Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley Plantation is located in Vacherie (VAH-shah-ree), LA. Lining the entrance are 28 Virginia Live Oaks, 14 on each side, equalling 1/4 mile in distance. They were planted in the 1700s, about 100 years before the home was constructed. They are now 300 years old and their expected lifespan is 600.

Since this shot has been taken numerous times by infinitely more talented photographers, I experimented with various edits for a little something different. The black and white images were processed with two different CoffeeShop actions, then tweaked further in Lightroom. I can't remember which is which, but one is called Raspberry Tea and the other Irish Breakfast Tea. The color version is an action called Amapad Florida. I have no idea the origin; it's an action I've had for some time and rarely use. I tried to Google to give proper credit, but couldn't find it.

Sharing with:

The Cottage

Happy Halloween, y'all! Are you ready to be spooked?

An old sugar plantation, The Cottage, now lies in ruins along the River Road, just six miles south of Baton Rouge. The plantation burned to the ground when it was struck by lightning in 1960. Frances Parkinson Keyes, the author, lived there for a time.

As with most Louisiana plantations, this one is allegedly haunted. According to legend, one of the spirits is Angus Holt, who had taken care of the family that lived there during the 1800s. After the Civil War he returned to find the family scattered or dead and took it upon himself to care for the property until his death in 1880. His apparition has been seen walking the halls since that time.

At some point, the steamboat Princess exploded on the Mississippi River as it headed towards New Orleans in the 1800s. Seventy people were killed instantly and more than 100 swam to shore, ending up on the lawn of The Cottage. White sheets covered in flour were brought out to help care for the burn victims, yet they all perished. To this day it is said that white powder can still be seen rising into the air on any given evening, as well as bloody sheets.

I could not get too close because large, bold signs warned of jail and prosecution.
At my age, this is just not an option, so I respected the signs. :)

Thank goodness for the zoom lens. Focused on the foreground to get a little blur in the background.

This vintage "hand tinted" processing is from a free tutorial given by Georgianna Lane. Of course her stuff puts my effort to shame. 
It's one of the easiest tutorials using masks that I've seen yet. You really should check it out.

Original of above shot

Focusing on the tree limbs in the foreground again. I think I detect a slight haze. Hmmmm....

Wishing everyone a safe, candy-filled evening! I will be spending it with my cousin, his kidlets, and a big bowl of gumbo. Boo!

Edit: Below are postcards of what the plantation looked like, which might help answer questions about the columns.

Photo credit

Photo credit