Christmas and Rancho de Taos

Leading up to Christmas I worked on a story about Sacred Places in New Mexico. I think we could have been a bit more extensive in the selections but I can't really complain because I got to go back to one of my favorite churches ever. San Francisco de Asis Church in Rancho de Taos, also known as Georgia O'Keeffe's church. The latter name does not sit well with the parishioners we learned.

At each church we visited we focused on one person or a couple and their relationship to the church. At the Rancho de Taos church we found a couple who are Mayordomes in the parish. Here is their story: San Francisco de Asis Church, Rancho de Taos.

Here's an outtake from the day I spent there. It is probably the most recognizable angle.

Oops... Happy New Year?

So I've slacked...

One of many New Year's resolutions... get back on track with blogging.

This year I'm going to take on the challenge of limiting each blog post to one photo to help with my editing skills. Hopefully this will prompt more frequent posts. Hopefully.

Church o' Beethoven

This is where I would be every Sunday morning, if I weren't working. Not really church at all except for a few minutes of silence for a personal religious moment and "offering" to keep the artists coming every Sunday. A violin solo, readings from "On the Road," an accordion duo and of course a string quartet playing Beethoven to wrap things up. Awesome light for photos too. Hopefully I'll get to go again at some point.

Filled with Faith

For the past two weeks I have been working on a story on the Church of San José. It is a small little adobe Catholic church in the South Valley here in Albuquerque. The majority of parishioners are Mexican immigrants. The church is so popular in the area that the parish has out grown their church. There is standing room only on Sundays. And to take pictures during Palm Sunday I had to attend two masses because I couldn't move once I was in place. I grew to love the church and the people and hope they didn't mind me being there. The story and photos ran today, Easter Sunday, on A1.

To hear the Soundslides hit the play button.

Veterans Mass

Quite a few veterans turned out and current service men and women. One of the parishioners was being deployed to Iraq on Tuesday (which was yesterday). So the entire church prayed for him and his family and called his family up to the altar. His wife, holding their 10 day old son, was crying so hard I couldn't focus on her. I did for a second and started crying and decided that wasn't the important part of the story even though it showed the most emotion. I felt the community standing in front of them with their hands in the air and how they almost resembled a holy family standing up there praying for safety was where I wanted to focus. I wish I could have gotten more hands in the air in the frame but I see that looking back now.

The Priest and his dog

This priest was the most interesting subject yet in New Mexico. His dog, Samson or Weasel (yes the dog had two names), use to attend mass until a parishioner complained. He restores old cars on the side. He special orders his cigars online.

Taos, NM

I revisited this church for the third time since high school.
Every time I see it it seems more beautiful. No wonder Georgia O'Keeffe painted it, Ansel Adams photographed it and countless other artists have depicted it in art works.
Some people claim it is the most photographed church in America.

Then we did some jewelry shopping. Unfortunately I didn't get to walk away with this one. This is a collector's piece from the Millicent Rogers Museum and most likely priceless.
I did walk away with a turquoise ring from the 1940s or 50s to add to my personal collection though.

Church

Church portrait of remodeled church and pastor.
Took a bit of time for him to get comfortable leaning on the pew.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday made me very reminiscent of my 9 years of Catholic School.
I followed an eighth grade glass back to their bus and I couldn't believe that was once me.

Soul Searching

Sunday Church Service

and one I didn't turn in but kept for myself...

this little girl was next after another girl fell to the floor.