Northern New Mexico

Rio Grande Gorge, Taos Pueblo, Mission San Francisco de Asis, the High Road, Santuario de Chimayo, Sangre de Cristo Mountains. With Taos as a hub, the entire surrounding area is an artist’s paradise. The work of Ansel Adams, Georgia O’Keeffe and the current crop of fabulous artists has done little to diminish the desire for artwork from this area. Every way you turn reveals another masterpiece. Originality, however, is another story. What you see has probably been done before. If it was not seen by artists from the days of Adams and O’Keeffe, it has probably been sculpted, painted or photographed by one of the many artisans who currently inhabit Taos and its environs, not to mention the hordes of visitors who pass this way annually. But, it is certainly a thrill walking in their footsteps and seeing it through your own eyes … or viewfinder.

Three years ago, my wife and I hosted a campground in the BLM Orilla Verde Recreation Area of the Rio Grande Gorge. I spent nearly three months trying to capture the natural beauty with a 4-megapixel point and shoot camera. I had tons of beautiful images, most of which have been ruined by over-zealous post processing or lost in the bowels of a crashed computer. In these past three years, I’ve learned a lot and increased the “horsepower” of my photography equipment. We are here for only a few days but I will try to restore some of those lost masterpieces. The culture is my subject. I am fascinated by history, especially history of the Southwest and the people who are that history. On the first day after our arrival, I visited the Taos Pueblo. There are some restrictions on photographing the residents and some of the spiritual events, but the architecture and lifestyle make some beautiful and educational imagery. If you plan to visit, you should know that you will have to sign a release stating that your photographs will not be used for any commercial purpose. There is a charge of $5 for each camera and you will need to attach certification that your camera is legitimate. The pueblo is open daily except during certain religious ceremonies. The schedule is posted on the Internet, just search on Taos Pueblo.Taos Pueblo and the city of Taos lie at the base of Taos Mountain. The legend mentioned in a previous post is about the magic of the mountain. It declares that anyone visiting the area for any length of time and seeing the beauty of the mountain will forever be drawn to Taos. Since we are here, it is difficult to dispute the claim.

Taos was home to Kit Carson. So many fables surround this legend that true history is difficult to apply. His home in Taos is now a museum. Though not very photogenic and difficult to photograph, it is a source of information that may be the truth. I was also fascinated to learn that Kit Carson was responsible for rounding up the Navajo in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, and marching them to reservations in New Mexico. It is a story very reminiscent of the “Trail of Tears.” The museum is worth a visit. It fills in a few blank spaces in understanding the history and culture of the area and its people. It can be an emotional stimulant to your photography.

The High Road is the mountainous road between Taos and Santa Fe … actually it goes to Espanola but it is the road that is important, not the destination. We took a shortcut through Dixon to Truchas on our way to Santuario de Chimayo, a legendary mission on the edge of Chimayo. Truchas is an artist community, high in the Sangre de Cristos and offers access to many artists’ studios that are usually open to tourists. It is a great place to get a feel for the area. I was more interested in updating my images of Santuario de Chimayo so drove straight through Truchas. By the way, Robert Redford made a movie in Truchas, something about “bean fields?”Chimayo is a center for woolens and woven fabrics — clothing and rugs. There are also several excellent turquoise jewelry shops there. Jane has already contributed to their business, thank you. J We had planned a visit to a very nice restaurant tucked away in the valley near the Santuario but the restaurant had burned to the ground. That disappointment was short-lived. We had a fabulous short order type meal on the grounds of the mission. Jane had tamales and I had a tamale pie. It was more like a soup but absolutely scrumptious. And, very spicy – one of those Two Coke meals.