A sequence of events

Rodeos are fast paced to say the least. It’s rapid fire ballet of man and beast that comes at you hot, heavy and dusty. As I plow through the 2,000 shots from a week ago (and I am bleary eyed from the ordeal) I’ve chosen one sequence from the many I photographed that day. I selected this one because of the billowing dirt through which you’ll see this iconic slice of western Americana.

This is an experiment of sorts, one in which you’ll have to endure a herd of images to get the full picture. You could argue that this story would best be presented in a short video. Alas, that learning process lingers about half way down my lengthy to-do list.

Jacob Mastic Memorial Rodeo

A week ago I drove down the Turquoise Trail south of Santa Fe to photograph the Jacob Mastic Memorial Rodeo. Joining me were Steven Bundy and John Farnsworth, a couple of great shooters and good friends. Thanks to Steve for the heads-up. Last year, you may recall, we photographed the National Day of the Cowboy at the very same Mortenson Ranch.

My mission was hone my skills at action shots, not something I do much of. I clicked the shutter about 2,000 times. Don’t know if it’s a record but it’s right up there. Because I took so many cowboys in action images and have yet to edit and edit and edit them to get to the best 500, here are some faces in the crowd.

Next week there’ll an onslaught of swirling dust, whirling cows and intrepid cowboys and cowgirls in non-stop action. Here's a taste:

Adobe on the Prairie

Somewhere on the Blue Highways between Des Moines, NM and Branson, CO on my way to Bent's Old Fort I spied the sleeping bones of this adobe farmhouse. The dipping sun cast a gorgeous glow on the little dwelling. At least it glowed in the color iteration which I may or may not have shared with you a couple of years back. Funny thing. I have no fool proof method of knowing whether I’ve already posted an image but, instead, must rely on my steel trap of a mind to recall 500 some odd posts or would need to review ten years of posts to know for sure. That chore, thank you very much, isn’t going to happen.

La Morada

The newly mudded Morada de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Looking back at the path of the cross from the fourteenth station 

La Morada de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is the mother ship of northern New Mexico’s and southern Colorado’s eighty plus moradas or lay chapels. They were built by the faithful when the Catholic church failed to provide churches and priests to their mixed breed flock in the campo. What grew in their stead in the early 19th century was a conservative brand of Catholicism that featured bloody acts of penance. There are thought to be about twelve active tribunals in northern New Mexico.