This place? Again?
There’s really just one thing of photographic interest in this tiny town – that old church building – and it’s been photographed within an inch of its life. I’ve posted a lot of images of it over the years, making me complicit in the crime of over-shooting.
The last time I was through town, I decided to do something completely unprecedented: I turned off the highway on the other whole side of town* from the church and made some photos. But then, the old place drew me in, and I walked down a dirt road for an unobstructed view. Like every other photographer who’s been here, I just can’t look away.
Taiban, New Mexico
photographed 9.2.2019
*”Other whole side of town” = about two blocks.
Posted on September 16, 2019, in Photography and tagged 365 photo project, abandoned buildings, black and white photography, church, learning to see, Leica, melinda green harvey, monochrome, new mexico, one day one image, photo a day, photography, postaday, road trip, take time to look, thoughtful seeing, travel photography. Bookmark the permalink. 28 Comments.
One Day | One Image 
When you have a good subject, just keep shooting!
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I guess…but I hate to make the exact same photos that everyone else makes.
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If the place calls to you, best answer.
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This little town is on the way to Santa Fe, so we through there often. Here’s a conversation with the Patient Spouse recently, as we were approaching it:
Me: …and when we get to Taiban, there’s no need to stop. I’ve already got all the photos I need.
PS: Really? Because I don’t mind stopping.
Me: Yes. Really. Just keep going.
Ten miles later:
Me: So, if you don’t mind pulling off the road in Taiban…
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You both have to be very careful not to blink as you approach it. You might miss it in a millisecond it would take to blast through. The mark of the photographer is constant vigilance.
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Sometimes the constant vigilance is tiring. But, of course, mostly it’s exhilarating.
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So long as the exhilaration wins, the photographer does not hang up her camera.
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So far, exhilaration is way, way ahead.
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It’s what keeps us young.
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All I know is that I feel a lot younger than I actually am.
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Me too.
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Desolate…..
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Yes. It is indeed desolate!
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Yep
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Your loyal followers would/do the same thing !
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Oh, those crazy loyal follower(s)! Where would I be without you?
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I fully understand how you are drawn and pulled in, better not resist!
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I’ve TRIED to resist. But I never can.
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I shoot some locations repeatedly. Every once in a while something unexpected adds to the appeal. If a place is interesting keep shooting. Resistance is futile.
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It is indeed futile. I prove that every single time I go through there!
One of these days, that church is going to fall the rest of the way over, or burn down, or something. The photography community in this part of the country will be traumatized! When that happens I have a plan to produce a pop-up photo show where everyone can hang their photos of the church. The repetition will be….stunning.
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You’re not alone. Lately I have been drawn back and occasionally invited back to photograph places I once roamed in my childhood which were once vibrant and happening places, now abandoned and decaying in dismay.
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I make a lot of images of decaying towns in my part of Texas; it’s slowly become a bit of an obesssion. I can’t look away.
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I drove through Taiban at the end of April, 2017. I pulled in to the parking area of the iconic church just behind a young lady driving a huge pickup with duelies. She asked if I would hold off for an hour or so as she wanted to take some selfie nudes. I explained that I was merely driving through and only wanted a couple shots of the church. She acquiesced, although declined my most gracious offer to help with her project. It was an encounter I’ll not soon forget.
The August 2019, Issue 134, pg 65, published a photo of the church very similar to one of mine. https://timetotimeobservations.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/abandoned-church-taiban-nm/
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Wow! What a story!
An hour seems like a pretty long time to shoot nude selfies, but what do I know? And I am sure the only reason she declined your offer of assistance is that it would mean the photos would no longer qualify as “selfies.”
Your Downtown Taiban shot is very nice – I have a photo of the back of that same building.
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The magazine is Black & White. I must proofread my stuff more carefully.
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In your defense, it’s really hard to proofread your own stuff…
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Keep going … it’s special! 🙂
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It’s on the route between where I live and the parts of New Mexico I visit often, so I’ll be back. And will stop, over and over, to take photos. I can’t help myself!
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