Hurricane Ida & the Whirlwinds of August
Lord help me. This past month has been a time.
First of all, I never went on that trip to Arizona that I was planning. Instead, I contracted Covid and that knocked me on my ass for two weeks.
After recovering from that, I packed for a trip to Kentucky on August 26th.
The morning of Friday, August 26th, my cell phone registered a national weather service message that said “Hurricane Watch”. I honestly didn’t think much of it. I was getting ready for my flight and for Photocon Kentucky the next morning.
That afternoon I boarded a plane and prepared for 7 hours of travel, ending with a pick up by my friends and fellow photographers John and Mona Armstrong.
We arrived at our Airbnb around 10pm. Maybe 20 minutes later I got a text from Southwest airlines that my flight home had been cancelled. In retrospect, I should have realized then that something was amiss. I just assumed that it was flight shenanigans with Southwest, not confirmation that the hurricane was going to hit.
The next day the three of us went to the Foundry on Broadway in Frankfort, Kentucky. (Lovely city by the way. Good food and the friendliest of people.)
John and Mona Armstrong and our new friend, Megan Eileen.
Upon entrance, we were greeted by our teacher and host, Jason Lanier. I don’t know how much I’ve talked about Jason on this blog, but I owe him a great debt. Under his tutelage, my photography has grown by leaps and bounds. He is one of several photographers I follow on youtube. Additionally, I have attended 2 of his workshops and one of his photowalks. Even that first, 2 hour photowalk improved my photography by a giant step. Aside from being an amazing, and creative photographer, he is a great teacher with an astounding ability to inspire those around him.
The next 2 days were filled with lectures, models and fun. The speeches ran the gamut of photography and life. I know that sounds really pretentious, but you weren’t there. It was great.
The lovely, Leah. A true joy to shoot with. Lit with a Rotolight Titan in front and Aputure MC from the rear.
The shoots were fantastic. All the models were great and Jason’s set up allowed us to really play. It was a fantastic experience. And honestly, the capper was just having him remember who I was. I tried not to be too much of a fanboy.
Sadly, even amongst all that, life began creeping in. After rescheduling my flight home Saturday morning, I got another flight cancellation text on Sunday. By that afternoon, it was clear that Hurricane Ida was going to hit most of coastal Louisiana, including New Orleans. There was no telling when I would be able to go home.
If you’ll indulge me for a moment, I would like to introduce a slight non-sequitur. When choosing friends in life, choose wisely. Don’t gather scores of strangers that like to have fun and label them “friends”. That word has power and meaning. Become a great friend and be thoughtful when you consider to whom you give that loyalty.
When I found myself in Frankfort, Kentucky with no home to go to and not even a car to sleep in, I called my best friend. He and his wife had moved to Atlanta earlier this year. When I told him my situation, there was not the slightest hesitation in his response. “See you when you get here. Whatever you need.” Though I hate to impose, my imposition isn’t even a consideration for the two of them.
I’ve heard many this week talk about how similar this time is to 2005 when Hurricane Katrina flooded our homes. I won’t speak for others, but for me this isn’t even close to Hurricane Katrina. In 2005, it was a week before I was able to contact my family. An entire week of not know whether my family was dead. I cried when I finally heard my father’s voice.
The day after Ida hit, I was able to contact my entire family and most of my friends. Everyone was safe. I know people are upset about losing possessions and I do not mean to belittle that, but life is the one thing that cannot be recovered. For the most part, I’m fine.
The reality is that things are up in the air. My current plan is to rent a car next week and drive home. In all probability, I will be packing some necessities and driving back to Atlanta in my own car. I could be here a month, and I need my car.
After that, I don’t know. What I do know is that I am a photographer and I will be trying to shoot out here. It may seem trivial, but its who I am. I’ll be looking for paid gigs as well as any models who want to work with me.
Beyond that, the future is open. And for all the tragedy, that isn’t a bad thing.
