#229 Two Photo Subjects

#229  Two Photo Subjects

A Friend’s Garden

Cosmos and Bee, 157mm Macro @ f6.3, 1/640, ISO 1000

Purple Cosmos, 157mm Macro @ f4.5, 1/320, ISO 1000

Susi invited us over because she knew I was looking for photo opportunities. I took my Nikon Z50ii DX camera with two full-frame lenses, a Nikon 105mm f2.8 Macro lens (equivalent to a 157mm) and a Nikon 28-400mm f4.0-8 Zoom (equivalent to a 42-600mm). The combination gave me a good variety of features and a chance to see what works best with my continuing Parkinson’s tremors.

Sunflower with Bee, 157mm Macro @ f7.1, 1/800, ISO 1000 

Pink Cosmos, 157mm Macro @ f5, 1/400, ISO 1000

Yellow Cosmos with Bee,  300mm Zoom @ f8, 1/320, ISO 1100 

Orange Cosmos with Bee, 300mm Zoom @ f8, 1/320, ISO 1700

I had a couple of techniques I wanted to play with—shooting short bursts of photos to get images between tremor shakes and using higher ISO to allow faster shutter speeds. I’ll include technical detail on each photo for anyone who may be interested. I will also include my conclusions before I move on to the second photo subject. Now join me as I continue my visit to the garden.

Pink Dahlia, 157mm Macro @ f5, 1/400. ISO 1000

Orange Dahlia, 157mm Macro @ f5, 1/400, ISO 1000

Got a Name for This? 42mm Zoom @ f8, 1/250, ISO 1000

Hydrangea, 277mm Zoom @ f7.6, 1/3200, ISO 1900

Conclusions. First, thank you Susi for the invite to photograph your lovely garden and yard. As to what I learned about using a short burst of shots to counter my Parkinson’s shakes, results showed many examples of where my first shot of a burst of two or three less clear than the second or third photo in the burst. I attribute that to being  less steady as I push down the shutter release. I think I already knew this would be true, but my test showed me proof. Next, my use of higher ISO setting allowed me to use faster shutter speeds (less possibility of camera shake) and still have acceptably clear photos. Even at high ISO my images were sharp enough to make 8x10 or even 11x13 enlargements. 

Green Tomatoes, 105mm Zoom @ f8, 1/200, ISO 1000

Red Vein Sorrel, 105mm Zoom @ f8, 1/500, ISO 1000

Birch Trunk, 118mm Zoom @ f8, 1/200, ISO 1100 

Hummingbird 1, 600mm Zoom @f8, 1/640, ISO 2800

Hummingbird 2, 600mm Zoom @ f8, 1/200, ISO 28000

In the end I proved to myself that I can still take acceptable (computer use or printed copies) handheld images, at least in a garden setting, despite my progressing Parkinson’s condition. 

My Favorite Photo Subject (not counting Anne)

The Ranchos de Taos Church from the parking area at back of the church.

It is likely the most photographed church in America. It has been a favorite subject of great artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and photographers such as Ansel Adams, Paul Stroud, and Ned Scott. 

"Ansel Adams, Photographs of the Southwest," New York Photographic Society, Boston. Titled "Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico." c. 1950

"Ranchos Church No. 1" Georgia O'Keeffe 1929

"Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams, Natural Affinities," Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Little Brown and Company, New York 2008

I saw this winter image of the church in a Taos art galley. I didn't get any information about it, but I believe it was in the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House.

The San Fransisco de Asis Mission Church in Ranchos de Taos, NM, is a lovely late 18th century adobe church four miles south of the main town of Taos. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970 and later a World Heritage site, the church was built between 1772 and 1816 and has been restored several times since. The adobe building with large supporting buttresses is annually re-plastered by the local community and parishioners. 

Buttress shows some sprouting of grass used in re-plastering.

The three colors (sky wall, and shadow) are the heart of the photo.

The church is centered in a formerly fortified plaza to protect against Comanche attacks. Although the defenses are no longer needed, the church is still active with a full schedule of masses and events. 

The church is great for abstract images or textural studies.

Do the light clouds add or detract from the image?

The church is also filled with tourists most of the day, but early morning and late afternoons are least crowded. The church is lovely any time and all condition—look particularly for bright blue skies, dramatic storm clouds, shadows on the walls, and reflections off puddles. 

Can you find at least six crosses?

This was just a portion of the cycles here this day. It was either a large riding club or a special mass for motorcycles.

A special project is to see how many “crosses” you can get in one image from the front of the building. Any time I spend in Taos also includes several visits the church and I’ve been known to visit three times in one day. There is also much to photograph in the surrounding plaza.  

Not in the plaza but only a few miles away is the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

Autumn cottonwood colors just outside Taos.

In the Plaza

When I booked a day tour with local professional photographer Geraint Smith he began the tour at Ranchos de Taos church and ended the tour there as well. Beautiful lesson in the way lighting changes a location. I never tire of this subject.

Did I save the best for last?

NEXT: I'll see what I can find.

#207 Southwest Trip Fall 2023, Part 1

 Southwest Trip Fall 2023, Part 1

A trip! A real trip! And we even got into a plane to fly from Portland to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The plan was to spend three nights in Santa Fe, eight nights in Taos, and a last night in Albuquerque before flying home. It was a fine plan, too. The trip from Portland to ABQ through Salt Lake (on Delta Airlines) was pleasant with easy connections and smooth flights. The one long walk between connections in Salt Lake was eased by riding on a passenger carrier driven by a very friendly local. We picked up our rental intermediate SUV, a Kia Sportage, with no problems and headed up the freeway toward Santa Fe, an hour and a half drive. The main purpose of the trip was to enjoy photographing one of our favorite parts of the country along with visiting our adopted niece and her family in Taos.

Since the trip was a big photo opportunity, this blog in three parts will be photo oriented. This first segment will be telling a little about the towns we visited as well as some of the trip’s major attractions. Consider the photos in this blog postcards from the Southwest.

Typical Santa Fe Door

Santa Fe. We stayed three nights in a studio apartment at the Worldmark Santa Fe—a timeshare. Our unit, 1108, was a nicely-sized studio with small kitchenette and a good bed. We didn’t need to use the included gas fireplace because the weather was very summery. 

The WM Santa Fe is conveniently located only a few blocks away from Santa Fe’s downtown plaza—filled with art shops, restaurants, and museums.

Parking Adventure. It’s an easy drive from our timeshare to the downtown parking structure, except it wasn’t easy this trip. The normal parking lot entrances/exits on San Fransisco Street were now just exits and we had no idea where the new entrances were. We were stuck now in a tourist area one-way grid. We wound through the tight streets until we finally saw a sign which pointed to “Parking.” We did end up with a good parking spot via the new entrance and later found out that disabled parking is now free. Although the parking was hard to find this time, Santa Fe’s a good tourist town.

DDD Recommendations. As fans of Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” show on the Food Network, we seek out his recommended restaurants wherever we travel. On this trip we ate at three of those Triple D restaurants and missed another. In Santa Fe Anne and I had breakfast at the number one recommended eatery in town, The Pantry, one morning and dinner at the top pizza place (number 1 for the last 15 years), Backroad Pizza. 

While in Taos we had lunch at Sol Food Cafe in Arroyo Seco a short ways out of town. 

Barn Near Arroyo Seco

Also in Taos we tried to eat at Antonio’s Taste of New Mexico, but we couldn’t get in. The recommendation as a new DDD spot has made it uber-popular.  Obviously, we ate well on this trip.

Pecos National Historic Park. Twenty-seven miles east of Santa Fe are the ruins of the Pecos Pueblo (Cicuye Pueblo) which was made a National Monument in 1965 and renamed an Historic Park in 1985. Today the park consists of several hiking trails leading to ruins and the main pueblo ruin along with historic church and a nice visitor center. 

Small Museum in the VC

The five story pueblo was built around 1100 and at one time housed about 2000. The area has been occupied since about 11,500 BCE. The Spanish mission church has an interesting history being originally built in 1619 and destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. 

The church was rebuilt in 1717 and abandoned by 1838. We spent our time visiting the ruins of the main pueblo and the massive church.

The Main Street through Taos

Taos. Eight days of our trip we stayed at the Worldmark Taos (timeshare) in a comfortable one bedroom apartment. 

WM Taos is near the center of town (elevation 6900 feet) and is only minutes from the main shopping district at the town Plaza. Also in the Plaza the US flag flies 24 hours a day with special history. 

During the Civil War confederate sympathizers tried to take the US flag down, but were thwarted by Union officer Kit Carson, a Taos resident, who ordered troops to guard the flag 24 hours a day.

We shared a breakfast table at Michael's Kitchen with an RVer, Jeff. Nice company and good food.

Anne at one of the shops on the Taos Plaza. The older gentleman was perplexed by my photography.

 

The town, founded in 1615, is best known for the nearby Taos Pueblo, and for being a very active artist colony. The town of 5700 has numerous art galleries and several interesting museums. 

The Farmhouse Cafe and Bakery is one of the most popular eateries in Taos and has some good mountain scenery for background.

The vista behind The Farmhouse Cafe.

Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The lovely mountain range runs over 242 miles  from Santa Fe past Taos and north into Colorado. Numerous peaks in the range reach above 14,000 feet.

Views from near Arroyo Seco.

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Ten miles northwest of Taos is the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge restored in 2012 and its new parking area. The bridge is 600 feet above the river and its 1200 foot span is the 10th tallest in the US.

 The view of the Taos mountains from the bridge is a tourist favorite. A little further from Taos is another gorge related site (really, a series of sites), the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. While impressive views can be found at the several viewpoints, none really rival the bridge views. 

 

Photographers and other artists will appreciate the lack of crowds which throng to the bridge.

A biker's club was visiting the old church the first time we stopped.

San Francisco de Asis Mission Church in the main plaza of Ranchos de Taos, four miles south of Taos. Also known as St Francis de Asia, the adobe church was built between 1772 and 1816. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1970. 

The adobe exterior walls pf the church need to be re-cemented every year. The church is a favorite subject of artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, Paul Strand, and Bob Jones. 

The Church from the Back

The church is known to be “one of the most photographed and painted churches in the world” (Taos Chamber of Commerce).

Our pilot greets passengers on the homebound leg from Salt Lake to Portland.

NEXT: Part 2 in two weeks.