Great Sand Dunes

Tom and I spent time last year at Great Sand Dunes National Park.  These are the tallest sand dunes in North America, located northeast of Alamosa, CO.  The sand is actually blown up  here from the San Juan Mountains, some sixty miles away!   Last year it was so stormy, rainy, cold and windy that we finally left earlier than we had planned.  This year was much more pleasant, although the wind was up enough to sting and make me fret about my camera!  One of the most photographically rewarding features of sand dunes, in general, is their ever changing color and perceived topography based on subtle changes in light.  The wind also plays a huge part in making sure that dunes are not even the same day to day!  At the Great Sand Dunes you also have this huge mountain, part of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, to add a stark contrast to what appears to be a smooth, creamy landscape.  This year we also saw a lot more people as they were not scared away by the weather.  They become colorful features that indicate scale. We hope you enjoy the collection!

At the base of the dunes runs the Medano Creek.  Dry this time of year, it is a wide swath of sand, perfect for sand castles!  Between the creek bed and the dunes runs a variously wide section of grass. To get to the dunes usually means crossing both the dry creek bed and the grassy section.

I can imagine the discussion, "Well, which trail do you think we should take up to the top?"

Two ways to climb a sand dune!  Or, maybe that is one way up and another down!  

A little girl about three years old and her dad built this.

These kids must have had a very long drive.  When they got on the sand with their bare feet they danced and chased each other and screamed with joy.  Almost made me want to take my shoes off!

You may have noticed that the dunes are variously brown, sand or even purple.  It all depends on the light and the white balance chosen.  Since we shoot in RAW the color of the sand can be changed in post processing.  But, it is the photographer's choice on how to represent the colors and sometimes Tom and I have different tastes on the matter.

This was shot using a 2 stop graduated ND filter.  I now have one that screws on my 77mm lens.  So NICE as the post processing was easy peazy.  This sunset is to the south of the dunes and even my widest angle could not get in both.  That was OK as by this time the dunes were all in the dark.

If you want to see more of Tom's shots from Great Sand Dunes you can check them out on his website: tomdavisonart.com.  He has so many great ones that I cannot fit them into my blog!!  Yesterday was a 'drive to' day but Tom got in many shots from the passenger seat.  We stopped at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs but it was past sunset and now that we have seen the opportunities we have decided to go back there on our way back to Albuquerque.

Hope each of you is well and planning some great fall photo shoots.  Save space for us.

Santuario de Nuestro Señor de Esquipulas

This historic and important Catholic pilgrimage center is commonly known as El Santuario de Chimayó.  It was built in 1816 by a private individual.  Bought by preservationists, it was eventually handed over to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in 1929.  The chapel is now managed by the Archdiocese as a Catholic church.  It is believed by many to have 'holy dirt' from a back room that heals physical and spiritual ills.  The site attracts up to 300,000 visitors a year. 

My first trip to the Sanctuario was long ago and many, many, changes have been made in recent years.  Yet, sadly, the sanctuary itself remains in very poor condition.  New structures have been added to the site and since my last visit a whole new open room has been added at the back of the sanctuary.  The first image is of the front of the Sanctuario, taken on my last visit.  I did not take any photos of the front this time as the ever evident yellow caution tape is now everywhere as they attempt to shore up a rapidly decaying structure.  No photos are allowed inside the building and a Mass was in progress.

New Welcome Center.  Photos only allowed on the outside.

Sanctuary, courtyard and Visitor Center

Statue in new open porch.  Photos of loved ones are left on the walls with requests for prayers.

Several places such as this one are found throughout the site.  The gift shop sells candles and many other religious items that can be placed in these sites.

Crosses, flowers and rosaries are woven into the fence along the walkway from the parking lot.  Personal items such as these are found everywhere, left behind by pilgrims in loving memory or in hopes that their prayers for healing may be answered.

Flowers refresh the look of an old wall.

Separate from the older Sanctuary is a newer one dedicated to children.  It is more like a chapel and photography is allowed (but not in the dedicated gift shop).  Everything in this place is placed with children in mind.  Even the Stations of the Cross are toned down to be more loving and less violent and scary.

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On the way out I noticed yet another new statue.  This one commemorates the three cultures that so struggled in New Mexico.  Ultimately, the culture that sacrificed the most in the settlement by Spaniards and the arrival of Catholic priests, was that of the Native Americans.  The history of New Mexico is both fascinating and provoking.  Nuff said!

Lunch beckons at our favorite restaurant in the area.  Highly recommended if you ever travel to Chimayo.  Famous enough to have its own state road sign!

After lunch . . . oh so good . . . we headed to Alamosa, checked into our motel and then scurried to Great Sand Dunes National Park.  The wind was horrific!!  The blowing sand stung.  We stayed around until the sunset was over and then headed into Alamosa for dinner. Today we head towards Denver.  We were going to go back to the dunes, but . . . wouldn't you know . . . we are socked in with fog!!  Photos of dunes up next.



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Abó

Abó is another Salinas Mission.  Built on the same red sandstone as Quarai, it sits right on the trail that leads to the Rio Grande Valley, a busy trade route.  This mission is much less developed than Quarai and smaller.  We arrived mid-afternoon and while we hurried in hopes that we could get to the third mission, Gran Quivira, we found that it is just too hard to break away!  So, Gran Quivira will wait for another trip.

From the parking lot the mission does not seem so big.  But, when you get within the stone walls you begin to feel pretty small.

What amazed me was the use of huge wooden beams.  The wood for these beams had to come from far away.  Wood was a precious commodity among all the Salinas Pueblo Indians.

The walls were sometimes so high you could not see over them.  It was easy to feel like you were in a rock maze.

I imagined this high structure as a bell tower.

I was surprised to see what are believed to be kivas right next to the missions!  For the most part, Indian religious practices were discouraged and those who continued to practice their native religious ceremonies were punished.  But, conflicts and rebellion appeared to have caused Catholic clergy to soften their stand on the matter.

We headed home knowing we would return to this part of New Mexico.  It is a gorgeous area, one we have not explored.  Tom pulled 'shooting from the car' duty.  The golden hour shadows made the drive magical.

Tomorrow we leave Albuquerque and head towards Boulder, CO. Hard to imagine that I have been here a month.  It has passed so quickly and I feel so blessed to be able to spend the time with my mother and brother.  We must be in Boulder on Sunday morning.  But hey, we shoot along the way and the Great Sand Dunes are sorta on the way!!  We will keep you posted.  Know that you are in our thoughts every time we start to grab gear out of the car!