Back from Santa Fe

Visiting Santa Fe in early March requires a different type of mind set.  Add to that, my being tour guide to my son Daniel and daughter Masha, put a slightly different spin on the tourist site priorities.  For example, I knew there were microbreweries in Santa Fe, but until now, had not done an in depth suds analysis.

We can proudly report, that you can “Find the Love,” while tasting, “Damn Fine Stuff” in the microbreweries of Santa Fe & Albuquerque.

Enjoy these pictures, the rest are out of focus(NOT!).

Doors

As I become more involved into photography, I thought this is the right time to make an inventory of my shots to learn what and why I’m photographing more often.

The first object that comes to mind is a door. The door is a well-known symbol of opening, passage from one state or world to another, entrance to new life and liberation. I see doors as objects with a lot of character – they tell a story, keep secrets, invite you to open them to find what’s behind them.

Warehouse close to Farmers Market, Santa Fe, NM

Art Gallery, Madrid, NM

Downtown, Santa Fe, NM

These two doors are from Cedars - a district in Dallas, TX

emerging as a new home for artists

And if the door is a symbol of opportunity, I believe that there are:



You may see the whole Door Collection here: http://www.flickr.com//photos/elka-igolka/sets/72157629064490357/show/

Birds of Santa Fe

These three photomontages are composed from photos taken in Santa Fe.

 Metal bird on the church gates in Chimayo combined with stars painted on a board found in Cerrillos and a sidewalk pattern in Santa Fe Farmers Market.

     These two doves were seen on the gate of an art gallery on Canyon road, together with floral pattern from a wooden cabinet they started to look like a lever mechanical toy.

     This one was inspired by Carol Leigh. We took the same picture in Santa Fe and she was the first to create a wonderful photomontage http://carolleigh.blogspot.com/2011/08/summery-color.html.

      I tried my best too. The bird and the tree are from two different murals, dark diamond pattern is from the chair upholstery in Santa Fe down town hotel. Oh, boy, getting these blues and pinks was mind twisting.

Canyon Road

No one visits Santa Fe without visiting Canyon Road. The dozens of galleries, art gardens and the few food establishments must be enjoyed as a pedestrian. This road has a gentle slope to it and the surface is a bit uneven which slows you down and this is an advantage. However, if you take your time and explore the alleys, the lanes running off of Canyon Rd., and obviously the road itself, you will find wonderful examples of folk and fine art, sculpture and art glass. The folks that run these establishments are well informed, friendly and wonderfully laid back. As photographers, the challenge is to see all of this wealth of visual input and create an image unlike the thousands of other pictures taken of the same subjects.

Kelley Moore "Raw Art"



Chimayo

What a find was this place!  You get out of your car and set your watch back 250 years.  I was struck by the excellent condition of the original structures, especially the little details like a door lock.  This lock had a faceplate nailed in place by hand forged nails and the mechanism was essentially as it was when made in Spain many years ago.

Then after you have set your mind to a different era, you start to notice really strange things.  Like the Church exterior, including the bell tower, the roof peak cross and the exterior ladders were all wrapped in strings of white lights. 

Chimayo is a special place for persons of faith.  Legend has it that 200 years ago a crucifix was discovered in the ground.  Upon discovery, healings began and a small chapel was constructed over the blessed dirt in 1816.  Pilgrims arrive daily to pay homage resulting in a bustling plaza business in blessed dirt and more practical items like chili powder, tin items, woven goods, wood carvings and wonderfully interesting paintings of saints on wooden planks.  Elena and I couldn’t resist the charm of the place and purchased a selection of chili powders and other local spices which now are integral ingredients in my locally famous chicken fajitas.

Once again, “kudos” to Carol & Chris for including Chimayo as a must see place while in Santa Fe.  It is accessible from the “high road to Taos.”   If you are ever visiting Santa Fe, put Chimayo on your must visit list.

Santa Fe, Jackalope, Frida

This photomontage is composed from images taken around Santa Fe this May.

“Gasoline Alley”

Chris & Carol shared with us a fabulous photographer’s gold mine of picture opportunities.  It is called “Gasoline Alley” and frankly it defies description.  You simply have to see it to believe it really exists.  Gasoline Alley is located on the road between Santa Fe and Taos. 

We departed Santa Fe in mixed sunlight but remained optimistic that we would have good light at higher elevations.  After all, we are in New Mexico.  As we gained altitude the skies became darker and darker, but the sheer force of Carol’s will parted the clouds each time we stopped.  When we arrived at Gasoline Alley, the sun popped out and so did our cameras and our questions.  What focal length, spot or center weighted averaged metering, and how in the heck do you get an overview of this place?

The proprietor was a pleasant fellow who enjoyed our interest, calmly leaned against one of his many treasures and chuckled as each of us made our own discoveries, recalling images from our past and drilling in on new images for the future.   

The following pictures are a small sample of how Elena and I saw Gasoline Alley.  We simply couldn’t agree on what frames best captured the spirit of the place, this is a place that speaks to each person individually.  Hope you enjoy our interpretations of “Gasoline Alley.”

Brass Bed

Hey stranger, can you spare a cup of joe

New Mexico Route 66 Sign at Gasoline Alley

Old wire insulators at gasoline alley

Saw collection at gasoline alley

First light and shadow

The first day of Photo Exploration started early in the morning at the historic Plaza, where we tried to catch the first light and shadows of the day. Integrating light and shadow was for me a new approach to visualizing a photograph. Not that I'm a "sun to my back and blast away photographer"' but my attitude toward shadows was to avoid them when possible.

It seeems like we posted a lot of pictures in this post, but hey! It is Santa Fe and you should see the other 600 shots I took. Stay tuned, I plan on sharing more, but not all of the Santa Fe magic.