Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Photographing New Mexico

Sony A7rII FE24-70
70mm f/13 1/200 ISO 50
 
Fujifilm 50s GF32-64
32mm f/8 1/800 ISO 100
 
We recently spent a couple days exploring a small portion of New Mexico where Billy the Kid once roamed.  The above images were captured along Route 60 as we headed east towards New Mexico. 
The VLA outside of Socorro NM
Sony A7rII FE70-200 GM
112mm f/11 1/200 ISO 50 (slight crop)
 
Fujifilm 50s GF 120mm
f/8 1/640 ISO 100 (slight crop)
 
We hadn’t been to the area before and were uncertain what we’d find and considered this trip more scouting than anything else. 
Abo NM
Sony A7rII FE24-70 GM
35mm f/8 1/200 ISO 50
 
Fujifilm 50s GF 32-64
64mm f/9 1/125 ISO 100
 
In the past Don would have taken both the Phase One XF and a Sony A7rII using the Sony as a scouting camera and the XF for more “serious” work. That’s changed with the Fujifilm 50s as he is able to do double duty with it using it as both a scouting tool and for serious work.  While he's certainly glad he had the Fuji Don did have an occasion to miss the 100-megapixel IQ1-100; next time he'll bring both…
Route 60 near Willard NM
Sony A7rII FE 24-70GM
f/8 1/500 ISO 50 (slight crop)
 
Route 60 near Willard NM
Sony A7rII FE 70-200GM
108mm f/8 1/640 ISO 50 (slight crop)
 
Route 60 near Encino NM
Sony A7rII FE24-70
69mm f/11 1/500 ISO 50

Our plan was to stay in Fort Sumner NM and drive 14-miles east to Taiban in order to photograph an abandoned church.  We stayed on Route 60 driving east stopping whenever and wherever we saw anything of interest; which there was plenty.
Salt ponds, Route 60 near Willard NM
Fujifilm 50s GF 32-64
32mm f/11 1/500 ISO 100
 
Negra Road, Rt 60 Encino NM
Fujifilm 50s GF 32-64
32mm f/8 1/640 ISO 100
 
Abandoned ranch on Negra Rd Encino NM
Fujifilm 50s GF 32-64
32mm f/8 1/1000 ISO 100
 
We couldn’t have asked for better conditions driving east on Rt 60.  The light was perfect and the clouds were wonderful.  A little east of the windfarm is Negra Road.  Turning off the 60 onto Negra we saw what appeared to be an old ranch house in the distance.  
Negra Road NM
Sony A7rII FE 70-200 GM
70mm f/8 1/640 ISO 50 slight crop
 
We found the house abandoned with little glass left in the windows.  The yard was overgrown with weeds and littered with rusty objects.  We also found an old clothesline in the backyard.  We had been thinking of doing a shoot using a red union suit and white diapers and just happened to have them in the truck.  The rest as they say is history…
Sony A7rII FE24-70 GM
24mm f/10 1/500 ISO 50
 
Fujifilm 50s GF 32-64mm
32mm f/8 1/800 ISO 100
 
The main purpose of the trip was to find and photograph an abandoned church in Taiban NM.  We had originally planned on staying 3-nights in Fort Sumner hoping to get at least one-day of good shooting conditions. Little did we know that the day we arrived would satisfy all our needs as a huge storm was developing to the west heading right in our path.  We took a couple images shortly after finding the church before returning to Fort Sumner for lunch and resting from the drive.
Sony Ar7II FE24-70 GM
24mm f/8 1/640 ISO 50
 
Fujifilm 50s GF 32-64
34mm f/8 1/160 ISO 100
(processed using Topaz Labs)

Later looking out our window we saw a beautiful sky that we simply could not pass up.
Sony A7rII FE 24-70 GM
70mm f/8 1/200 ISO 50

The First Presbyterian Church of Taiban New Mexico.  Built in 1904
Sony A7rII FE24-70 GM
24mm f/5 1/250 ISO 125
 
Sony A7rII FE24-70 GM
32mm f/5 1/250 ISO 125

Fujifilm 50s GF32-64
32mm f/4 1/400 ISO 100
 
Fujifilm 50s GF32-64
32mm f/4 1/320 ISO 100
 
Fujifilm 50s GF32-64
32mm f/4 1/320 ISO 100

Four days after returning home Don returned to New Mexico to capture what remains of old Route 66 west of Albuquerque.
San Fidel NM
Fujifilm 50s GF32-64
50mm f/8 1/1250 ISO 100
 
Sunrise on Route 66 near Gallup NM
Fujifilm 50s GF32-64
38mm f/5.6 1/200 ISO 100
 
Near Chamber Arizona
Fujifilm 50s GF32-64
60mm f/8 1/200 ISO 100

One last image showing a “before” and “after” of what has become a typical Fujifilm 50s file. 
Fujifilm 50s GF32-64
64mm f/11 1/1000 ISO 100
 
We’ve driven thru New Mexico however never really stopped and explored the state until this trip.  We are planning a more extended stay soon.

Thank you for allowing us to share and as always, your thoughts, suggestions and questions are welcome.

 

Sandy & Don

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

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