La Senora de la luz

arroyosharkarroyoshark Registered Users Posts: 191 Major grins
edited January 17, 2007 in Landscapes
One thing we have no shortage of here in New Mexico is old rural churches. And, at the moment, there is no shortage of snow. The "Our Lady of Light" church, built in the 1870's at Canoncito, New Mexico, is near Santa Fe.

Photo was made with a Canon Rebel XT and a Sigma 17-70mm. I am continually working to improve my Black & white technique. Your comments and critiques are welcomed. Thanks.
Available light is any damn light that's available -W. Eugene Smith

Comments

  • SenecaSeneca Registered Users Posts: 1,661 Major grins
    edited January 15, 2007
    Very very nice...love everything about it...the mood, the lighting, the mystery. Great shot!thumb.gif
  • MikkoMikko Registered Users Posts: 451 Major grins
    edited January 16, 2007
    Nice capture, the composition looks great and the black and white is perfect. You kept details in the shadow and the highlights, perfect.
  • ppugappuga Registered Users Posts: 100 Major grins
    edited January 16, 2007
    Mikko wrote:
    Nice capture, the composition looks great and the black and white is perfect. You kept details in the shadow and the highlights, perfect.

    Very intresting shot, it's not common to see this kind of church's covered in snow. The bw technique I think it's very good. May be if the shadow of the left cross doesn't crop could be much better, but just my opinion.

    thumb.gif
    Pablo Puga
    www.pablopuga.com
  • jdryan3jdryan3 Registered Users Posts: 1,353 Major grins
    edited January 16, 2007
    Nice shot. I was out there last year in Feb/March. A little drier than it is now. I saw a number of churches like that. I will be returning in a month. It'll be interesting to see if you still have snow.
    "Don't ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to. Oh well."
    -Fleetwood Mac
  • arroyosharkarroyoshark Registered Users Posts: 191 Major grins
    edited January 16, 2007
    Thanks everyone for such positive comments. I have been working to make my black & white renditions match what I had imagined when I took the photo. This back-lit snow scene I thought would be quite challenging. I found information on the Digital-Monochrome.com website, maintained by Martin-Images, quite helpful.

    You're right about all the old adobe churces in NM, Jryan3. Many of the older ones have graveyards connected with them, like this one. Probably the most photographed mission church in NM is the one in Ranchos de Taos, beginning with Paul Strand.

    I've always thought this little church, named, "Our Lady of Light" was iconic and it has been painted and photographed a bunch of times. Notably, Elliot Porter photographed this church, in the snow, in black & white, back in 1939, from the other side. Mostly it is photographed, or painted, from the front. I thought walking around the back would present an interesting viewpoint, not seen before. I was up against a fence and rock wall, so I could only include as much of the foreground as I presented.

    Thanks for looking, everyone.
    Available light is any damn light that's available -W. Eugene Smith
  • jdryan3jdryan3 Registered Users Posts: 1,353 Major grins
    edited January 17, 2007
    I had to check but the one we drove out to was in La Bajada. Here is a different kind of shot. (I'm linking so I don't hijack your thread)
    "Don't ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to. Oh well."
    -Fleetwood Mac
  • arroyosharkarroyoshark Registered Users Posts: 191 Major grins
    edited January 17, 2007
    That's a really nice image, jdryan3 ! Don't get to see too many of these churches photographed as an abstract. Very O'Keefish by my perspective. La Bajada village was at the base of La Bajada Mesa and on the original late 1800's road from Santa Fe to the pueblos and Albuquerque. That road was built by prisoners. One of the b&w images on your website, which shows the face of La Bajada Mesa, looks like it was taken from the village. I can make out the old road up the side.

    Ping me when you come back to NM and if you are in Santa Fe area.
    Available light is any damn light that's available -W. Eugene Smith
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