Calm Simplicity Tells A Complete Story
Taos Pueblo-San Geronimo Chapel Courtyard Entrance
Wendy traveled to Sante Fe and Taos in early November of this year after an absence of 20 years. Late in the afternoon on a cold, clear day she captured this image of the entrance to the courtyard of San Geronimo Chapel. It’s remarkable that a photo consisting of so few elements can tell such a complete story and with a definite artistic touch. The adobe wall, the desert mountains in the background, the cross and blue sky are all clear evidence of exactly where we are. The scalloped wall is complemented by the mountain shape moving in the opposite direction and the carefully placed cross against the clear blue sky all come together to provide a feeling of peace in the wide expanses of our Southwest. From a technical standpoint, the image is a great example of how the color of the sky can paint the normally white adobe and cross with the same shade of blue while the color of the mountains in the background, in full sun, remains true.
Wendy had a difficult time narrowing her choice down to a single selection so two more are available. The first tests the dynamic range of her camera with both bright sun and deep shadow which may be viewed here. The second alternate is a detail of several recycled pitch forks and a homemade rake, supported by a couple of old horseshoes here. Look carefully at all three and decide which would have been your top choice. Share your thoughts in a comment.
These are all really nice. I like the simplicity of them and the colors. Even though they are so simple, I found myself looking at them for a long time.
Really , really good!!!
George got to it immediately in his introduction – I love the way the basic design elements interlock and the echoing of the stepped forms work so beautifully – good one Wendy. I also have to mention that little inclusion of the head of the opening in the bottom right – a sufficient and adequate detail to perfectly complete the articulation of shapes and the interaction between negative and positive spaces – and ……. the South West?? A lovely reminder of a most enjoyable sojourn that I enjoyed when I first rudely pushed into this frontier. A must for every Ashe Countonian is to taste the South West – this is a good intro.