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Mud and Snow
I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again: a real challenge when visiting often-photographed, iconic locations is finding a new way to look at them. I *think* this is a new way to see this old church, but in fact, all I can say for certain is that it was a new view for me. And I hope it’s a new one for one or two of my readers as well.
I wear a bracelet all the time; it’s engraved with words attributed to Georgia O’Keeffe: Take time to look. It makes me feel contented in my artistic life to look down and see those words, and to try to follow them. And taking time to look, to walk slowly and deliberately around this building, thinking about ways to capture its particular magic led me to see this, and to photograph it.
(My current bracelet is actually my second one; the first one got lost. And – fun fact – I bought its replacement at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe the day before I made this photograph. And – another fun fact – if this bracelet gets lost, I am going to get the words tattooed on my wrist. I don’t feel myself without them.)
San Francisco de Asis
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
photographed 3.16.2019
Jesus
I can’t imagine a photographic world where I will not visit a cemetery, even though once at a class a self-absorbed Famous Photographer said we should “never” photograph them because there was “nothing new” to see. But part of growing as an artist is knowing what sorts of advice to ignore, so I grew greatly during that class and rejected not only that directive but many other things he pontificated about.
And so that’s how, a few years later, I found myself face-to-face with Jesus in northern New Mexico. I’m not sure what Jesus thought about it, but I was delighted.
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
photographed 3.16.2019
How many rains
The church of San Francisco de Asis was built in 1772. Even in its desert locations it has seen a lot of rains. And later that night, one more set of raindrops bathed the adobe walls.
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
photographed 7.1.2014
Andy’s fiesta
Even though Andy’s claims to have just about anything you could need (Cocktails! Curios! Restaurant! Meeting Rooms! Drive-up Window!), I think the availability of all of those things is exaggerated. Which is, of course, my favorite thing about it.
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
photographed 3.16.2019
Dennis Hopper was nearby
Our traveling companions were keen to find Dennis Hopper’s grave, which is not all that easily accomplished. But we stuck it out, and eventually located it.
In the meantime, there was this fantastic view of the mountains north of us.
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
photographed 3.16.2019
One Day | One Image 