New Mexico is a land of enchantment, where the beauty of the natural world is at its most raw and captivating. For photographers, this rugged landscape offers a wealth of opportunities to capture stunning images of the night sky. Imagine the feeling of the rising sun on your face after capturing the cool, dark nights, and the vast landscapes stretching out before you. The smell of the earth, the sound of the wind, and the sense of peace and tranquility that comes from being surrounded by nature. My upcoming workshop, New Mexico Nightscapes, is a chance to immerse yourself in the beauty of the night sky and learn how to capture its magic through photography.
Capturing the Milky Way
One of the highlights of the workshop will be learning how to capture the Milky Way in all its glory. The New Mexico night sky is perfect for astrophotography, with its clear, dark skies providing the ideal backdrop for capturing the beauty of our galaxy. You’ll learn how to set up your camera to capture the Milky Way in stunning detail, learn all about median stacking and blue hour blending, and how to use long exposures to create breathtaking images.
Mastering Star Trails
In addition to capturing the Milky Way, you’ll also learn how to create stunning star trail images. By using long exposures and a bit of creativity, you can create images that show the movement of the stars across the night sky. It’s a technique that requires patience and precision, but the results are truly spectacular.
Using Low Level Lighting
Another technique you’ll learn during the workshop is how to use low level lighting to illuminate your nighttime scenes. This can add depth and drama to your images, highlighting the beauty of the landscape against the backdrop of the night sky. You’ll learn how to use various lighting techniques to create stunning effects, adding a new dimension to your photography.
Exploring Sacred Sites
During the workshop, you’ll have the exclusive opportunity to explore some of New Mexico’s most sacred sites, including Shiprock, the Bisti Badlands, and Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
Shiprock, known as Tse Bit’a’i or “the rock with wings” in Navajo, is a towering rock formation located in northwestern New Mexico. It holds great cultural and spiritual significance for the Navajo people, who consider it to be a sacred mountain and a place of great power.
According to Navajo legend, Shiprock was once a giant bird that carried the Navajo people from the north to their current homeland in the Four Corners region. As the bird approached their destination, it turned to stone, creating the impressive rock formation that we see today.
For the Navajo, Shiprock is more than just a geological formation – it is a symbol of their cultural identity and spiritual beliefs. It is a place where prayers are offered, ceremonies are held, and stories are told. The rock is believed to be a source of spiritual power and protection, and is treated with great reverence by the Navajo people.
Today, Shiprock stands as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage of the Navajo people and the enduring connection they have to the land. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of the Navajo people, who have preserved their traditions and stories for generations.
The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, known as the Bisti Badlands, is a unique and otherworldly landscape located in northwest New Mexico. The name “Bisti” comes from the Navajo word “Bistahi,” which means “among the adobe formations.” The Navajo people have a deep connection to this land, and it holds special significance in their culture and history.
According to Navajo legend, the Bisti Badlands were once a thriving community inhabited by ancient peoples. However, a great drought struck the land, and the people were forced to leave in search of water. As they departed, they turned back to look at their home one last time, and it is said that the land was so sorrowful at their departure that it began to cry, creating the unique rock formations and hoodoos that we see today.
The distinctive landscape of the Bisti Badlands is the result of millions of years of geological processes. The area was once a swampy coastal plain, and over time, layers of sediment were deposited and compressed, creating the rock layers that are visible today. Erosion from wind and water has sculpted the rocks into the bizarre and fantastical shapes that make the Bisti Badlands so unique.
Today, the Bisti Badlands are a protected wilderness area, and visitors can hike through the otherworldly landscape, marveling at the strange rock formations and imagining the ancient peoples who once called this land home. It is a place of great beauty and mystery, and a testament to the power of nature to create landscapes that are truly awe-inspiring.
The Chaco Culture National Historical Park, located in northwestern New Mexico, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in North America. It was once the center of a thriving civilization built by the ancestral Puebloan people over a thousand years ago.
According to Puebloan oral tradition, Chaco Canyon was a place of great spiritual significance. The ancient Puebloans believed that the canyon was the center of the world and that the spirits of their ancestors resided there. They built elaborate multi-story structures, called great houses, as well as ceremonial kivas and other buildings, which served as centers of trade, ceremony, and community life.
The construction of these structures was a remarkable feat of engineering and organization. The great houses were built using stone masonry techniques, with walls made of sandstone blocks that were shaped and fitted together with remarkable precision. The buildings were aligned with the movements of the sun, moon, and stars, indicating a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and the natural world.
The ancient Puebloans also developed a complex system of roads, known as Chacoan roads, that connected Chaco Canyon to other communities in the region. These roads were carefully planned and constructed, indicating a high level of organization and cooperation among the ancient Puebloan people.
The civilization in Chaco Canyon flourished for several centuries, but by the late 1100s, it began to decline. The reasons for this decline are still debated by archaeologists, but factors such as drought, resource depletion, and social unrest may have played a role.
Today, the ruins of Chaco Culture National Historical Park stand as a testament to the ingenuity and skill of the ancient Puebloan people. The park is a place of great cultural and spiritual significance for modern Puebloan tribes, who continue to honor their ancestors and their traditions.
Join Us in New Mexico
If you’re ready to take your photography to the next level and immerse yourself in the beauty of the New Mexico night sky, then join us for New Mexico Nightscapes. It’s an experience that will stay with you long after the workshop is over, and will inspire you to see the world in a whole new light.
