New Mexico
September 25, 2011 - Not to be undone by the lurking thumbs-down snake, here's my post for today - Thanks to all who commented or emailed me yesterday in support of efforts to expose this problem. We will overcome. Now, continuing our journey in New Mexico..
You may wonder just what this building is.. Actually this is the rear of the San Francisco de Asis Church - I felt honored to have been able to photograph this wonderful place of worship - so steeped in heritage, so long in existence, so well built and so simply beautiful and purposeful in design.
Here's more - (The following is from Wikipedia): "San Francisco de Asis Mission Church is a church built between 1772 and 1816. It is located on the plaza in Ranchos de Taos, itself a historic district named Ranchos de Taos Plaza, about four miles southwest of the town of Taos, New Mexico. Construction on the church began around 1772 and was completed in 1815 by Franciscan Fathers and its patron is Saint Francis of Assisi. It is made of adobe as are many of the Spanish missions in New Mexico. It is located a few miles south of Taos Pueblo and has inspired among the greatest number of depictions of any building in the United States. It was the subject of four paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe, and photographs by Ansel Adams and Paul Strand. Georgia O'Keeffe described it as, "one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards." It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970. It is also designated as a World Heritage church."
The front of the church and it's courtyard faces southward and is opposite this view - it's much more typical of Spanish church design of the late 1700's in the Southwest. The Northern elevation however accentuates the bulbous buttressing of adobe - essentially dried clay reinforced with straw... necessary to support the interior height of the sanctuary. Ingenious! With this design, light and shadow play wonderfully in the mind of the painter and photographer. And as such, like Wikipedia mentions, this place has been well looked upon by generations of us - seeking our own rendering of it's beauty. To have stood where the likes of Ansel Adams, Paul Strand and Georgia O'Keeffe did and compose my own image was pretty special.
HBSan Francisco de Asis Mission ChurchRanchos de TaosNew MexicosmartmexsmartposterHPdailysw
A short walk north from Hwy 68 on the south end of the Taos Valley, one would literally fall into the Rio Grande Gorge. As sunset approaches, we made several timed exposures this evening. As the sky rapidly changed moment to moment, the eastern rim and the entire valley running up to the town of Taos became flame orange for just long enough... This is a black framed rendering.
HB
Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, New Mexico
acomasky citynew mexicosky city new mexicolouisannimagelouisannimag.comhoward brownsmartmex
Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, New Mexico
acomasky citynew mexicosky city new mexicolouisannimagelouisannimag.comhoward brownsmartmex
Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, New Mexico
acomasky citynew mexicosky city new mexicolouisannimagelouisannimag.comhoward brownnotgoldsmartmex
Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, New Mexico
acomasky citynew mexicosky city new mexicolouisannimagelouisannimag.comhoward browndailyswsmartmex
Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, New Mexico
acomasky citynew mexicosky city new mexicolouisannimagelouisannimag.comhoward browndailyswsmartmex
Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, New Mexico
acomasky citynew mexicosky city new mexicolouisannimagelouisannimag.comhoward brownsmartmex
Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, New Mexico
acomasky citynew mexicosky city new mexicolouisannimagelouisannimag.comhoward brownsmartmex
Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, New Mexico
acomasky citynew mexicosky city new mexicolouisannimagelouisannimag.comhoward brownsmartmex
Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, New Mexico
acomasky citynew mexicosky city new mexicolouisannimagelouisannimag.comhoward brownsmartmex