Workshop Photos--Indian Ruins and Magic

[lindyannajones]

Arizona Highways Workshop continued: Seeking the golden hour again, we drove north in the dark on Highway 89--probably one of the most scenic drives in America--skirting the San Francisco Peaks and Sunset Crater, headed to Wupatki National Monument to photograph one of the many Indian ruins in Northern Arizona. We arrived at our destination with plenty of time to hike the mile to the ruins but Instead of morning sun, we found ourselves enveloped in a dense fog. It was glorious.

First some history. Somewhere between 1040 and 1100, Sunset Volcano erupted, spewing rocks and ash for miles. Even today, black cinders blanket the ground and it is believed that this ground covering may have been what helped make it possible to sustain life in this arid land as it provided a cinder mulch for plants, helping to the soil to retain moisture, improving the farming potential of this part of the sparse high desert. Between 1100 and 1300, Wupatki and the lesser pueblos nearby thrived, even though the conditions were challenging. It is believed that 2000 people lived in this region. This small pueblo, Lomaki, was a day's walk from the much larger Wupatl.


The Lomaki ruins are small, only a few rooms. Built of sandstone and mortar, they have stood in this place for nine centuries.



As I walked back to join the workshop members, I saw this arch of fog the size of a rainbow filling the sky. If there had been time, I would have walked east a 1/2 mile so I could get the "Fogbow" in it's entirety. That was not possible, so here are two shots of the end of the bow. There was not a pot of gold at the end but there was a story about a young girl named Morning Star, muse inspired, that accompanied this photo shoot. I don't ordinarily write prose, so it was like finding a pot of gold. It's a short--very short--children's story. Now what is that about?





As the sun rose higher in the sky, the fog burned away and the grasses and bushes were covered with beads of sunlit dew. I found this spiderweb along the path. Not a pot of gold but maybe a chalice of silver?

[plangereis]

Wow! What a nice set of photos! I love the mood created in the second and third photos here. The contrast between the sky and the building walls in the third shot is superb! Excellent series! Thanks for sharing these Lindy. Like many other members, you give me something to strive for in my work in terms of mood, lighting, and composition.

[PrimeTime]

Great job lindy............i like the fogbow's. Very interesting, i've never seen such a thing.

[jakethepig]

What a lovely set and your accompanying commentry describes evrerything so well. This place must have been so interesting. The fogbow is amazing and I have never seen anything like that before. A lovely find for the last shot of the spiders web. He was saving the chalice of silver just for you. I can't help going back to the second shot. That one has so much interest. The path, the end of the fogbow, I just love that one. Thank you for sharing this very educational set Linda.

Dave.

[fstopMike]

Lindy, there is so much to like in these. I have never seen a fogbow before, never knew such a thing existed. Being the accomplished photographer you are, I am glad you took hold of this thing and used it to your advantage. The first one is grand, the fog adds such a mysterious feel. In the second one, the curve of the path going to the right and the fogbow to the left takes the eye throughout the entire picture. The third is compositional genius. Merging the two points of interest together, the fogbow leading the way to the angle in the ruins gives it a double whammy, plus the use of negative space highlights that impact. That one is my favorite. Your fourth one, the sparklies in the spider web in the foreground and the sparklies in the background make it outsatnding also. Thanks for sharing your workshop. I've learned so much from it already!!

[jack russell]

I didn't sign up on this forum for history lessons but for photography .. I'm smarter and better versed in both elements thanks to your combo lessons .. BTW the photo's are ok too .. LOL .. Thanks Lindy, you're an inspirational and accomplished individual in everything you share .. Ian

[denja]

Lindy, what more to add? Absolutely stunning images. Thank you for sharing Your images are always a delight to view..

[FromtheBackofaHorse]

Your dedication is sure paying off. I'm loving everything you did for this workshop.

[bpatrickcolt]

Beautiful set of the ruins. The haze/fog in the distance really give the images a sense of place and time, almost as if the ruins were pressing forward out of the past themselves.

[beachcomber]

Great colours and DoF and perfect light give that almost magical feel to this excellent selection of pictures, nice job Lindy

beach