"SHEEPHERDER NEAR SAN CRISTOBAL"

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A PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP: HEADED OUT TO "THE FARAWAY"
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Sheepherder Near San Cristobal

by Mil, 1969

On a beautiful autumn morning in October, 1969, my fellow photographer, Don, and I left Albuquerque early, heading for "The Faraway," Georgia O'Keeffe's name for her beloved northern New Mexico.

We were members of the prestigious Enchanted Lens Camera Club, a group of amateurs who met weekly, and many of whom were professional level in their abilities. Don, a retired school administrator from back east, was a marvelous photographer and a genius in the darkroom. We occasionally did a "photo trip" together.

The club had weekly competitions in black-and-white and color prints, as well as the ever popular color slides, which were much in vogue at that time. What Don and I were after that morning---were pictures not available around town---pictures that would WOW the judges in our competitions. Whizzing up the Santa Fe highway at 70 mph, with few exits, was 60 miles wasted in our book; thus we went up the east side of the Sandias to Santa Fe---a very picturesque drive with many photo opportunities.

The "Church At Golden" was just crying out to be photographed, and we got that pic. A simple photo, but nice, with the stucco showing its texture.

Church at Golden

by Mil, 1969

 We went on up through Espanola and could have turned right, there, and gone through  the mountain villages and got good pics, but we opted to go on to Taos, and take the highway to the right that winds around the mountain to Eagle Nest---a most-scenic drive in the fall; smoke was rising  from many chimneys along the way.

At Eagle Nest we photographed the famous Memorial. We then went north and angled around left and arrived in Red River. All this time we were getting pics of red and gold autumn leaves on the trees. We turned back south toward Taos at Questa, an interesting village; we may need to return there sometime!

The title picture for this post was only fifteen miles south down the road ahead of us, but I didn't know it yet.

Through the years, I made many such "photo trips," as this one. I had gone to Ft. Union and found it to be packed with scenes to capture. I had been to Lincoln, White Oaks, Seven Rivers, Three Rivers, Old Mesilla, Inscription Rock, Shiprock, Cimmaron Canyon, Window Rock, and White Sands---one of the best places of all.

The camera club had been good for me; I learned so much there about all facets of picture-taking, and darkroom techniques, plus I had checked out every book (it seemed), on photography in the Albuquerque libraries and studied other people's pictures.

The Albuquerque Tribune had a four-week photo contest in 1969 called "FAVORITE NEW MEXICO PICTURE CONTEST," or something close to that. There would be four weekly first places and first-second-third Grand prizes at the end. I was a  year into serious photography at the time, and went in to win.

This is not to boast but merely show the reader what hard work can do: I came out with First Place, Second Week--- and Second Place, Grand Prize. There may have been a Third Place win also---I can't recall. This was some forty-four years ago. My Windmill had taken a first, and the Second Grand Prize was a low shot up an angled wagon tongue to the old wagon---at Ft. Union, with some adobe walls in the background;  I called it: "LAST STOP---FT. UNION." I have a picture of it from the TRIB but the print itself is stored away somewhere...

Back to me and Don. As we came over a low hill, headed back toward Taos, we were nearing San Cristobal, a tiny village. There in front of us was a picture waiting to be  taken: a sheepherder on horseback---and his dog--- attempting to drive a bunch of sheep across the road. He had his hands full.

I grabbed my 35mm camera, there in the seat by me, and stepped out on the highway and quickly shot three or four pictures. Don didn't get out. It was an optimum shot. The sheepherder was in partial silhouette; there was some light dust in the air, and the sheep were backlit by the afternoon sun. I'd have preferred the bigger 2 1/2 negative to work with in the darkroom, but my big camera was in the backseat and time was the factor.

To give you an idea of where we were, if you could see 100 miles over the horseman's head, you would be looking at the Sandia Mountains.

The day wasn't over for us, photographically. We stopped in Ranchos de Taos, and I got my photo of the famous mission---one of the fifty most-photographed churches in the world: "SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS." (It is listed under World Heritage and National Landmarks, 1970. It is interesting to google and see the many views of this church. The backside seems to be fascinating to some artists.)

San Francisco de Asis

by Mil, 1969

So on down to Furr's Cafeteria in Santa Fe, to more or less end our trip. There you could count on a delicious dinner, and what better way to wind up a good trip than a piece of Millionaire Pie, and a cup of coffee!
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An afterthought---There are all kinds of trips we take in our lives...short ones,  long ones...necessary and unnecessary ones...anticipated ones and dreaded ones...

We take biking trips, camping trips, fishing trips, hunting trips, hiking trips,  picnicking and sight seeing trips...but in my experience there are few trips as interesting, compelling, and exciting as a photographic trip with the express purpose of taking great pictures.

You've read it before from me. I read in TWO writing courses: "Today's people are so busy, so mentally occupied, so wrapped-up-in-whatever, that they see only 10% of the world around them. To get the most out of life, one should see the other 90%."

Take a good lunch, a thermos, some Dr. Peppers, and make a round trip---don't come back the same way! Take pictures. Take pictures of everything. Oh, and take plenty of film! Oops! LOL.

 Have the best ones enlarged.

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BY MIL
6/10/13

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