Photographer Philip Gould captures ‘Louisiana from the Sky’ in new guide from UL Press

Photographer Philip Gould joined La Louisiane for a dialog about his twentieth pictures guide, Louisiana from the Sky, revealed by UL Press.

In this podcast episode, Gould mentioned how aerial and drone pictures provided a brand new perspective on a state he has documented for many years. Using what he describes as a “tripod in the sky,” Gould captured chook’s-eye views of Louisiana — from small-town festivals and acquainted landmarks to hardly ever seen views of swamps, prairies and concrete landscapes.

Gould, who has photographed Louisiana for the reason that Seventies, mirrored on how this mission differs from his earlier work, why the state continues to shock him and what he hopes individuals will take away from this assortment of photos.

You can hearken to the dialog with Gould and La Louisiane managing editor Marie Elizabeth Oliver on KRVS 88.7 FM, watch on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s YouTube channel or learn an edited transcript under.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
I do know you’ve got been taking images of Louisiana for the reason that ’70s. How is that this guide totally different? How is that this method totally different?

Philip Gould  
That’s a very good query. I’ve taken — I’ve been taking images for the reason that ’70s, after I first got here right here in ’74 working for The Daily Iberian, straight out of school, and only for the document, it was one of the best first newspaper job one might hope for. It was simply wonderful. I obtained to do no matter I needed. No information actually, on this city. So, the newspaper was on the lookout for different issues, and so, “go beat the bushes.” And that is form of how I did it. And I realized to see alternatives the place, apparently, you realize, none could have been apparent.

To get to your level, the orientation for many of my work up till this guide, has been from the bottom. It has been trying straight at regardless of the topic is. And the earlier guide I did on bridges throughout the Mississippi, I used a drone on many events. You want the drone for the attitude trying on the bridges, after which I simply transferred it. There’s {a photograph} within the guide a few days earlier than Christmas Eve the place you’ve this picket alligator, big 30-foot alligator, all these individuals are gathered round it, and also you see the tops of their heads and lengthy shadows that they are casting. And that was the image that triggered the concept. That if this unusual, surreal scene simply pops proper up. I’ll wager you others will, too.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
OK, so the photograph got here first after which the concept for the guide. Wow.

Philip Gould  
The photograph triggered the concept. Absolutely, and so at that time, I simply stored my eyes peeled, stored fascinated by what might make a very good {photograph}. There have been a ton of apparent topics that wanted to be coated, you realize, the French Quarter, the Mississippi River, the prairies, and likewise simply the landmarks, you realize, the cities that individuals constructed on this very, considerably flat terrain. And I believe these have a number of curiosity as nicely. You know, I photographed New Iberia, Abbeville. I photographed Minden, Louisiana. I photographed Shreveport, photographed in Alexandria, Cane River. I imply simply totally different locations the place the hand of man was utilized to create — the structure for tradition. I loved that.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
It’s only a completely totally different perspective. And I favored the way you talked about firstly of the guide about how being from California, you have been form of used to the totally different topography, and it is so flat right here. We do not usually see the drama in that approach.

Philip Gould  
I got here to Louisiana on the age of twenty-two from California, geographically spoiled. I imply, each time I flip round, there’s wonderful view of the Pacific Ocean or the Bay. I get to Louisiana, and it is flat, flatter than this desk, and so lastly I spotted that the verticality got here from standing below dwell oaks, and that you just get that overhead cover, which helped.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
Yes, however now having this drone and aerial pictures, you possibly can see that.

Philip Gould  
Yeah, tripod within the sky. I’ve at all times stated that you could’t see Louisiana from the bottom. You know, you possibly can see that constructing, you possibly can see that tree, you possibly can see that swamp. But to see the state, you actually must stand up excessive and look out over it. And in order that’s how the drone got here in so splendidly useful. I imply, I might simply put the drone up and seize no matter I needed. I photographed a number of conditions the place the one different technique to do it for aerial can be a helicopter. And that will make such a racket that it simply would spoil the calm of the scene. So, I find it irresistible. It’s only a fantastic instrument — a tripod within the sky.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
They’re really gorgeous. And for these of us who’re so acquainted, who grew up right here, seeing it on this approach, you get a very totally different thought of this space.

Philip Gould  
Of the state. Yeah, completely. I imply, there’s drama within the panorama, in case you are above it. Elemore Morgan, well-known artist and professor right here, at all times stated that the important thing aspect to recollect in landscapes is that you just’ve obtained to incorporate the sky. The sky offers the drama to the panorama.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
He captures some stunning sky. And you do, too.

Philip Gould  
For instance, on the quilt, you possibly can see that is stunning. A cloud simply occurred to be there, and we’ve a solar rising by it. And, you realize, how will you beat that?

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
Yes, and I do know there are a number of stunning landscapes in right here, however you even have portrait pictures. You have individuals and a number of the small-town festivals. So how is that totally different than once you have been simply specializing in the drama of the panorama, versus capturing these occasions and the tradition?

Philip Gould  
Well, the occasions I needed to be considerably consultant of the broader tradition. You cannot be encyclopedic in a scenario like that. But you possibly can contact upon issues. And typically you get a pleasant little jewel. I used to be up in Gibsland on the Bonnie and Clyde Assassination Festival.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
I did not even know that was one thing that occurred.

Philip Gould  
Yeah, I imply, it is a competition, and it is a small city. And there is a museum. And so, they’re doing a reenactment of the assassination out on the web site the place it occurred. And everybody’s lined up alongside the highway. And then the automobiles, you realize, as scripted, their automobiles come up, and a sheriff’s automobile type of forces the opposite one to go in a ditch. And subsequent factor you realize, all types of individuals come out of the bushes and all that. And the important thing there, I stated, “Well, that doesn’t look all that interesting,” however, you realize, sooner or later they open the door, and you may see that these two actors mainly trying as useless as attainable. And then individuals simply collect, gathering round like a morbid, you realize, virtually…

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
But it is all performing.

Philip Gould  
It is all performing.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
I imply, however you actually can seize it. And I think about once you’re on the bottom taking pictures in a crowd of individuals, you grow to be a part of the story in a approach the place right here you possibly can form of be somewhat…

Philip Gould  
Yeah, for instance, this can be a {photograph} of Fourth of July in Erath. I’m taking pictures from a drone. I’m most likely 50 toes within the air. And I simply needed to create a way of the entire scene, after which simply nonetheless have the deal with the purpose of the water slamming in opposition to these firemen.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
And once more, I really feel like, even when you’ve attended certainly one of these occasions, even simply form of seeing it on this approach. It simply gives a special perspective.

Philip Gould  
You know, it is attention-grabbing. My spouse usually says, “When we go traveling, I go to see it all and to experience it. You go to see it and photograph it. I always worry that you’re not really fully experiencing it.” I stated, “Believe me, you know when you are photographing it, you’re looking at it that much more intently, and you have a document of what you saw.” And so, I believe that method is healthier for long-term recollections.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
Absolutely. So this guide has greater than 200 photos that vary in subject material, however you wrote that there’s a widespread thread that form of connects all of them. Can you share somewhat about that?

Philip Gould  
Well, I believe the widespread thread is partly the query of altitude, that we’re trying above it for probably the most half, and down. And, you realize, there are a number of footage which might be taken from the bottom. I’ll be the primary to confess it, however they’re key to the story. And I believe the opposite thread is that this can be a portrait of the state. It is affirmative, however clear-eyed. We are a tremendous place. Anyone who has come right here, you realize, usually comes again, and ultimately, they could really transfer right here. It’s a tremendous place, and it has issues, however we’ve to be clear-eyed about it. I {photograph} somewhat little bit of what they’re doing to assist alleviate the issues, constructing flood management gates and simply attempting to forestall tidal surges. You know, even on the quilt, you’ve these rock formations which might be doing precisely that.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
So, it is a love letter, however it’s additionally virtually a name to motion in a approach.

Philip Gould  
Point taken, level taken. Yeah, a love letter with a velvet glove, studying them the Riot Act. Time to get going right here.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
You stated you hope that individuals take away one thing from this. What do you hope that they are going to take away from seeing these photos, significantly those you have been talking of earlier, of the consequences of coastal erosion?

Philip Gould  
Well, I hope that the guide will get readers to develop a deeper bond to Louisiana. I believe that there’s a lot right here for individuals to essentially get pleasure from. I do know so many individuals who transfer right here and make their lives right here, you realize, and why? Well, there’s a number of causes. Quite a lot of them are cultural. Quite a lot of them cope with group. Quite a lot of — Lafayette has a tremendous group. We all appear to know one another, and all of us appear to assist one another in giant measure.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
And I used to be additionally simply curious, as somebody who was not from right here and has been right here for therefore lengthy and actually devoted your life’s work to this place. What retains you staying right here and persevering with to give you new concepts and artistic work?

Philip Gould  
I spotted a very good very long time in the past that Louisiana is an extremely beneficiant topic. There is at all times one thing, you realize, and also you assume you might have photographed the whole lot, after which, bam, one thing pops up. Wow, you realize. And particularly once you’re driving round, I used to be shocked so many instances by what I noticed. And there is a image of this float. It’s a camp that is on a barge in a tent. It’s a tent that is within the form of an alligator snapping turtle, and you bought the top that they carved up. And you possibly can see all of the swamp within the background. And you simply know what’s within the swamp. And this can be a camp that this man constructed for his grandchildren.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
So, it is by no means, by no means boring,

Philip Gould  
Seldom, typically the lengthy drives. But that is all proper.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
Somewhat nearer to residence: This is the podcast of La Louisiane journal. And I do know you’ve got photographed footage for the journal and achieved a number of pictures right here on this campus. What do you’re taking away from that have?

Philip Gould  
That’s a very good query. I had an task when President Authement was retiring to go {photograph} all of the buildings that have been constructed below his tenure, management and his administration. And it was a major quantity, and so I felt I used to be extra linked to the college, simply with the ability to take a look at it extra intently. I believe since then, the college has grow to be extra stunning.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver  
In closing, how do you are feeling evaluating this sort of aerial pictures to the kind of pictures you do? Is it one thing that you’ve got achieved for this guide and now you’ve got achieved it? Or do you see your self incorporating that into your observe extra?

Philip Gould  
Well, I contemplate the drone a part of my toolkit. It will not be the one half. And, you realize, I nonetheless have cameras and the entire enterprise. And I’m going round photographing, and if I must get a drone up, it will be very clear. And so, I’ll simply do it. And I do not fear about what’s going to grow to be of the {photograph}. If it must be photographed, I’ll {photograph} it from the bottom, from the sky, what have you ever. And you realize, once more, Louisiana is a really beneficiant state. It is at all times giving.

Order Louisiana from the Sky from UL Press. Follow La Louisiane for extra interviews with members of the UL Lafayette group. Special because of KRVS 88.7 FM, listener-supported radio for Acadiana, a service of UL Lafayette.

Video credit score: Kade Parker / University of Louisiana at Lafayette