Poole Media Co. 5/10/24 Poole Media Co. 5/10/24

A Preservation of Time

I grew up with this house as a meet-up place, a spot to take refuge under its massive roof in the event of being caught in the rain downtown. I used it as a backdrop to take countless photos, sit on its steps and contemplate life, and reminisce of times past.

I’ve now spent the last two years documenting the Roque House project. It’s had it’s share of circumstantial problems to overcome, mostly all outside of the hands of those that did their best to shape this iconic house that is so engrained into the topography of the Natchitoches riverbank.

This morning I went down for myself; not for company, contractor, or news outlet. I went because I needed to spend time with the house as a photographer and as an artist first. Tracing the new layout, looking at where the morning light lands, how the new shadows the Roque House now shapes into its presence as if to say, I’m still standing…over 200 years old!

The layout is complete. The ‘new’ finished riverbank has a design that will last for generations and welcome couples to get engaged by it, be married in front of it, and host a lifetime of memories, photos, and everything in-between.

Enjoy this first look at the newly preserved Roque House and please go see it in the coming weeks once this icon is reopened to the public! It’s an awesome story, that serves as a reminder of just how far we’ve come as people and as a community!

Shot on Canon

For licensing inquiries please email: jd@poolemedia.co

Poole Media Co. 3/13/24 Poole Media Co. 3/13/24

Kisatchie Burning

Kisatchie burning…

There is a hauntingly beautiful, and an almost ethereal calm right after a controlled burn inside the forest. In some way's it looks similar to a natural forest fire. Charred earth, thick smoke and haze, the sun blocked, shrouded by looming clouds of smoke, and warm ground beneath you.

Longleaf Vista behind the entrance during a controlled burn in mid March, 2024

I stumbled upon the controlled burn yesterday, March 12, 2024 in one of my most favorite places; Longleaf inside U.S. Forest Service - Kisatchie National Forest! After being inside and witnessing the burn last year, I was a little more prepared to catch one. This time I got low, to bring in the scorched ground, waited for clouds to pass so the light of the sun would illuminate parts of the plumes of smoke.

These are some of my captures from the controlled burn! This is a necessary process, a system that restores and rejuvenates the forest floor, and capturing part of this to me is interesting! I’m also a big fan of watching fires from a distance and the way the smoke fills the trees reminds me of some old horror movies!