On Sunday, October 18th, 2024 I made the 20(ish) minute drive over to Arcadia, Louisiana from where I live in Choudrant to photograph sections of the small downtown area.
I eventually published my photo essay, Louisiana Wandering: Arcadia Textures, in the ShutterCraft 101 newsletter, showcasing the town’s character through black-and-white photography.
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But, there is a story here.
Arcadia’s Architecture
Truthfully, while tossing around ideas for the body of work I envisioned for Louisiana Wandering, Arcadia hadn’t even crossed my mind.
Until…
On the Sunday prior, I had traveled north on Louisiana Highway 9 from Lucky, Louisiana where I’d finished creating images of the old Poland’s General Store. This turned out to be such a fun adventure and discovery (I learned much about that little general store in a Facebook post).
Anyways, coming into Arcadia from the south, I glanced westerly and noticed the small downtown area. I had never truly noticed the old downtown area despite years of passing through.
Something about those vintage brick buildings, traditional downtown layouts, and the storefronts of yesteryear just tugs at my camera strap.
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Between Shadows and Highlights
Admittedly, the conditions that day were tough. I mean the weather was nice and mild.
But, the sunlight was harsh and always seemed to be blinding me so I concentrated on framing in the building’s shadows and keeping it (the sun) mostly to my back as best I could.
I tend to be wishy-washy about the light most days and how it affects my images. Too much of an overcast and everything is just dull, flat, and gray.
Overly bright and warm is not my flavor either.
One thing for sure is you can’t control the natural light so you make due and just click away!
The Unforeseen Discovery of Arcadia, Louisiana
Arcadia’s downtown area was an unexpected and rewarding subject for Louisiana Wandering and my portfolio overall. Capturing Arcadia’s textures, despite the challenging lighting, allowed me to see the town from a perspective I hadn’t previously experienced.
Louisiana’s small towns hold so many hidden stories, just waiting for someone like me to explore, photograph, and share.
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