Taos | FUJI X WEEKLY

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico – Part 2: Monochrome

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Ritchie Roesch

Storm Over Pueblo – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

One thing I found particularly fascinating about the Taos Pueblo is that this historic site is still inhabited. This is a real home to many people. The doors and windows belong to someone. Inside there are living spaces, bedrooms and kitchens. Surrounding the two large pueblos are even more houses. There’s a church. This is a community.

Visiting Taos is like being invited into a stranger’s home. You have the opportunity to see a more intimate side of things, and perhaps come away with a different perspective. What I found in Taos was not what I had pictured in my mind prior to visiting, but something much more interesting. There’s a certain profoundness to this place that’s difficult to put into words.

I appreciate those in Taos for allowing me in, answering my questions and showing hospitality and kindness. Unfortunately, my stay was much too short. I had only a couple of hours to spend at the pueblo, and then it was time to continue down the highway to Santa Fe. I truly hope that the opportunity to return comes sooner than later.

Taos Tourist – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X100F

Jacob’s Ladder – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

Dream Ladder – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X100F

Tree & Shed – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

Bells & Crosses – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

Pueblo Sky – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X100F

Taos & Sky – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

Second Floor Pueblo – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

Pueblo Roof – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

Boxy – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

Taos Pueblo Apartments – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

Storm Approaching Taos – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X100F

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico – Part 1: Color

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Ritchie Roesch

San Geronimo Cross – Taos, NM – Fujifilm X-Pro2 & 60mm

Ansel Adams’ very first book, Taos Pueblo, was published in 1930. It featured photographs that Adams had captured in the spring of 1929 at Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. He would return to Taos several times on his journeys across the American west. It was while flipping through one of Adams’ books that I first learned of Taos, and for the next twenty years I would dream of one day experiencing the place firsthand.

The Taos Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America, dating back to about 1000 AD. There are actually two pueblos, the north house and south house, that look much the same and are of similar age. It’s amazing how little has changed over the centuries, and it is said that the pueblo appears similar to visitors today as it did to Spanish explorers in 1540.

People still inhabit the Taos Pueblo. It’s like a giant apartment complex. Many of the lower-level units are used as restaurants and shops. You can buy handmade art and trinkets. It’s a neat experience. It does cost money to visit ($16 per person), but I didn’t mind as I’m sure it helps those who live there. Sadly, it appears as though poverty is a common issue at the pueblo.

My family and I only got to spend a couple of hours at the Taos Pueblo. We were just passing through on our way to Santa Fe. It would have been great to spend more time capturing this historic site. There are so many photographic opportunities! Interestingly, and perhaps unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), photographs are for personal use only, and one must obtain prior approval and pay a fee for commercial photography. If I wanted to sell a picture that I captured at the pueblo, well, I can’t, unless I jumped through the appropriate hoops ahead of time. This is something to consider if you are planning a visit, and if I were to spend more time than just a couple of hours at the site I definitely would have done this just in case I captured something special.

I used a Fujifilm X-Pro2 with a Fujinon 60mm lens attached to capture these images. They are all straight-out-of-camera JPEGs using my Kodachrome II film simulation recipe. I hope you enjoy viewing them!