Blog Archives
discomforting
For some reason, I have the idea that these fishnets would be particularly uncomfortable in the, uh, southern region. It’d only cost a buck and a half to find out, but I think I’ll save some money and just go with my initial assumption.
El Paso, Texas
photographed 12.14.2025
dial tone
Just next to this pay phone there was a sign that said BEWARE OF DOG. The sign was wired to a chain-link fence that had sheet metal panels part of the way up. There was also a dog who was not the least bit happy to see me: he barked and snarled and hurled himself into the sheet metal with such force that I thought for a minute he was going to break right through them. He didn’t do that, but he was able to look over the top of them glare/snarl at me.
Anyway, if I’d gotten in trouble* the pay phone would not have helped me one bit: there was no dial tone, possibly because the dog had gnawed through the cable as part of his dental hygiene process for keeping his teeth nice and sharp.
Fabens, Texas
photographed 12.16.2025
*When I see dogs that I don’t know, I will always assume their Short Range Plan(s) include eating one or more of my legs for a snack. Not that I’m overly dramatic or anything…
joel died at the border wall
My friend Don and I went to see the border wall. It was emotional and difficult, more so than we’d expected.
So today, on Christmas, I would ask that you spend some time with this image, some time thinking Joel Gonzales and his family, some time thinking about how those of Christian faith are specifically called to feed the hungry, to give water to the thirsty, to provide shelter to the homeless, to give clothes to the unclothed. And then reflect on this powerful sentence from the book of Matthew: “Truly, I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”
San Elizario, Texas
photographed 12.15.2025
PS: You might want to read this post.
sacked
I stepped into the public restroom because…well, for the obvious reason. And a bit of magical light (and one white paper bag) greeted me.
San Elizario, Texas
photographed 12.15.2025
bones
There will be more White Sands photos later…but I’ll start with this one.
I thought the dunes themselves would be so interesting to photograph, but (and this wasn’t really a surprise because I am familiar with my work) what I liked the best was the separate life of things in the alkali flats between the dunes. The plants take on otherworldly shapes, there are tiny tracks made by invisible creatures, and there are elaborate patterns on the surface made by the elements (wind mostly, sometimes rain). Ancient ancient dune movement is revealed and it feels as if no human has seen this – this exact thing – ever before.
For me, the experience became one of seeing the tiny landscapes that populated the one that was too huge to understand.
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
photographed 12.21.2025
One Day | One Image 