Reactions

I've heard a lot of reactions to this photo, which opened my package and is posted on my Facebook page.

If you can't quite tell, the image is of a stuffed bear, draped over a power line probably ten feet off the ground. This house is in the ninth ward, only about 300 yards from the levee.

When I showed this picture to my roomate his initial reaction was: Did you doctor it?

I couldn't believe my own roomate questioned whether it was a legitimate photo - a real moment captured in time.

In all honesty, though, it was a fair question. No, I didn't do anything to this photo. I took it as I saw it, but incidents of journalists doctoring photos have been common in the last few years.


Just this summer a photographer for Reuters added plumes of dark smoke to a picture of a Lebanese city to make damage appear worse.

There have been multiple examples of doctored photos in Iraq as well.

You get the idea. The point is its fair to question photos or video you see. Sometimes even the pros make mistakes and clean up an image, stage a scene or even use photoshop to make an image more dramatic. My picture, however, is real.

-Garrett

We're Back...Watch the Daily Update this Week

Just returned from the drive back. I'll post more tomorrow about the last few days, but for now, don't forget to tune in to the Daily Update this week to see the stories run that we've been working on.

Tomorrow: Game highlights from the SMU win over Tulane. Plus, Garrett's story on the Superdome recovery...

More to come...

Gabe

A Busy Couple of Days...

Ok, I finally have some time to sit down and tell yall about the wonderful experiences I have been having. I have met some great people and seen some remarkable things.
The owners of this home have never returned...


On a lighter note...


I am working on two fun stories about New Orleans and its music scene. The first of which is on the new Musicians Village in the Ninth Ward started by Harry Connick Jr. and Habitat for Humanity. I went down there with Liz on Wednesday and met some really neat musicians. The first was Fredy Omar, a Latin singer from Honduras, who received a US flag for his new home from none other than the prez. himself, George W.

Fredy and I at his new home he is still moving into.

The second musician I met, was J.D. Hill, and boy does he have a story! He has played with everyone and for everyone. He recently played for George W. in his own home in the Musicians Village! I was lucky enough to sit down with him while he played a little diddy for me on his harmonica...words really can't describe the feelings I felt me through his music. It was a real New Orleans joy!

J.D Hill and I, after his great harmonica performance

Now, if yall are wanting the full story on these two performers and the Musicians Village, tune into the Daily Update this week!


The second piece I am working on is about the Jazz culture here in New Orleans and how it has changed after Katrina. I was really lucky to interview Troy Andrews or "Trombone Shorty" as he is known here in the Big Easy. I sat down with him in his studio and discussed everything from touring with Lenny Kravitz to his work after Katrina in New Orleans. He invited me to attend a big show he had going on last night with the very, and I mean very popular New Orleans jazz band, Rebirth.
Rebirth has become the patron saints for bringing back jazz to this city and it was a remarkable show! I have never enjoyed brass instruments that much in my life. And talking with Troy, I have really come to understand that jazz here in New Orleans is not just a craft, it is a lifestyle.

To get more on the rest of this story and see the great performance, tune in to the Daily Update.

Well, I guess that wraps up the fun stuff I have been doing, but here are some pics I have taken of the city and some great behind the scenes stuff.

The London Street Canal...notice the city skyline in the distance.

An abandoned home in the Ninth Ward.

Check out the water line on this home.


A rusted door from 9 ft of water...and an attempt to take an artistic photo.

Behind the scenes at the Musicians Village...Liz does a great job of getting the shots!

Ok, well I am off to go cheer on the Mustangs at the Superdome...

Go Ponies!

Friday at a glance

We just got back from finishing up some shooting for one of the "bringing back the music" pieces we have been working on and I have decided that I am not cut out for this late night New Orleans life!

Last night I worked on my story about following the SMU money and seeing how the Red Cross handled the funds. I was privileged enough to join a hurricane survivor on a tour of what was once her home. She lived there for almost fifty years. What I found will surprise SMU's students.

Today was a whirlwind of events including another visit to the 9th ward.

This home is one of literally thousands that are in the same condition. Most of their residents will never return.

This is all I have for now... I'm way tired! Everyone yell for the mustangs tomorrow! I know I can't wait to watch the game in the Superdome!

Watch Myra's Story on the SMU Website

For those of you who don't live in SMU-TV Channel 7's viewing area and want to watch the piece that aired this morning on the Daily Update, here's a link for you to watch it:

http://www.smu.edu/newsinfo/videos/new-orleans/

So, i know you've all been wondering...what's Myra been up to??? :) Well, ive finally got some time here, so I'll share. Garrett and i just got back from shooting his package about the reconstruction of the Superdome. Being in the dome was UNREAL. its gigantic. did you know that the astrodome would fit INSIDE the superdome? yeah, its that big. its roof is 9.8 acres. and $185 million was put into it to make the repairs. it was pretty humbling to be standing out on the football field. But its all ready to go for the big SMU v. Tulane game saturday! Im pumped!!
Right now we're waiting to switch gear with the Ashleigh/Gabe crew. This morning Garrett and I got great stuff from the architects who took on the dome project...as well the dome spokesman. We've got some time, so we're heading out to the 9th ward to see what we can see. Its misleading to be right here in the French Quarter. It looks like everything's back to normal. Im willing to be that the 9th ward will tell us otherwise.
To back track just a bit...wednesday i interviewed 2 Tulane football players about where they've come in the past 13 months and what they're looking to forward to about being back in the Dome again. The stuff they said was unbelievable. I honestly couldnt use it all...they told amazing and heartfelt stories about what they saw when they visited the city just a few weeks after Katrina. Pretty compelling stuff. Im thinking about compiling it all into a sit down interview just so people can hear their story.
Before leaving dallas i sat down with a few smu players to talk to them about this upcoming game and what they think about being the second event to be back in the dome. Yesterday, i took all of my interviews, broll, etc, and edited it together into package form. Garrett helped me shoot a standup in front of the dome. it looks pretty cool, if i do say so myself! Then we took it to WWL here in NOLA to be fed back to WFAA in dallas via satellite. Yes, it felt like real on-location coverage. My piece was aired on the Daily Update today. (SMU TV, channel 7) I couldnt have done it without the help of Ashleigh, Nick, Gabe and Garrett!
Well, we're heading out to the 9th ward. We'll let you know what we see out there.
Until next time...
<3 Myra

Adventures of Mercy and Liz

Liz and I at the end our adventurous Thursday in the Big Easy!!

A Church in Lakeview...make sure you read their message written in duck tape.

The dedication plaque for the first London Street Canal...they are still working on it a year later.

A patriotic home in Lakeview a block from where the levy broke.

We found this on an abandon street next to a broken levy.

The general feeling of homeowners in the most devastated areas of New Orleans...notice the children's toys in the background.

A home in the Ninth Ward...the area of most devastation.