Hot Sun in Santa Fe, Cold Rain in Taos - Update

Today we visited Santa Fe, NM, with Amparo's brother and sister-in-law. 

Parked as close as we could get to the Governor's Palace, where the local natives sell tribal-style jewelry and blankets, then we walked the final six blocks.

Adobe style construction is the norm in the older sections of Santa Fe. The thick stucco walls keep the interior of the homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

The oldest existing home in Santa Fe, though they claim it is the oldest in the USA.

Don't know...

A street musician trying to make a few dollars.

The native vendors lay out their goods in front of them hoping to catch the eye of people walking by.

Keeping with tradition, no tables are allowed.

By mid-afternoon, the heat and long hours take their toll.

Vendors are of all ages. Each has claimed a spot for their wares under the protective overhang of the Govenor's Palace.

A smart pedestrian dressed in white to ward off the blazing hot summer sun.

That wraps up the street photos captured in Santa Fe. Nothing was purchased but 

many interactions with the vendors occurred.

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The next day we took the ladies to Taos trying to find what they could not in Santa Fe.

While the ladies did their shopping, I relaxed in my favorite haunt, Op.Cit. Books. On the quiet second floor, one finds the photography and arts section. I was settled into a deep upholstered chair with two or three books when the first lightning bolt struck nearby. Then the rain came down, and down, and down.

In all my years of visiting Taos, have never experienced a summer rain storm that caused street flooding like this one. Several shopkeepers told me the same. They had never witnessed a storm quite like this..

Peeking out the upstairs window, I hoped the ladies found refuge inside a shop.

With the rain came hail stones...

Finally with a break in the rain,  I went looking for the ladies. Very few if anyone carries an umbrella here. Umbrellas in Taos are for protection from sunburn, not rain.

Located the ladies. None of us had umbrellas and it was still raining off and on. Was able to salvage a few large pieces of cardbord that we fashioned into head coverings so we could made a dash to the main plaza a few blocks away. 

There we took cover under the large community gazebo, sharing the dry spot with another couple, a homeless man,  his dog, and a local guitar player.

The guitar player was quite good, softly singing his tunes so not to bother the others. When I asked why his guitar case was not open so people could drop in a few dollars, He replied. "I'm just practicing here. I hope to be good enough someday to earn a few dollers from tourists."

"Son, you are good enough. Open your case."

Sadly, like most of us, we do not know our own worth until a stranger tells us. No matter how many times family and friends tell us that we are good at being creative, 

the word of a stranger will be taken to heart, carry more weight, and be remembered.

Why is that?

When you see or hear good talent, tell them so. The world will be a better place.

Ride safe and far

CCjon

Full Moon over Taos

Am back in northern New Mexico for a week. Of course I had to make a trip into Rancho de Taos to photograph the St Francis de Asis Mission once again. 

This Mission is my favorite go-to place for Southwest photography.

 This time it was to capture images of the Passover Moon above the Mission. 

Here are a couple of the results of that trip.

Starting off with,

on the west side of the Plaza is the Plaza Cafe.

 It has been here serving New Mexican family recipes for many generations. 

It is a very popular local family-owned and operated restaurant.

The clouds were quickly moving across the sky...

Sometimes, almost totally blocking the moonlight and other times opening up for a bright moon.

Had to play with the light and camera settings to capture an acceptable image.

As the moon was slowly setting in the west,  

the sun had awakened the dark sky, burning off the clouds.

This photo is a homage to two of Ansel Adam's NM photos:

one, the St Francis Mission, and the other, his famous "Moon Over Hernandez, NM".

Maybe I should call this "Ansel's Moon".

After being here since 4:30 A.M., I was ready to find some coffee and a bite to eat. 

The Plaza Cafe would not open until 11 A.M., but it is only a short ten-minute drive to downtown Taos 

and its popular Michael's Bakery. Their fresh-ground coffee and cinnamon bread French Toast with strawberries and whipped cream was a delicious, tummy-warming treat.

Through an east-facing window, the bright Taos sun shown in,

illuminating the lady at the table next to me.

It immediately reminded me of that southwest style of painting that many Taos artists apply in their oils.

Artists have been coming to the Southwest and Taos in particular since 1920, 

in search of that special Taos light.

I was delighted to be able to capture this image without disturbing her thoughts.

In a few days, I will head back down to the Houston area. 

Ride safe my friends

CCjon

2024 Spring Wanderings

 Though I have been taking a variety of photos this Spring, have been distracted from posting them. 

Time to catch up a little.

Driving across southern New Mexico, captured an image of this abandoned building after a rain storm.

The next afternoon we visited the San Francisco de Asis Mission in Rancho de Taos, NM.

The warm late afternoon sun painted the broad west stucco wall with shadows

Of course, while there, I had to try a couple of B&W shots, too.

Every winter the freezing temperatures cause the abode walls to flake. Each Spring the parishioners gather to hand plaster the stucco for another year.

Someone's backyard door opens up to the Mission Plaza. 

The cold blue gate with the sun warming the inner courtyard caught my attention. 

Felt like you were standing in the cold, looking at a warm, sunny world on the other side.

"24"

The failing light cast long shadows across the old Mission's gravel plaza.

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A month later we made a trip to Georgia. 

After raining hard all night long, 

a bright morning sun beckoned to explore the woods behind the motel...

...so with the camera in hand, I did.

Among the trees and brush, I tried different compositions, with and without color.

This started with a 'meh' picture, 

Then remembered that a well-known photographer stated, 

"if a photo is uninteresting, get closer... (or crop tighter)".

So I did.

Catching sunlight reflecting off the new leaf growth.

Then again with dead leaves that refused to fall...

...crop tighter. That's better.

We'll wrap up this Blog Post with a moss-covered fallen tree. 

Here I was playing with light and shadows. Letting the sun illuminate bits and pieces of a scene while I tried different camera settings.

What I enjoy about photography, besides satisfying my creative urges, is there is no final destination. It is a never-ending journey of learning to see and try new techniques and different processes. 

One is constantly learning. There is no end game, no graduation, no diploma certifying one is a photographer. Just the satisfaction of knowing one is engaged and learning something new every day you pick up the camera.

Ride safe, ride far my friends

CCjon