My New Mexico Photo Travelogue

A Photographer’s Journey Through New Mexico

Memories of New Mexico haunt me. I spent more than three years living in New Mexico, and became thoroughly seduced by its charms as both a culture and photographic subject. From my base in Albuquerque, I spent many hours exploring the length and depth of this quietly beautiful state with camera in hand. This article will be a running commentary on my photographic journey through New Mexico, including my photos and impressions, and the techniques and equipment used in my photography.

I discovered New Mexico, and in particular, Albuquerque during an extended cross-country vacation. I spent two months on the road, exploring America coast-to-coast by car. For a jaded New Yorker who thought all good vacations were European, it was a humbling revelation of the breadth and depth of beauty we have in our own backyard. Above all, I found the natural attractions of the American Southwest to be the most intriguing. As a result, I choose Albuquerque as my home for a number of years. Hopefully, my photos will help you to enjoy its modest beauty as I did.

A Photo Essay: Old Town, Albuquerque

Typically, most visitors make Albuquerque their first stop in New Mexico. Albuquerque has an amazing range of open public spaces, along with a charming and historic aesthetic shaped by its amalgam of Native American, Spanish (from Spain), and Mexican cultures. It is also a major stop along the old Route 66 (now Central Avenue), and retains much of its “Mother Road” heritage in downtown Albuquerque. Our first stop in this photo essay will be Old Town, Albuquerque’s most historic and iconic neighborhood.

Founded in 1706, historic Old Town Albuquerque is the city’s cultural center, and its main tourist attraction, with five museums and more than 100 shops, galleries and restaurants. With its longstanding hand-crafted adobe style architecture, and homespun southwestern charm, it is the first place I show guests visiting Albuquerque. There is a sense of warmth and comfort exuded by the stuccoed tan walls and turquoise trim of pueblo-spanish adobe buildings of Old Town. Combined with the amazing clarity and warmth of New Mexico sunlight, it makes a compelling photographic subject.

The photo shown immediately above shows the New Mexico aesthetic at its most iconic. This Old Town, Albuquerque gift shop has the classic adobe stucco texture trimmed in turquoise. It is adorned by a kiva ladder, a well loved historic design element unique to New Mexico. I captured this photo on a warm summer afternoon when the sunlight begins to take on a golden hue. This was shot on Fuji Superia negative film using a Minolta X-570 and 50mm F1.4 lens. This, to my eye, is the essence of New Mexico style.

This photo shows an Old Town gift shop with Victorian architectural style reflecting the influences that began to shape Albuquerque with the arrival of the railroad in 1880. This image also shows the relaxed, walkable character of Old Town. Just next door to this shop (Schells) is a ice-cream parlor with the inviting seating seen in the foreground of this image. I shot this image in 2005 with a Panasonic FZ20 superzoom digital camera.

The image above (right) of Native American vendors in Old Town (Albuquerque, New Mexico) on a winter’s day is a personal favorite. It had snowed the night before, and I wanted to capture a few photos of Old Town with snow before the sun melted it all. It was a rather disappointing morning photographically. However, as I walked back to my car, I saw these three Native American women setting up their vending stands for the day. It was a classically beautiful setting, and I only had time to squeeze off one shot before two of the women moved out of the frame. This image encapsulates what I love most about New Mexico culture. This was captured with one of my first DSLR cameras, a Samsung GX-1s, and kit lens. You can see the full-sized un-cropped Old Town, Albuquerque photo here.

Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico is a photographer’s dream. Within a small, easily walkable neighborhood awaits a bevy of photo opportunities limited only by your imagination.I found the late afternoon before sunset to be the best time for capturing warm, appealing images of this intimate setting. New Mexico has wonderful sunlight, it can be dramatically intense without harshness. I have used a range of inexpensive cameras, both film and digital to capture the images seen here. What makes a memorable photo is the subject and light!

In my next installment, I will cover the photo opportunities seen along the “Mother Road,” Route 66 as it passes through the heart of downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. I will also be adding new photos from my archives.

Click here for my favorite Route 66, New Mexico photo.

In his other life, Donald Peterson uses all of the cultural influences he collects to benefit the web design clients he serves as the owner and creative lead in Newark1 Web Design Studio. Visit my portfolio and give me a call if you need truly effective web design for your business.

Tags: Albuquerque, cheap DSLR, New Mexico