Lafayette, Louisiana

I met this white-bearded gentleman in the Acadian village, a re-created early settlement near Lafayette. His name was Louis Choplin (born 1922). He was said to have been a crawfisherman, trapper, a D-Day soldier, chef, lumberjack, butcher, painter, carpenter, pipeline foreman and Santa Claus. A local star, he willingly posed for photos and was also…

New Orleans, Louisiana

Christmas in New Orleans is a magical period of the year. Pleasant weather, fewer tourists. This young black is performing a tap dance number while his friends are playing live music, near Jackson Square. December 1988. Noël à la Nouvelle-Orléans est une période magique. Temps agréable, moins de touristes. Ce jeune noir fait un numéro…