Bobster Loc: Thousand Oaks, CA

Swamp tour is fun

Tjohn Loc: Inverness, FL formerly Arivaca, AZ

If you're looking for architecture, try St Charles Avenue or cross the river to Algiers, different architecture and different views across the river..
Beware of some areas and locals will know.

Djaque

If you take your gear into bars on Bourbon Street, the musicians will usually let you shoot them as they perform as long as you TIP first! I got a whole set of Mavis Staples for $1. Okay, so I also bought a CD and had her autograph it after the show.

j45 Loc: North Central CT

Bobster,

what tour do you recommend?

Last time we were there we went on the Torres tour, and next time (hopefully next early June) we want a different one.

Fabulous place that NOLA!

j45

Effate Loc: El Dorado Hills, Ca.

If you didn't feel safe on Boutbon St then you may not like my suggestion but my favorite photo opportunity was the "shotgun" houses in the ninth ward.

Dds82

I was there 2 weeks ago and felt safe on bourbon street but maybe i was careless from what I hear you guys say....i am Canadian and likely a little ill informed re:safety of New Orleans ....but that's how we felt........i recommend some "musician" photos, the architecture on royal street and Charles st street cars at dusk.....

Hoops12751 Loc: Lexington, KY

All of these suggestions are excellent...I love shooting skylines across rivers, so I ventured to Algiers and set up on the bank of the river and waited for sunset.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

The reference to second line, if you're unfamiliar, is a traditional New Orleans jazz funeral. Great photo ops if you're fortunate enough to be there when one occurs. The second line is the cadre of uninvited guests who tag along with the funeral procession to catch the music, etc. I second the caution about cemeteries. Best way to do a cemetery is with a guided tour. Lots of info and interesting photo ops. Street musicians and entertainers are always fun to shoot as well.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

You may want to take a walk down Decatur St. along the River, from Jackson Square. Then cross Esplanade, to Frenchman St. The best time for this walk is late evening, until midnight. Frenchman is a music street. There are a lot of clubs, and restaurants. One in particular is "Snug Harbor" their show starts at about 8pm, and is always great Jazz. The food is also wonderful. Many of the shots in the "Treme" TV show were made on this street. Also, take a look in the Louisiana Music Factory, it is a music store for mainly Louisiana artists. Some of the clubs are, Blue Nile, Apple Barrel, DBA, and several others. Great place for street photography, and it is pretty safe. Along the River from Canal St. down Decater, there is a Park, called Waldenberg Park, it includes the Aquarium, and joins another walkway called "The Moon Walk" not named for the moon, but for one of the previous Mayors, Moon Landreau, who's son is now Mayor of New Orleans. There is a street car line that runs along this section of Decater St, Those cars are red, and also run up Canal St to City Park. You may want to take this ride too. City Park also houses the Museum of Art, a small kiddie park with antique merry-go-round. There is now a Christmas display called "Christmas in the Oaks" which is very photographic. It's open only at night with light displays all through the Park. There is also a miniature train that runs through all the displays. During the day there is plenty of wildlife in the Parks lagoons, from wild ducks, to swans, both white, and black. You'll be surprised at how close you can get to these birds, even the wild ducks. Across from the Parks main entrance is a traffic circle, directly across from the Park entrance is Esplanade St. A short walk down this street is one of the famous New Orleans Cemeteries. During the day it is safe to walk through, and shoot as many photos as you like. The tombs are above ground, and are very elaborate. You'll see some tour buses stopping by during the day. Near the cemetery will be a bus stop going opposite from the Park, take one of the buses marked "Esplanade" and it will take back to the French Quarter. On the bus trip you'll pass the Dugas House, where the painter Edgar Dugas stayed while in New Orleans. Inside there are a few of his paintings on display. As you travel down Esplanade, you'll see many old well cared for homes. These date back over 150 years. Many of these homes have been converted into apartments, some are well kept, and some not so. When you cross Rampart St. You'll now be the old "Storyville" section. Most of the large mansion type homes originated as brothels. Louis Armstrong got his start playing piano in many of these building. There are a lot of great places to see and experience in New Orleans, that is off the beaten path.

Anne

I try to get to New Orleans about once a year, wish it could be more, I enjoy still life photography and have taken in many of the antique shops. Usually there setups and displays provide great and unusual objects. I always ask before taking out my camera and have not been turned down. Some of the shops do have signs posted and I will observe the rules. I also find the historic houses and plantations are good for providing great still life subject matter. The Royal Street shops have some interesting items, shoes especially.

jsharp Loc: Ballwin MO.

Take the steamboat down the Mississippi to the 1812 battlefield, go to Slidell and take a swamp tour (Dr. Wagner), go to the Garden district take a walking tour offered by the National Park Service and ride a street/trolley,take some shots of Lake Pontchartian Bridge.

jsharp Loc: Ballwin MO.

Grave yards make for good shots too.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

Be sure to take the Canal Street Ferry to Algiers point. You can get good pictures of Jackson Square and the Natchez from the deck of the ferry. Also have a snack at the Dry Dock Cafe at the foot of the ferry on the Algiers side. You can find many Shotgun Houses in the Algiers Point area. In case you wonder why it is called Algiers, It was the river port for the Slave trading ships.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

Took this one from the ferry with a wide lens back in September.

(Download)

jsharp Loc: Ballwin MO.

Royale St. has many antique shops with great stuff in the windows. I saw a dinning room table that would seat 20 cost $75,000