The city was originally built along a sharp bend of the ​Mississippi River, which creates a crescent-like shape.

This bend is particularly noticeable in the French Quarter and ​the surrounding areas, giving rise to the nickname. The ​crescent shape has become an iconic representation of New ​Orleans' layout and is a distinctive feature of its identity.

With apologies - the tour sold out in a record-breaking four minutes. Please email to go on ​the waitlist. Thank you for your interest.

• 9th-16th APR
  

Meridien Hotel, New Orleans

“America has only three cities: New York,

San Francisco, and New Orleans.

Everywhere else is Cleveland.”

― Tennessee Williams

The French Quarter needs no introduction. But we will do so anyway!

The beautifully preserved buildings with their intricate ironwork, colourful facades, and quaint courtyards provide endless inspiration for painters and photographers. The area is home to numerous galleries and studios showcasing both contemporary and traditional art.

The natural light in the French Quarter is particularly beguiling at dawn - before the city wakes up - and at dusk as the sun sets and the shadows lengthen.

The area is steeped in history, blending French, Spanish, Creole, and American influences.

The Creole influence extends to the arts, with a rich tradition of storytelling, visual arts, and literature ​that reflect the diverse cultural heritage of the Creole people.

The iconic cottages and townhouses in the French Quarter and other historic districts show off the ​Creole influences in their wrought-iron balconies, courtyards, brightly coloured facades, and tall, narrow ​windows.

Quaint cafes and historic bars provide not just refreshment ​but also perfect spots for sitting, contemplating, or ​gathering creative ideas.

The Garden District in New Orleans is a historic and picturesque neighbourhood known for its stunning architecture, lush gardens, and vibrant cultural history. It was developed in the early 19th century by wealthy Americans who settled in New Orleans after the Louisiana Purchase. They built grand mansions which were fashioned in stark contrast to the French and Spanish Creole architecture of the older French Quarter.

The area is famous for its well-preserved collection of antebellum mansions and Victorian-era homes with expansive gardens and well-manicured landscapes. The area is filled with oak-lined streets, magnolia trees, and various blooming flowers, providing a picturesque and tranquil environment.

Running alongside is the avenue that is home to the St. Charles Streetcar line, the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. The avenue itself is lined with magnificent mansions and is a popular route during Mardi Gras parades.

Nearby Magazine street - part of what has been described as the prettiest neighbourhood in the city - offers countless cafes, ​bars and restaurants where we can sit and take stock.

Whitney Plantation is a non-profit museum dedicated to the history of ​slavery. It is situated on a historical sugar, indigo and rice plantation which ​operated from 1752-1975.

It is dedicated to preserving the history of slavery in the United States and ​stands out among historic plantation sites for its focus on the lives and ​experiences of enslaved people, rather than on the plantation owners.

It is the only museum in Louisiana with an exclusive focus on the lives of ​enslaved people.

The museum places a strong emphasis on the personal stories of enslaved individuals, ​using recorded narratives, statues, and historical documents to give a voice to those ​who were oppressed and dehumanized by the institution of slavery.

Cemeteries in New Orleans, often referred to ​as "Cities of the Dead," are notable for their ​unique above-ground burial practices, ​historical significance, and distinct ​architectural styles.

Due to the high water table in New Orleans, ​traditional underground burials were ​impractical. Instead, the deceased are interred ​in above-ground tombs and mausoleums. ​These structures resemble small houses, giving ​the cemeteries their city-like appearance.

Many of New Orleans' cemeteries date back to ​the 18th and 19th centuries, and showcase a ​variety of architectural styles, including ​Gothic, Greek Revival, and Classical. They ​are the final resting places for notable figures, ​including early settlers, influential political ​leaders, artists, and musicians.

The cemeteries are not just places of mourning but also of celebration. During ​events like All Saints' Day, families gather to clean and decorate the tombs of their ​loved ones, reflecting a tradition of honouring the dead.

“The first thing you notice about New Orleans are the burying grounds - the cemeteries - and they're a cold proposition, one of the best things there are here. ​Going by, you try to be as quiet as possible, better to let them sleep. Greek, Roman, sepulchres- palatial mausoleums made to order, phantomesque, signs and ​symbols of hidden decay - ghosts of women and men who have sinned and who've died and are now living in tombs. The past doesn't pass away so quickly here.

You could be dead for a long time”

― Bob Dylan

A shrine within a chapel within the St Roche Cemetery

A Louisiana swamp tour is a memorable adventure that showcases ​the natural beauty and ecological significance of the region’s ​wetlands. Undoubtedly a swamp tour provides an immersive way to ​explore this fascinating environment.

The interplay of light and shadow, the reflections in the water, and ​the close encounters with animals provide countless opportunities ​for stunning photos.

We are excited to have teamed up with a local photographer who knows ​the swamps well. We will have our own private boats for our excursions. ​Small enough to access some areas less visited by tourists. We will do our ​tour at either sunrise or sunset to make the most of the beautiful light.

In New Orleans, culture doesn’t come down from on high, it bubbles up from the streets.”

― Ellis Marsalis

There are a great many attractions that have not been mentioned. Here are some of the other possibilities we hope to explore.

The New Orleans Museum of Art is the city's oldest fine arts ​institution and hosts an impressive permanent collection of ​almost 40,000 objects. The sculpture garden is particularly ​interesting.

In the fall of 1872, a depressed Edgar Degas left his beloved Montmartre, France, to visit ​his mother’s family in New Orleans. In spite of concerns over his impending blindness, ​his five-month sojourn in the Crescent City would mark a turning point in his life that ​would influence the history of the art world forever.

The only home of the famous French impressionist painter open to the public is ​now a museum. Also a B&B but too small to accommodate our group ​unfortunately.

BACKSTREET CULTURAL MUSEUM

ALGIERS POINT

CONGO SQUARE

WAR MUSUEM

City Park

Well, no. Not quite. Too chaotic. Too crowded. Too expensive.

Such a frenetic celebration is never going to facilitate creative advancement, ​for sure. But the costumes are on show in the city all year round. And given ​that we blur and abstract our images anyway, who’s to know they weren’t ​made at the event itself?

I recently spent a wonderfully immersive couple of hours with showcases full ​of antique costumes in Turkey. So much more relaxing than being elbowed ​from every direction and squashed in the crowds.

Instead we will enjoy a Sunday Brunch With Jazz at the historic Arnaud’s.

As well as being one of the few restaurants in New Orleans to serve Creole food, it is home to the Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum.

The Germaine Wells Mardi Gras Museum is a small collection of Mardi Gras costumes tucked away in the restaurant. The museum displays a priceless ​collection of more than two dozen lavish Mardi Gras costumes worn during the 1940s-1960s. The collection is enhanced by more than 70 vintage ​photographs, fabulous carnival masks and faux jewels and elaborate krewe invitations.

How much has been written about the food in this part of the world? Far too much for us to even start to catalogue. It will be good, it will be plentiful and it will be authentic. Perhaps that is all we need to know.

Breakfast is included in the price of the tour, as is the aforementioned Sunday brunch together with three other evening meals.

A week in a city is a long time and we will get tired. Therefore by giving people a few nights to do their own thing, those that want to slope off and get room service will be free to do so.

Arrangements will be made for those who want to dine with Terry and Valda on the four nights not included in the price. Elaine can also help with recommendations and reservations.

We cannot provide an hour-by-hour itinerary. Not even a day-by-day. The way we work doesn’t lend itself to a rigid timetable. Not least because we have no idea ​what the weather will do. Similarly the events calendar for next year is not yet available.

We have many activities in the city lined up. We will also take time out to do a swamp tour.

We will have some down time - ie one or two afternoons where you have a few hours to do your own thing. We will also schedule an editing demo session at our ​hotel.

Terry is particularly experienced at night photography and while we have to be mindful of our safety we will make time to go out and shoot after dark.

As ever, we have chosen our accommodation carefully. Because the downtown area is noisy - no way of sugar coating it - we have booked our ​accommodation at the Meridien Hotel - which is a comforting 5 minute walk from the noise and chaos of the French quarter and Bourbon street. It is a ​modern and well appointed 4 star hotel having recently completed a $25 Million renovation programme. It offers views over the city and the Mississippi ​and will make a comfortable base for our tour.

WEATHER

GMT + 6 hours

Weather - springtime temperatures High 26°c / 78°f Low 16°c/60°f

Skies tend to be sunny or at least partly sunny on about 18 days this month with some ​rainfall normally occurring on about 6-7 days.

SUNRISE - around 06.40 am

SUNSET - around 19.45 pm

PRICES

TOUR COMMENCES ON 9th April 2025 at around 2pm

TOUR ENDS ON 16th April 2025 at around 3pm

FYV MEMBER SINGLE ROOM (standard) £ 5,275.00 **

PARTNER (non photographing) £ 2,950.00

Non-FYV MEMBER SINGLE ROOM (standard) £5,500.00

PARTNER (non photographing) £ 2,950

Upgraded rooms available. Please enquire for supplement

** To be eligible for the FYV subscribers discount, you need to have taken out a 12 month membership or have been on a monthly ​subscription for over 6 months.

Single accommodation at the Meridien, New Orleans

Breakfast which will be taken either at the hotel or in town.

Evening meals on four days

Sunday Jazz Brunch

Wine or beer with those meals **

Transport to swamp area and private boat tour

Local transport - streetcars and ferries etc

All entrance fees & any workshop fees

NOT INCLUDED:

Airfares

Transport to and from Meridien Hotel

Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)

Any meals not mentioned

T&C’s