“the
days between” means different things to different ‘fest goers’. To
most, it means the few days in b/t jazz fest weekend where you can rest,
keep pawtyin’, throw a pawty, or work. To me, “the days between” means
the week in b/t shooting French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest – and it’s
never a time of rest. With so much going on in my world right now, there
hasn’t been a moment to reflect – so that’ why i am now.

My
solo exhibit, “One Foot in the Swamp – Portraits and Daydreams as
Photographs” opened last weekend and we had a blast. It was great timing
to open that weekend, as we got a ton of press! Here’s a bit Eric
Paulsen and WWLtv did;

http://www.wwltv.com/eyewitness-morning-news/Zack-Smith-photography-exhibit-a-must-see-at-French-Quarter-Fest-254895591.html

Here’s a snap of me, Eric, and Luke Winslow-King…in front of one of my photos of LWK…

French Quarter Fest went by so fast this year and it was a blur – i had a great team of volunteer photographers working w/ me to capture the festival and we covered so much ground. I really enjoy photographing French Quarter Fest as I am at task to “capture the spirit and magic moments” of the festival. Just picture the beautiful backgrounds of the historic French Quarter as your pallet and the dancing, music, and New Orleans light as your actors. You can’t beat it! After 5 days photographing this festival I really do feel connected to the French Quarter, the light, and the music. Peter and Tamara worked with me all weekend, helping me edit each days images, tag and organize in Photoshop and Bridge as well as help with lighting.

My “days between” the festival have been slammed with studio work for Krewe du Optic, prepping for my classes, and editing French Quarter Fest. I am almost relieved i will be running around at the fairgrounds this FRIDAY!

And as always, one of my favorite shows to shoot is The New Orleans, BINGO! show…who’s isn’t?

I have always felt that spring in New Orleans is when this city shines..and if what you do has something to do w/ what makes this city so wonderful..shouldn’t you shine? I always have felt it right when the weather changes, at the times i am ramping up to shoot French Quarter Festival into — Jazz Fest–into new personal work –> playing ALOT of music at these festivals at the same time…with the occasional night show – that this is what life is about. It’s about doing what you love, being with who you love, and living in a city that loves you back.

I felt it big tonight, loading in my new drumset in my bands new practice space, on the verge of promoting and releasing a new album we recently finished. Playing it, felt right – hearing instruments, felt right.

And for some reason, like the smell of cut grass brings in childhood nostalgia, i remembered a Pink Floyd record i used to listen to…ALOT. “The Division Bell” – came out in 1994, as i was entering my sophomore year in college, learning alot about myself, where i fit in the world, and what made things work. And even now, I feel like i am JUST figuring out how things work and knowing enough how to work the things. 20 years ago, it seems just like yesterday – and although the time is gone, the feeling is not.

I have always felt you need to know where you come from to know where you are going. On so many levels this has always rung true. From discovering, learning, and celebrating my heritage, to remembering a time when i was growing, the seeds planted then are growing as i keep on going.