Louisiana Lens - EP 193

Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans

Louisiana Lens: A Visual Journey Louisiana with John Lawrence

Discover the captivating history of Louisiana through a lens in John Lawrence's new book. From the elegant autochrome process to the timeless allure of Mardi Gras, these photographs transport you to a bygone era. Now, after four decades of curating historic New Orleans photographs, he unveils Louisiana Lens, a captivating book that takes you on an immersive journey through time.

In this episode of Final Cuts, host Mark Bologna sits down with John Lawrence, the former curator of the Historic New Orleans Collection's photography holdings. Lawrence recently released a book called Louisiana Lens, which showcases a hundred photographs from the collection.

Lawrence's passion for photography led him to become the curator of photographs, shaping the growth of the collection over the years. The goal of his book was to select 100 photographs that represent the development of photographic technology and offer individual interpretations to each viewer.

Through images accompanied by narratives, the book allows readers to explore the multilayered nature of each photograph, weaving together the immutable characteristics of the image, its historical context, and the personal interpretation of the viewer.

Whether you're a photography enthusiast or simply interested in the history of Louisiana, this episode provides a deeper understanding of the state's rich history through the lens of photography. So grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and dive into the captivating world of Louisiana's history through the camera lens.

"A photograph needs to be appreciated for what it was then at that moment, but also through the lens of today." - John Lawrence