My good friend Brett Erickson was in town last weekend; it was so good to see him again. We met about seven years ago, through photo blogs, and in many (or, really, most) ways, I consider him to be my mentor.

Five summers ago, I took a class from him at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, where I produced a version of this image during one of the class’s field trips. A print of that attempt is hanging in my Gallery O’ Shame* and Brett mentioned some things that happened the day I’d made it. That gave me a chance to look at the image again and realize that I really didn’t like what I’d done with it in post-processing, so I did something I almost never do: I had another go at it. Five years more Photoshop experience makes a difference!**

near Abiquiu, New Mexico
photographed 7.3.2014

*It’s where all the stuff that got into shows but didn’t sell now resides. It’s also the guest bedroom. Guests at my home are required to take a photo with them***. If they seem reluctant to do so, I distract them with coffee with the Patient Spouse moves a photo to their car. You’ve been warned.

**See? I am teachable, which comes as a big surprise to all of us!

***Because I can’t figure out how else to get rid of the damn things.