Santa Cruz De La Canada Mission Doors

I was rooting around in my photography archives and ran across this photograph of the doors of the mission in Santa Cruz, NM. I had always meant to process this work and had somehow forgotten it. The mission, Santa Cruz de la Canada, was built in 1733 and has a reputation of being the best mission in New Mexico. I also found an old photo taken of the mission in 1881. I hope you enjoy them both.

Mission Doors

The beautifully carved wooden mission doors at Santa Cruz de la Canada mission.

Santa Cruz de la Canada Church, Santa Cruz, New Mexico

The Santa Cruz church in 1881. 

Photo by William Henry Jackson.

mission art

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Southwestern Mission In Chimayo, New Mexico

You will find that most of the photographs of El Santuario de Chimayo are of the exterior.  But for me the interior is by far the most interesting and beautiful to view.  The old Spanish mission was built in 1816 by a private individual and became a National Historic Landmark in 1970.  It is definitely a worthwhile destination on your next trip to the southwest.  I took this photo a few years ago, and have always liked the warm golden glow inside the sanctuary. I have taken a second look at it making minor improvements and have given it a new crop. If curious, you can see the earlier version and post here.  

Sacred Sanctuary

An old Spanish mission is bathed in soft golden light illuminating the lovely wooden interior and altar. Chimayo, New Mexico

spanish mission art

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Southwestern Red Country

I am having a love affair. It has been enticing me for many years off and on, but has come to full bloom this past spring. I am truly in love with the desert southwest. I love the sienna canyons with their majestic towering cliffs. I love the hardy desert blooms that struggle and wait patiently for that monsoon rain. I love the bluest of skies and the spectacular sunsets. And maybe most of all, I love the vastness of the landscapes. It puts you in your place instantly. You can not help but gaze in wonderment at the grand glory of it all. 

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Red Country 

Wild reservation horses graze on the sparse grasses next to a ruddy spring creek under the watch of giant canyon walls in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona.

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Southwestern Cliff Dwellers

The vast and towering red sandstone canyon walls dwarfed the many roomed pueblo of the ancient Anasazi ruins. Evidence of handholds and ancient ladders were gone. Petroglyphs and walls remained. And so did human remains and artifacts of a past time. 

As I stood there looking up from far below my mind wandered through the unapproachable rooms. Wild turkeys would have been running about eating insects and ready to sound the alarm at the approach of predators. A mother was grinding corn with her children playing around her. The father was just back from a successful hunting trip, smoking with the men, and talking about the good fortune that would provide for all the families in the pueblo. 

For over a thousand years life was good for them. Archaeologists speculate that climate change was the reason for them leaving. There is overwhelming evidence that the exodus continued in waves for hundreds of years. If you would like to know more about this subject I highly recommend reading, "House of Rain," by Craig Childs. It is not only informative but quite fun in an "Indiana Jones" kind of way. 

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Cliff Dwelling 

Southwestern cliff dwelling, of an ancient prehistoric pueblo of the Anasazi in the American southwest nestled into a towering red rock cliff. 

Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

 

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Southwestern Canyon Horses

There are still places in the west where time seems to have stopped. Canyon de Chelly, Arizona is one such place. On our hot trek down the steep canyon walls we stopped often to take in the lovely valley below and rest in the scarce shade.

When we reached the bottom there was a small green stream meandering across the sandy floor with a small herd of reservation horses nearby. I watched the herd until I noticed this mother and her foal.

They were wary of my approach so I crouched on a rock and watched until they became accustomed to my presence. Mom paused for just a second, turning to give her growing baby a nuzzle of reassurance, then they walked by me. It is moments like this one that I find so rewarding in shooting photography. You just never know what sweet surprise nature will reveal to you.

 

Reservation Horses 

Two reservation horses, a mother and her foal, nuzzle each other in reassurance in a southwestern canyon. Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

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Copyright ©Julie Magers Soulen 

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The Face of the Southwest

The long line of school children stretched out on the steep and dusty trail for a half mile. They clumped into little groups giggling, resting in the shade and watching the teachers. The only thing different about this group of kids was that they were going to see their own native American history of prehistoric ruins in Canyon de Chelly. 

Once they all reached the ruins most were continuing on with their private discussions, ignoring their surroundings, and just glad to be out of the classroom. But this one little boy in the straw hat was different. He was thinking hard about something, perhaps his own people's history from long ago. 

 

Pueblo Boy

A native American boy gazes pensively at the ground while on a field trip to Canyon de Chelly, Arizona. The ruins in the background could well be his ancestors' home.

 

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Cowboy Caveman Silhouette

On my recent trip to Canyon de Chelly we hiked the only available public trail to the White House Ruins. It was steep, hot and unbelievably beautiful. There were a couple of tunnels channeled through the red sandstone and it was like stepping into air conditioning. We paused to rest slugging warm water in gulps. That is when I caught this image of Ric looking out at the beautiful swirls and layers of red rock. Snap! My cowboy caveman. 

 

Cowboy Caveman 

A cowboy silhouetted in the entrance of a long tunnel in Canyon de Chelly finds respite from the heat. Perfect for adding the beauty of the west to your home, office, or bedroom decor.
Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

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Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

Spider Rock. I kept hearing about this place in Canyon de Chelly and could not visualize what a spider rock would look like. When we arrived at the pull out and I took in the view I got it. You have to be a spider to climb that rock! 

We arrived in the late morning and the lighting was not optimal but I shot anyway. The bottom photo is actually two shots "stitched" together to get a wider view. I knew I had to come back when the sun was getting low and capture that beautiful towering red rock at sunset. The first picture is just that. I hope you like my two examples of Spider Rock. 

 I would love to hear which one you like and why. Thanks for stopping by! 

Spider Rock Evening 

Southwestern canyon photo, of the beautiful red sandstone towers at Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona on a perfect evening. A great way to add the beauty of the southwest to your home, office, or bedroom decor. Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

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Spider Rock Morning

Southwestern canyon photo, of the beautiful red sandstone towers at Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona on a perfect morning. A great way to add the beauty of the southwest to your home, office, or bedroom decor. Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

purchase information

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.