Goodnight NOLA

As you all know, we're nerds.
You also know, if you are a regular, that we've kinda become semi-photo geeks since we bought our dSLR last year.

That hint of a hobby, combined with trying to raise a literate toddler, sparked an idea for a little photo project that I'll share with you today.


If you've been around kids, you are probably familiar with the book Goodnight Moon, wherein the narrator goes through a catalog of impractically juxtaposed items in a bedroom, acknowledges them, and then gives them a dismissive night time greeting.

Fortunately, from this crap on a page, a Louisiana author had the idea to do a New Orleans themed version, but less crappy.

Riley's Nanny, Lesley, introduced us to the book Goodnight NOLA by Cornell Landry and Louis Schmitt.

It's like Goodnight Moon, but good.





The book sticks to the "Goodnight (insert object)" formula, but with New Orleans/Louisiana items, and much better illustrations than the Moon based original.

Here's some examples from the official website:





you can pick up your copy at www.goodnightnola.com or at some of the chain book stores.

Now to why this is relevant here.


I thought it may be fun to set aside a weekend, head down to NOLA, and "recreate" the book with photos depicting Riley with the subject matter.
Throw it all together online and we've got a neat little keepsake. Then we can do it again as both he and our family grow.

So, a few weeks ago we ran like mad all around NOLA trying to be sure that we got everything.


Our rules were simple:
1. All shots had to be taken that weekend.
2. We had to incorporate all of the featured objects in the book.
3. Shots had to include Riley unless absolutely impossible due to legal or sleep reasons.


It was quite an ambitious project with a 2 year old with active sinus congestion, but it made for an interesting weekend.

We got some good shots for some pages, and had to settle on others, but, 800+ shots later, here's our handy work. (cropped, but otherwise all natural)


Goodnight red beans, goodnight rice






Goodnight pralines and Zatarain's spice








Goodnight Cathedral, goodnight French Quarter









Goodnight Cafe DuMonde







Goodnight Muddy Water








Goodnight po'boys and Hubig's pies, Goodnight Lucky Dogs and Cooter's fries.










Goodnight to the Saints and the Dome filled with noise. Goodnight to the fans cheering "Bless You Boys!"







Goodnight to the Hornets and the balls that they dunk,






Goodnight to the bands playing Jazz, Blues, and Funk.









Goodnight to the restaurants with their glitz and glam. Goodnight to the cooks and to chefs who yell, "Bam!"






Goodnight to the Aquarium and the Audubon Zoo, Goodnight to the fishies and animals too.









Goodnight to the Bunny and the bread that he bakes.






Goodnight to the Causeway that crosses the Lake







Goodnight to doubloons and Mardi Gras things







Goodnight to Rex and to Cakes made for Kings







Goodnight to streetcars and rides which are breezy







Goodnight to the city they call the Big Easy




The End

If you don't have the book, pick up a copy, for yourself or as a gift for a parent trapped in the cow-pie minefield of most kids books. Well worth the price.




We learned a few lessons during the trip, including:

1. Riley is afraid of cooked crawfish, but not live ones;

2. In our post 9-11 world, the sight of three late-20s looking, pasty white people, with a toddler, photographing the Causeway Bridge is apparently some sort of threat to national security worthy of police attention (fortunately he was polite, unlike most stories at www.photographyisnotacrime.com)

3. Most of the non-Ron Paul supporters at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference are major douchebags. (yes that includes all of you chubby frat boys wearing seer-sucker suits and white shoes and ranting about gay marriage like it is actually a pressing political issue.)

4. To get a shot of a Lucky Dog cart during the day, you have to stand in the middle of Decatur.

5. I like taking shots reflected off of Riley's sunglasses.



in closing, here's some miscellaneous shots we just liked.

If the sign fits...






Street








His middle name





Allergies





Safety First






Looking older





Strike a pose





Rockin' the milkshake at Creole Creamery