New Light

New Light: Photographs of Northern New Mexico

The title of this exhibit - New Light- describes these photographs, my time in New Mexico and the reverberations of that time and place, both literally and metaphorically.
The first thing any photographer arriving in the southwest for the first time will notice is the light. It’s different. Very different from the New England light that I’m used to. The high altitude and dry climate of Northern New Mexico combine to create a very unique light. The sun is rarely filtered by clouds or haze. One would think this unfiltered light would be a blessing to a photographer; that it would offer a bright, clear, perfect view of the amazingly colorful landscape, architecture and people of this place. That somehow this unfiltered light could illuminate absolute truth. And maybe it can. But the light can be harsh and unforgiving during the midday hours. Its unrelenting shadows and contrast don’t always make the best photographs. It poses a bit of a challenge. You must revel in the shadows and contrast and/or wait patiently for the light to change, to soften. And it does, all day long. In the early morning and at dusk, that light is a gift.
On another, metaphorical level, the light depicted in these photographs is not unique to New Mexico. It is the new light in which we come to view ourselves, our world and our place in it, whenever we travel someplace new. That includes the inner journeys that we take as well. Unclouded by our daily lives, routines and responsibilities we are offered a new, different, unfiltered light that shines on our selves, our world and those around us. One would think this unfiltered light would be a blessing; that it would offer a clear, bright, perfect view. That somehow this unfiltered light could illuminate absolute truth. And maybe it can. But its unrelenting shadows and contrast don’t always make a pretty picture. You must revel in the shadows and contrast to find their beauty, and/or wait patiently for the light to change, to soften. And it does, all day long. It is a gift.

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New Light: Photographs of Northern New Mexico