This week on a photo tour/workshop in Ojo Caliente and beyond. It’s been a great three days working with my guests.
When I set up this scene, it immediately reminded me of, Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting, “Black Cross with Stars and Blue“. I had to do my own variation on her piece even though I’ve been to the actual location where Georgia got her inspiration for her “black cross” many times. I chose black and white over color for the stark graphic look. I hope you’ll enjoy and forgive me for the one-shot post this week. Back on the road again in a few days. I need my rest.
The Church of Santa Cruz at Ojo Caliente, New Mexico
Three black and whites from a photo tour this week. In the first image, at Placita on the High Road to Taos, I happened to look up and there was the last quarter moon with the deep shadow from the church roofline running through the scene. The second image was taken at the church of the Sacred Heart in Rainsville, NM. I was drawn to the shapes and patterns of the shadows and light interacting with the white-trimmed window. The third image is east of the church in Rainsville looking toward the plains. We waited for the clouds to roll through with a little rain thrown in for good measure.
Placita, Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion chapel and moon, High Road to Taos
Rainsville, Church of the Sacred Heart, New Mexico.
Tree with a backdrop of storm clouds Rainsville, NM.
Starting with the Valles Caldera National Preserve this week, Pami and I made a Saturday drive around the block… way around the block. We headed to the Caldera, Jemez Springs, the Gilman Tunnels, Cuba, Abiquiu, and home, a 334-mile block. I also added a couple of images from later in the week from Arroyo Seco, NM.
The Valles Caldera is a supervolcano and will be familiar to you if you’ve watched the series “Longmire.” Walt Longmire’s cabin is located here, the caldera doubles for Wyoming. On this day we listened to the melted ice waters gently lapping in the East Fork of the Jemez River and watched a couple of coyotes hunting way off in the distance other than this it was relatively quiet.
The East Fork of the Jemez River in the Valles Caldera.
The Gilman Tunnels were great to visit and the hike through the canyon but there were plenty of us people clogging up the views of the tunnels. If you are familiar with the latest “Lone Ranger” movie with Johnny Depp, then you have seen the tunnels.
Sun setting over the vertical rock walls of the Rio Guadalupe Canyon at the Gilman Tunnels.
Here’s a cell phone snap of the tunnels. Yep there are tunnels. The real beauty is the canyon.
Gilman Tunnels, NM.
Not much to say about this abandoned car along the Rio Puerco in Cuba, New Mexico, except that Pami spotted it as we drove by on the overpass. She insisted I should turn around, that I would like it, and I did!
Abandoned car along the Rio Puerco in Cuba, New Mexico.
Holy Trinity Church in Arroyo Seco, NM has some nice sculptural adobe details that make for nice accents catching the late afternoon light.
Late after noon light at the Holy Trinity Church in Arroyo Seco NM
Always prepared to look past the obvious I spotted this detail of an exquisite little ornament placed there by a visitor.
Devotional ornament at the Holy Trinity Church, Arroyo Seco, NM.
Last but not least. Nearly all images on my website are available as prints. I’m particularly proud of this black and white print of White House Ruin made in Canyon de Chelly a couple of years ago. It is available on my website now, click on the image below to select a size option.
White House Ruin made in Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Las Trampas Church, the view through the big doors. I’m on the High Road to Taos often on photo tours, that it is hard to pass up another picture opportunity of this beautiful mission church of San Jose de Gracia de Las Trampas. Thanks for looking and all the wonderful comments and support over the years. I’m very grateful. Thank you. Geraint.
Raindrops, San Jose de Gracia de Las Trampas, NM. Through the looking glass, flashing back to a body of work I did in 2009. Spending more time this last week organizing my hard drives I came across this image I shot of the Las Trampas Mission Church on the High Road to Taos. An image of the St. Francis Mission Church made the exhibit in Taos back in 2010 but as I review my files this image grew on me. Thanks for looking. G
San Antonio de Padua Capilla, Taos. This little chapel is one of many in the neighborhoods around Taos. I made a little trip through the old parts the day the snow began to melt when the sun came out adding some warmth to the day. Thanks for looking. G
This image of the Morada, still in use today, is from 2006 before the bell. I can’t ever recall seeing this building without a bell. Well, here it is. Great skies are always in abundance and rarely missing in this area. Thanks for looking. G
Saint Thomas (Santo Tomas) the Apostle Church, in Abiquiu, New Mexico. On the road in Abiquiu yesterday I came across this scene. Always read the small print. I’ll say no more! As always thanks for looking. G
San Antonio Church, Valdez, New Mexico. Back to gorgeous skies and quintessential New Mexico scenes. The little village (would be more of a hamlet in Britain), and the church of San Antonio, nestled in the valley along the banks of the Rio Hondo. So much subject matter here in this area lends itself to black and white photography. Thanks for looking. G
Saint Francis Church, Ranchos De Taos. Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting of this church and Ansel Adams photograph, along with many other pieces of art created, depicting this building, have made it one of the most famous adobe mission churches in New Mexico. I made this particular shot with three images stitched together. It came out rather interesting and somewhat distorted, accentuating the building’s organic material and shapes. I can’t recall how many images I’ve made of this building over the years. Here’s one of my favorites from the late 1980s. If you click on one of the tags below you will get to see many more. Thanks for looking. G
