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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
…and His face was turned toward the sun
Jesus had lost his hands (I don’t know what happened), but at least he could face into the sun and watch the dying of the day.
Immaculate Conception Cemetery
Alamogordo, New Mexico
photographed 12.11.2025
information
I’ve just gotten back from a week of photography in New Mexico and El Paso.
I went primarily for a photo workshop at White Sands National Park; the night before it started, I went out to a nearby cemetery to re-learn how to use a camera that’s not my everyday one. A couple of local cemeteries seemed like good locations for my self-guided lessons.
Anyway, I sure did like the lower-case r that was hanging out with a whole line of upper-case ones.
Monte Vista Cemetery
Alamogordo, New Mexico
photographed 12.11.2025
by the light of the spirit
Some photographers will carefully plan when they’ll be in a specific place because they’ve got an exact idea of where the light should be coming from to get The Best Photo. There’s apps and stuff to help you figure it out down to the exact minute and accounting for things like mountains or buildings that could block the light.
I am not one of those photographers.
My technique is far less technical and involves wandering around to see what’s interesting and would make a photograph.
And when I go past a church I didn’t even know was there and the afternoon light is flooding a window on the far side of the building, I like to think the light appreciates my faith in its ability to do the right thing. Without an app.
San Antonio Catholic Church
El Porvenir, New Mexico
photographed 11.10.2025
fire damage
And here’s a close up of the damage from the huge Hermits Peak/Calf Creek forest fire – that’s Hermits Peak, looming above the dead-standing trees. The ridge on the top of the peak is rimmed with dead trees, too: the scope of the fire is really hard to understand. But you don’t have understand it, really, to feel the power and the terror of that kind of fire.
fire damage and Hermits Peak
near El Povenir, New Mexico
photographed 11.10.2025
One Day | One Image 