Nikon D810, 1/60 sec, f/16, 105mm, ISO 200
This is a low angle composition of walls at the Gran Quivira pueblo, part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. The low angle and longish focal length of 105 mm combine to compress the walls into a seemingly solid stack of stones. In reality, these walls all enclose small rooms, so there is some space between them.
I converted the image to black and white because, well, old stones from the year 1300 just deserve to be photographed in black and white.
Gran Quivira Pueblo: 34.260081° -106.091251°
Nikon D810, 1/125 sec, f/16, 27mm, ISO 200
Here is a the partial layout of one Gran Quivira pueblo site, part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. This is the site with the larger walls. There is a nearby site with many more rooms and walls.
You should allow a full day to photograph the three pueblo sites (Gran Quivira, Abu and Quarai) of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument and the town of Mountainair. There are so many potential compositions, from panoramas to close in detail, at these sites that time will fly by.
Gran Quivira Pueblo: 34.259301° -106.092433°
Nikon D810, 1/40 sec, f/16, 38mm, ISO 200
The sky was just too bright when I visited the Quari Mission and Convento, part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. No matter which angle I looked at the structure, and what exposure settings I used, the image just blasted the eyes. During post processing, I moved every Lightroom adjustment slider but just could not make this a pleasing image. I might have been able to create a high dynamic range image, but I think that would not have looked natural in this case.
Unfortunately, I had other sites to see so I was unable to wait for the light to change. Sometimes you miss the shot…
Quarai Mission Complex: 34.595719° -106.295304°
