Snow, Sunshine and Amazing Art

My day began in a swirl of snow high in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. I am staying in Red River and at 8500 feet, you never know when you might get a little snow in May.

The drive to Santa Fe was 2 hours + beginning with the beautiful Rio Grand Canyon taking me into Taos, a quintessential Southwestern town. With snowy mountains to my left and broken desert to my right, I was never in need of something to look at. (Yes Mom, I do look around A LOT when I drive!) THe amazing thing about this drive is that I made up for my struggle through Kansas by averaging 49 MPG on my way to Sante Fe (and 42+ on the way back!)

Sante Fe is an amazing mix of old and new, modern and traditional, with everything exhibiting a unique flair with southwestern adobe encasing it all. The cathedrals are beautiful, the artwork (especially the sculpture and pottery) is exquisite and the food quite tasty. While traveling alone (with my trusty camera of course!) I only spent today in Sante Fe. Someday I will return with a companion to share in the many sights, styles and flavors available in this amazing city.

I have added a few pictures to this blog and begun my gallery. Enjoy and spread the word!

Sun, Wind, 750 miles later; Red River,New Mexico

The beginning of my BBC Journey began with a great breakfast, as all journeys should. Then it was a battle of will between 50mph headwinds and my Fusion flying down the road at 79. My Fusion and I won but I paid the price, literally with the worst mileage in the life of my Hybrid – 26mpg.  Of course once I hit the sunshine and calm winds of Central Kansas, it popped back up above 34.

Now I sit in my condo in Red River, listening to the water as it flashes by the resort and breathing in the thin mountain air. We are above 8500 feet here so the head is a little light right now!

Tomorrow, my camera will begin its daily workout and I will spend quality time in Santa Fe, exploring galleries, restaurants and the old historic district. I will begin posting a photo gallery tomorrow so stay tuned.

My “BBC” Journey

No, I’m not heading to London; although as a professor of broadcast journalism, a trip to the BBC would be awesome! No… this is the last time I will be able to take an epic journey of more than two weeks due to the fact that I have been unanimously chosen to be the Chair of the Department of Communication and Journalism at Missouri Western. As of August first, what was essentially a nine month teaching gig, now will become a 12 month position (for at least the next three years or however long this amazing faculty want to put up with me!)

That said, over the next five weeks or so, I will be roaming the west, exploring Hawaii and putting my new camera and lenses through their paces. I hope to post a few photos every day of my journey (providing I have internet) and will add an occasional anecdote to add some context to my photography.

Thanks for tuning in. The journey begins Wednesday, May 17th in New Mexico.