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Natchez Scene captures life of Miss-Lou
Published Friday, February 29, 2008
What is Natchez like?
That is probably the number one question I get when I am out of town.
Of course, the first images that come to mind are of white columns, grand staircases, ladies in hoop skirts and all the other images that might be associated with the antebellum South.
Natchez is only a tiny part of that.
There are the images of barges powering up the Mississippi River, the long shadows of the river bluffs cast along the shore line and who could forget the silhouette of the twin bridges at sunset.
Natchez is a little of that too.
As a newspaper man and a photographer, I also conjure up images of Natchez’s wonderful residents. No other place in the world seems to be filled with as many quirky, fascinating, complex and rich personalities as those in the Miss-Lou.
That is what makes describing where I live to the outsider so complicated.
It is like describing one of those jaw-dropping masterpieces that hangs in the Louvre, the National Gallery of Art or other equally famous museum. No words would ever do it justice.
It is in those instances when I wish I could pull out a big family album and begin flipping through the hundreds of snapshots that I think describe Natchez.
Notice I said hundreds of photographs, because only a kaleidoscope of pictures would begin to describe our town.
Luckily, I think I have discovered that photo album I can show to the next person who is curious about Natchez.
Better yet, instead of lugging around a book of photos I can just send them to Natchez’s newest website — www.natchezscene.com.
Since the site was announced on Tuesday, many people have logged on to Natchez Scene to look at and upload photos that are now part Miss-Lou family album.
Of course there are classic Natchez photos. There are spectacular shots of the sunset with all its beautiful shades of orange and gold. There are shots of popular tourist attractions, like the city cemetery, the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, Mammies Cupboard in the snow and numerous other places.
Then there are also compelling images of nature, from spring flowers to butterflies to spiders. A few travel photos are sprinkled in, as well.
Probably the most descriptive photos in this family album are the photos of the family — the residents of the Miss-Lou.
Nothing can describe what Miss-Lou is like more than its residents. They give it its flavor and richness.
Fortunately, Natchez Scene is filled with a variety of people photographs.
There are snapshots from area schools, churches and other organizations. There are individual shots from those who want show off birthday parties, anniversaries or just a beautiful sunny day in the park.
Photographs from Mardi Gras balls, Christmas parades and many other holiday events that make the area unique fill the site. There are snapshots from this year’s “I Have a Dream” luncheon celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and this year’s Junior Auxiliary Fun Run.
What makes Natchez Scene unique is that many of these photos are taken by Natchez Scene photographers. While individual users are uploading their favorite photos from home, Natchez Scene is busy documenting the area’s biggest events.
In the coming weeks, Natchez Scene will be attending numerous events, including the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage, the annual St. Paddy’s day parade and the Natchez Pow Wow.
Who knows, you might get handed one of our Natchez Scene business cards that says “You’ve been scene” by one of our Web site photographers.
If you are then you know you have become part of the area’s biggest family album at www.natchezscene.com.
Ben Hillyer is the Web editor at The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at ben.hillyer@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on February 29, 2008 at 12:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Very nice site, well-prepared, and I'm impressed!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on February 29, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good article. You hit it on the head when you said so many quirky people.....you know your people, don't you.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on March 1, 2008 at 1:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess when you have no news you have to make some, whats better than a bunch of low res phone pictures.
Posted by dangyankee (anonymous) on March 1, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, I admit that the resolution of the photos posted on the site has been a bit disappointing (I've seen the originals of some of them, and they were not "low res phone pictures"); I suspect that has to do with technological factors far beyond my limited understanding, probably having to do with "space" issues, etc. Resolution aside, I have NOT been disappointed, other than in the fact that so few people have participated so far. I know this thing is in its infancy, though, so I'm planning to be patient--this is one of those rare cases, I think, where "if you build it, they will come." (I've seen that quote a lot in these pages, so had to throw it in there.)
I'm thinking this will pick up steam as it goes along, and as more people become aware of it. What I would like to see is, say, schools get involved--not as "schools," per se, but individuals at those schools. They probably all have yearbook staffs, right? I would like to see them post a few galleries, show us that Natchez schools aren't all about NOT learning, or however we have come to perceive them. There are real kids--real people--at those schools, so yes, I would like to see them get involved here. They ARE part of the "Natchez Scene," after all. Same goes for, say, Co-Lin, or even the Natchez campus of the "educational resort" up in Lorman--even that educational resort has a strong Natchez connection.
That example only sprang to mind because I just saw the picture of a Cathedral tennis player on the site. There are others, if we use our imaginations. Besides families, there are workplaces, for instance, and churches, and parks (I think. Are there parks here?).
As Mr. Hillyer points out, a community is "about" people--a community isn't just a bunch of historical buildings, etc. Show us the PEOPLE. I'm sure Natchez Scene doesn't have enough photographers to cover everything that happens around here, so all y'all with your digital cameras and your cell phones, etc., need to chip in.
Point is, if this site is going to become a sort of "community photo album," the community is going to have to take "ownership" of it.
We all cuss newspapers for their apparent, "If it bleeds, it leads" mentality. "Why don't they ever report GOOD news??" I've heard that question a lot, or anyway I used to. Well, "Natchez Scene" strikes me as a place for "good news."
So I say (knowing that, as an "outsider," my opinion counts for little), all you folks help report some good news. The Democrat has provided a vehicle (or venue?)--take advantage of it.
Posted by ElGoodo (anonymous) on March 1, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good post there, yank. I agree. I think the site is off to a good start and it IS news. Some people think of news as only crime and politics stories. Not so.
Posted by dangyankee (anonymous) on March 1, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, ElGoodo, and you're right--news isn't all crime and politics, or shouldn't be. While, obviously, we need all the crime and politics stuff, we also need to celebrate life sometimes, if for nothing else than to make us appreciate it a bit more. "News" sometimes should remind us why we're here, what we live for. Our lives are "about" more than just taking precautions against burglars or voting out Republicans or whatever--our everyday lives are "about" kids' first birthdays, grandmas' 100th birthdays, just those everyday joyful moments. Our lives are about getting out of bed in the morning, maybe taking a moment to appreciate the sunrise, then getting about our activities of daily living--going to work (or to school), saying "howyadoin'?" to people we meet on the street, maybe feeling the spring sun's warmth on our backs as we walk. Just everyday stuff.
We can get so wrapped up in or preoccupied by "news" (crime and politics) that we fail to see what truly makes our lives . . . our lives.
I THINK "Natchez Scene" has a chance to remind us of that.
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