2009 Year in Pictures
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
Now that 2010 is almost here, I decided to take a look back at the pictures-personal and professional- that shaped my year the most. Here’s my year in pictures:
1. Sully, you are my hero!
I witnessed the Hudson river plane crash on January 15th. I had just taken a tea break with a consulting client in her 20th floor apartment and we both watched the plane land in the river. I initially thought it was planned because of how perfect it was, but she knew better and we called my husband at AM New York to report it to the media. Had Sully not been the pilot he was, I would have seen a disaster instead of a miracle. Of all of the days not to have a 400mm lens with me! This was the best image to be had from our view point.
2. Fasnacht in Basel
For the second time, I’ve had the unique opportunity to experience Fasnacht or carnival in Basel, Switzerland. Fasnacht begins at 4 am the Monday following Ash Wednesday and is a 72 hour feast, party and concert in the streets of Basel. On the Sunday night before, the town of Liestal, near Basel, hosts the Chienbäse – a parade of fiery brooms and carts. This image was taken in Liestal during the processional where men, women, and children carry the heavy (sometimes 100 pound!) flaming brooms through town. I added a few new holes from flying embers to my down coat that night! This image appeared in Saveur magazine in December 2009 with an article about the delicious onion tarts everyone feasts on during the holiday. See it here.
3. Visit to Germany
Since I was in Europe, I couldn’t imagine not taking the opportunity to visit my friends and family in Germany and Switzerland! I met up with my father on the train to Bonn and we visited our old family friends the Dittmars. (My grandmother hosted Rolf, a Fulbrighter, when he studied at Tulane in the 1950s) From there it was on to see the May family in Nürnberg. (My father and Karl share a great-great-grandfather) Next up was my host family in Berlin. I had the great fortune to receive the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship for my senior year in high school and even greater fortune to be placed with the Ketelhut family in Berlin. We arrived just in time to celebrate my host father’s 60th birthday. Wish we could have stayed longer, but we flew to Zürich to see Rolf’s daughter, Gesine. It was such a wonderful trip!
Rolf waving us off at the train station in Bonn
The newest generation of May children in Nürnberg
Me with some of the Ketelhut Family night before we left Berlin (Philipp, Andreas, me, Gabi -Robert and Sandra are missing)
Rolf’s granddaughter, Johanna, with my dad in Zürich. Rolf babysat my Dad when he was a kid during his time in New Orleans. I really hope we all can continue to be friends through time and new generations!
4. Flight of the Conchords
Need I say more? After missing out during their last tour, Ryan managed to get us some pretty great seats for their Radio City Music Hall show in April. It was awesome.
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5. Beer Spa Mystery Solved
After waiting for over a year a half, Greenpoint, Brooklyn finally learned what would become of this old garage on Greenpoint Avenue. It is a beer store. (Not a beer spa, as previously reported) And I finally got the third image (car-less!) in my series on the space one lovely evening in May. More on this project here.
6. 30th Birthday/4th of July in DC
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for my birthday, but visiting my dear friends Ylan and Lindsay in DC seemed like an awesome idea. And there were fireworks too!
Ryan and I, 4th of July
7. Lollapalooza -Kaiser Chiefs and The Killers
Ryan bought us Lollapalooza tickets so I could see two of my favorite bands! It was 90 degrees that day in Chicago, but we had a great day! It was totally worth it waiting for hours in the hot crowd to get to be there for The Killers’ show. Best birthday present ever!
Kaiser Chiefs were great, and I loved watching the woman signing getting down.
Killers were awesome, just wish I could have seen them better. (or at all, really) But the music was really all I needed.
8. Cats Love Boxes, Hate Moving (riding in a car for two days)
In Late August, we packed up our less than 500 sq foot Greenpoint, Brooklyn apartment and moved back home to Louisiana. It was shocking how much stuff we had in there after 3.5 years! I still miss New York. A lot. It is great to be near family and friends, but it is hard leaving NY and our friends there behind. I’m still getting use to being in Louisiana again. But the cats love our new 1200 sp foot apartment!
Zoe, inspecting moving boxes for durability
9. Angola Prison Rodeo
I’ve been wanting to photograph the Angola Prison Rodeo for years, so I was thrilled when an assignment from a Dutch magazine came in! More images here.
10. Great Weddings
I had the honor to photograph several weddings this past year. I really do love photographing weddings and working with such great couples. I’ve got even more booked for this year and hope to continue to expand!
11. Go Saints!
How could I forget to mention to Saints amazing season this year? New Orleans has been going crazy with Saints fever this fall. 13-2!
Following the OT win over the Redskins, Saints fans lined the airport road to welcome the players back.
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