Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Month: May 2018

Graduation From Occidental College

Graduation from Occidental College, California.

Please indulge me a slight digression on my photo of the day page today in order to celebrate my daughter Annika’s graduation from Occidental College, California.

Annika received her Bachelor of Arts Degree, in Geology this last weekend in Los Angeles. Starting in November she will pursue her Doctorate in Geology at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. We are so proud of her and all her hard work. Thank you to all her professors we met at the graduation, Margaret Rusmore, Scott Bogue, Darren Larsen and Chris Oze.

To everyone who has visited my website, purchased work or taken a photo tour over the years, I want to thank you for your support. In doing so, you have also been a part of Annika’s achievements.

To all my family and friends who have been there throughout her upbringing, thank you, thank you.

To my darling wife Pamela, “Thank you so much, my love”. You and I and Annika know what it has taken to get here.

And to Annika, “you are our blessings and our future”. We love you. Papa.

Annika's graduation from occidental college

Pole Sitting Lizard

Pole sitting lizard. This used to be a thing I guess, pole sitting. Climb a post and stay on top of it for as long as you can. This lizard climbed the only pole around and stayed on top of it for a good duration. For all I know he’s still there. Thanks for looking. G

Pole sitting lizard

Ranch Hands Posse Line Up

Ranch hands posse line up ready to ride. I made that up. Thanks for looking. G

Ranch hands posse line up

Patinas And Rust Galore In New Mexico

Patinas and rust galore in New Mexico. Peer in to any abandoned building, drive down any back road and you will find scenes like this one. The payoff, from rural flight, is an opportunity to document the past that often gives me a glimpse into the lives of those gone before. Thanks for looking. G

Corrugated roofing

Shadows At The Saint Francis Church

Shadows at the Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos. Stopped in here at the Ranchos Plaza on a photo tour yesterday and had a little fun with the cell phone. Thanks for looking. G

Saint Francis Shadows

F. Ted Henry. Canyon de Chelly

RIP F. Ted Henry

F. Ted Henry, is a jeweler and craftsman who displays and sells his stunning work at the White House Ruin in Canyon de Chelly (Tséyiʼ in Navajo) , Arizona. 

On our annual photo trip this year to the four corners region of the southwest, we met Ted, in Canyon de Chelly. He greeted us warmly “Ya at eeh” and as we were already marveling at his jewelry, offered to show us something special. I feel sure he has shared his story with thousands of other visitors to his display stand at the White House Ruin. In my case, meeting Ted and hearing his story, had a profound effect and will leave a lasting impression. His smiling face and open, friendly nature was beguiling. He asked if I knew who Ansel Adams was? I answered, “I did”. He proceeded to open a coffee table size book to a page of a Navajo woman holding an infant on a cradle board. I am very familiar with the image and recognized it immediately. It is a personal favorite and is synonymous with Canyon de Chelly. I started to get tummy flutters as I anticipated where he might be going with this story. The Navajo tradition of story telling is not wasted on Ted. He dove in to how he first saw the image later in life, when a friend showed him the book with a picture of his mother and infant brother. He didn’t know for so many years that this image by Ansel Adams existed. His story continued until he laid a photo down of his mother made fifty years later, holding the Ansel Adams book open to the pages, in the exact location where he photographed her in 1942. Ted said we were welcome to make a portrait of himself holding the book and the companion photo. His smile and pride were palpable as the light in the canyon. I was quite overwhelmed by his gracious nature and the time in his presence. I made a few images of Ted under one of the cottonwood trees in the reflected light from the canyon walls, and beaming so bright I was glad to be wearing sunglasses. Thanks for looking. G

F. Ted Henry. Canyon de Chelly

Ted’s card shown below says… “Ya at eeh (greetings) – Welcome to the heart of the Navajo Nation, Canyon de Chelly, where Ansel Adams took a photo of my mother Rose Henry holding my brother Ben Henry in a cradle board in 1942 (top). The Bottom photo is 50 years later at the very same spot at the bottom of White House Trail”  And then “Hozhoodoo – In beauty and in harmony”  Teds, website.

F. Ted Henry navajo mother and infant

Here’s the Ansel Adams image

navajo woman and infant 4738601

“Navajo Woman and Infant, Canyon de Chelle, Arizona.”
[Canyon de Chelly National Monument], 1933 – 1942.

White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona. When returning from a prolific image making trip, I like to wait some time before reviewing the photos. I like the feelings, sights, sounds and scents from the locations visited to sink in, to take hold.  The image, often times upon review, will reflect those feelings back to me. I think that is the reason I can remember almost every picture I’ve made.

Tomorrow I will post another image from Canyon de Chelly with a tender story, that will commit this place to my memory forever. As always, thanks for looking. G

White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

Fajada Butte Landing Zone Chaco Canyon

Fajada Butte landing zone Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Playing with the shadows on the picnic table under the ramada, a welcome respite from the hot sun. I put the iPhone 7 down and saw this little view on the LCD. and snapped a couple of shots. Thanks for looking. G

Fajada Butte Chaco landing zone

Red Valley, View To Shiprock

Red Valley, Arizona and the view to Shiprock, New Mexico. Still visiting images made a week ago around the four corners area. This large panorama consists of eight images. We pulled over immediately when we saw the shadows passing across the landscape. I really like this view of Shiprock. A little different than the view from a few days ago. Thanks for looking. G

Red Valley, Arizona and the view to Shiprock, New Mexico.