Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

High Road To Taos, Black And White. 07-24-2024.

Greetings from San Cristobal (Taos), NM. This week on the High Road to Taos in black and white.

This week I had the pleasure of taking my friend Larry on a photo tour on the High Road. Conditions proved to be very conducive for black and white photography. Larry was using a Canon R5 with a 24-105mm lens and I used my Sony a6400 with an 18-135mm lens along with my iPhone.

Larry got some great pictures while I enjoyed a day out in his company, sharing new locations he hadn’t seen on previous trips. He also added a Pygmy Nuthatch to his “life list” of birds, which we spotted in Amole Canyon.

Las Trampas on the high road to Taos
Church at Las Trampas on the High Road to Taos.

The light in northern New Mexico is outstanding and ominous at times.

Shrine near Vadito
Shrine near Placitas.
Placitas chapel belfry
Chapel belfry, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Placitas.

Below is the church in Llano de San Juan. It has one of the nicest belfries around, with the big bell exposed and not cloistered behind chicken wire or lattice to keep the pigeons out.

church belfry clouds llano de san juan 1985
Church belfry in Llano de San Juan, NM.
Grave marker in Las Trampas
Grave marker in Las Trampas, photographed by Ansel Adams in the 1940s.

Sadly, the house across the plaza from the church caught fire a few years ago. I shot it anyway.

Burnt out house in Las Trampas
Burnt house in Las Trampas.

And the hippie bus with a tree growing from its nose.

Om Shanty bus
“Om Shanti” bus near Truchas, NM.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

12 thoughts on “High Road To Taos, Black And White. 07-24-2024.”

  1. Hi G, I write poetry and love that word — belfry! I asked my husband what it was and how to spell it (he is my dictionary). Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures weekly. We were hoping to eventually take a class from you. Best, Alexis

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  2. Grateful to join you and your friend Larry on the High Road this Wednesday morning. The black and white photos are exceptional.
    M

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  3. The first time I saw the church at Las Trampas the parishioners were plastering it with their hands instead of using a trowel. So every trip I look forward to stopping at it and having a good look. I very much like the designs in wood on the doors and towers.

    I clicked on Llana de San Juan (Library of Congress website) and there was yet a third roof over the bell. This one was six-sided to make it look rather round, with six 2×4’s serving as pillars, same bell, for a whole different look. Interesting that over the years the tower has been rebuilt in different patterns.

    Also, does llana mean “the plain of Saint John?” Thanks for sharing your photos.

    Reply
    • Thank you, Joy. I’ve seen the mudding process many times. The las Trampas church has just been completed, and I’m sure a lot of it by hand. It’s a wonderful process to watch and participate in. Thanks for sharing your experience. Best wishes. G

      Reply
  4. Your photos are stunning! I really like the white cross on the rocks. It is absolutely separate from politics, just pure faith. I bet you could photograph a dead fly, all 6 feet up and it’d turn to a butterfly dancing in your lens.

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