Casa San Ysidro

This past Saturday, I went out to see if I might find and capture some interesting street shots for one of the photographic groups I participate in online, so I headed down to Corrales. It was a bit wintry, but when I passed by the Old Church and Casa San Ysidro, I noticed that the parking lot was packed. “What’s this?” I asked myself, “Is there some sort of event going on?” So, I parked and investigated. Indeed, there was a history lecture going on at Casa San Ysidro. Unfortunately, I was on my way across town and didn’t have the time to attend the lecture, but I was excited to have the opportunity to go inside and shoot. Architecture and history trump street every single time in my book… .

One of the first people I encountered there was Aaron Gardner, the site manager. Now, I am definitely not like my father, who was an anthropological portrait photographer first and foremost. I and am very reticent about photographing people, but was struck by his beautiful eyes — inherited from his mother, he says — and asked if I might take his portrait. (Gasp!) He was happy to oblige.

On with the photos I captured, then…

Here is one of the compound bell. I liked it in B&W:

The horno (oven) is in the corner of the compound. Another one I liked in B&W and processed in Silver Efex:

Here is another shot of it, in color and a bit wider:

Staying with the fiery theme for a moment, here is the smithy, or at least part of it:

Barn Door

More of this album is visible on Flickr.