Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Tag: Abandoned

Remnants Of Authenticity #1

Remnants Of Authenticity #1. For the past 12 years I’ve been collecting images of architecture and building details, sometimes whole buildings in decay, more often than not, the tenuous details moments before it’s ultimate demise. So many of the buildings I’ve photographed have expired or are transitioning to rubble. Soon the old adobes will be interred from whence they came. A slightly raised mound, with scattered timbers will remain, as a reminder when the earth has reincarnated all the other elements. “Ashes to ashes dust to dust” … there’s a lot of coming and going in New Mexico! Stay tuned for more images. Thanks for looking. G

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Ode to M.C. Escher

Ode to M.C. Escher, San Acacio, Colorado. Shadows and light abound. I revisited this location following a review of my images from last weekend. This time I had a concept in mind, and here is the result. Thanks for looking. G

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Exquisite Demise Of An Old Friend

Exquisite demise of an old friend. It felt sad when I saw that this building had collapsed. What can I say? I’ve photographed this place for almost fifteen years. I’ve had a sublime attraction to the place since the first time I saw it. I could never drive past it. I always had to stop in, and whether or not I would make an image depended on an unspoken mutual regard, much like making a portrait. When I visited last week on a photo tour, I knew I would return a few days later to pay my respects in a more fitting way and make, what for me would be, the ultimate farewell portrait. This view is only visible in it’s current state, never before. Thanks for looking. G

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Here are portraits from past visits:

https://geraintsmith.com/san-acacio-colorado/

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/august_16/aug_28_16.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/march_15/march_20_15.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/june_13/june_30_13.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/march_08/mar_03_08.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/august_07/aug_17_07.html

https://geraintsmith.com/on-the-road-in-colorado/

Mercury Eight Elizabethtown

Mercury Eight Elizabethtown, northern New Mexico. It’s been here for quite some time. I wish there was a time lapse of it’s decorous demise. Throughout the years it has withstood all the elements, notwithstanding, modeling for all and sundry visitors. Thanks for looking. G

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San Acacio, Colorado

San Acacio, Colorado homestead. I’ve made many images of this building and have been watching it’s demise through the years. This image below is from 2007. I first made it in color but I like the black and white in this instance. And this image is from August 2016. Last month the winds had taken even more of a toll on the structure. Some time in the next week I’ll be back up there again. I’ll let you know how it’s holding up or if it isn’t, either way! Thanks for looking. G

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The Mansion, El Rito New Mexico

“The Mansion” in El Rito New Mexico. Well… that is what a longtime resident of El Rito told us it was commonly known as. We took him at his word. Thanks for looking. G

The Mansion El Rito

Potato Cellar, San Luis Valley, Colorado

Potato Cellar, San Luis Valley, Colorado. When I came across the abandoned cellar I saw many angles and compositions, but the one that struck me the most was the burlap potato sacks left hanging over a wire. Out of all the remnants left behind in this place these were the only objects that represented, singularly and collectively, the sole nature of this place. There were many more objects that informed me a little about the original purpose of the potato cellar, but these burlap sacks left me knowing it’s exact purpose. Upon encountering this grouping I made a picture which conjured up an image of the last person to leave, the one who hung them over the wire and walked away. Thanks for looking. G

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Chevrolet Truck And Ute Mountain

Chevrolet truck with a view of Ute Mountain. Find an old truck, with a view out the windshield, stick the camera in the cab, get it all framed up, include the prerequisite spider of a crack in the windshield for full authenticity. The nice condition of the cab interior finishes it off. And yep! … there you have it! Thanks for looking. G

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Dodge Truck, El Prado

Dodge truck parked, with no plans of travel this holiday weekend or any future weekends for that matter. That’s great ’cause it’s a fun location, subject and photo op. Had a great photo tour today at the St. Francis church, El Prado for these trucks, the cascading creeks and waterfalls in the Taos Ski Valley, ending at the high bridge and the Rio Grande Gorge. Happy 4th of July. Thanks for looking. G

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Llano De San Juan, New Mexico

Llano de San Juan. Over the last few weeks I’ve conducted numerous photo tours on the High Road to Taos. There have been some stunning afternoons with great photographer clients and image making. This building has always intrigued me, and I almost always make a stop here in this high road llano (Spanish for plain) to make an image of this old building and the nearby church. The tin roof, typical in New Mexico architecture, the undulating tin portal roof and a dormer window, forever pointing to the sky, always feels welcoming despite it’s abandoned posture. I’ll be back on the High Road to Taos again tomorrow and no doubt we will visit this place. Thanks for continuing to visit my photo of the day page … and keep on looking. G

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