Mario Tama documents Katrina’s fury, and continues to document the rebuilding, hoping in some way that his photographs will remind people that this treasure of a city was nearly washed away and continues—in some places—to hang by a thread. This Photo Journal is a journalistic, stylistic, thematic photo essay in National Geographic magazine. A personal narrative accompanies the images written by the photographer. 

Senior Photo Editor: Gail Fisher

Photography: Mario Tama

Designer: Oliver Uberti