My Photography
Moving to New Orleans, I was immediately struck by how much you can learn about the city's history by noticing its architecture, from shotgun houses to iron balconies. My reporting has taken me all across the city and I often found myself interested in each neighborhood's churches. Some are well known and attended, many are tucked quietly away, but almost all of them have anchored their block for generations. This project aims to capture some of the beautiful details of those buildings.
Pastor Marc showed me around the 101-year-old church, where he has worked for half a decade. It's a massive, mazelike building — I got lost twice on my way to his office — and there are a number of rooms sitting off to the side in various states of repair. We went up to the now-defunct belltower, where you can see pieces of the suburban Uptown skyline, which conveniently serves as the location of a cell tower that grants the church free wifi. Restoration projects are frequent, as are gently-phrased requests for restoration donations, mostly in the main building, since other additions were built in the 50s and 60s. But alongside the waterworn plaster, half-removed to reveal original brick, are other relics to remind you that people have been worshipping and celebrating at 7100 St. Charles since the early 1900s. An organ with keys colored by age, historic photos displayed proudly on the walls, and ornately carved molding depicting dragons and baby angels.
The next chapter of this project is in progress.
A few things about me...
- I grew up in Menlo Park, CA and have lived in four states since, in every region of the country.
- I majored in Gender Studies with a minor in Writing at Washington University in St. Louis.
- I once spent 24 hours in a campus dining hall for a story. I also ate six hot dogs in two hours for a story. Wouldn't recommend either.
- I'm a newly minted New Orleans Pelicans fan — loyally, if not always optimistically.
