I was a new-comer to the New Orleans scene at the time of the ten year anniversary of Katrina, but since I was now here, it was now in my hands to care for these memories.

Life Above the Line is a collection of memoirs by the Foundation for Louisiana. It recalls the tales of those who lived and helped in the chaos, and explains the impact that Katrina had on the area. I know for those who have lived here, it’s a tired, old story that has either lost all meaning, or the devastation still hurts.

I was 1,300 miles away when the events of Katrina took place. I only knew as much as the news provided, and like many stories, it quickly got buried by the latest reports of the war in Afghanistan, so my knowledge on the subject was quite limited at the time. I wanted to ensure I handled this with as much sensitivity and care that it warranted, which led me to what proved to be a very enlightening insight into my new home and the culture forged from Katrina’s blows. For me as an outsider, it gave me a valuable perspective of how they’ve learned to cope.

Due to the limits of a tight time-line, I had the benefit of their trust to take full control and direction over the project and create a clean and impactful result.