here in turn. Everything and everyone is laid out haphazardly, everywhere. It's impossible to avoid jostling in the crowd or brushing in doorways, and hard to resist an inquisitive stroke or clasping hands. There's a promise in the possibility of taste; sustenance in vice, delight in everything delicious for consumption in every manner.

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       It's a sight — or perhaps more accurately — a glow: luminescence in every hue arcing out of the darkness to paint old brick and young flesh, intricate costumes, tempting marquees, the tangible hang-time that occurs right before someone takes the leap into letting go of inhibitions, the way my eyes hope to slide away from a display that saddens or discomforts, a riot of colour and sharp reflections and deep shadows and a well-loved shabbiness revitalized with slapdash, garish paint.

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      The more I watch, the more I appreciate Bourbon Street. It's easy to get caught up in whatever evocative emotion is in control at any given second. Like anywhere we congregate as a species, there are experiences here that are so alluring — or disgusting, or enthralling, or thought provoking, or expressions of unbridled joy. I love that about us... capturing our seediness and fabulousness blurred, because that's who we are. It turns out I love us even more when all of those smudged edges are painted with neon.

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These photos and words are my own work, inspired by travels all over this pretty blue marble of ours. I hope you like them. 🌶️

 
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Hi, I'm Crimmi. I run a top 20 STEEM witness with @followbtcnews. Please reach out on Steem.Chat or Discord any time! If we haven't earned your vote, please consider SteemTipper, our community work, and STEEM.Chatvote for followbtcnews if you feel we're doing a good job.

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Omg that stealthy gif, I thought my eyes were playing a trick on me while scrolling down so I had to look at it a couple times to notice what was going on.

Great photos!

It's a bit noisy, but I really, really wanted to include at least one plotagraph just to add a little oomph. I'm so glad it worked! <3

appreciated! The difference in Bourbon Street from night to day was this strange descent into madness...

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How can you not love all that neon? I know you're into retro wave/ neonoir and all, just like me. This reminds me of all kinds of 80s early 90s movies that I enjoyed, back in the days ( and again, if I get a change to revisit them )

For no particular reason, one movie comes to mind. It's called 'The Stuff" and I think it's from 1985. Ever heard of it/ seen it?

Ah wait, it's because of the Swamp, so I guess it should be Swamp Thing ;>)

Anyhow, this place you photographed is the polar opposite of where I live these days. The place I've been that comes closest to this is probably Amsterdam.

I hope you're well.

Here's a hug from Portugal,

Vincent

You have captured the edginess perfectly, both with your incredible photos and with your wonderful words. You entire post is a work of art!

I love how you re-touched the pictures! I really enjoyed reading your post and it really made me want to go!

Strong impressions. Excellent photography, beautiful tweaking and coloring! Well done!

Excellent photography for a very colorful street!

Your work never ceases to amaze me crimmy..keep that eye candy and witty prose rolling.

I was in New Orleans a few years ago, and we stayed on Bourbon Street; you have managed to capture my feelings exactly! Your photos and prose are right on the money :) Thank you so much for the memories that are currently flooding my mind!

This is one of the best travels on Steeem that I once went to. And exactly the brightest. Memories of your article will forever remain in my imagination. I really liked it.

Это одно из лучших путешествий на Steeem, в которые я когда-то отправлялся. И точно, самое яркое. Воспоминания о Вашей статье навсегда останутся в моем воображении. Мне очень понравилось.

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