The Santa Fe Connection

The Sketch

Inspired by The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi located in the heart of the historic -- and very lovely -- Santa Fe downtown area. I also tried to depict the beautiful big spruce tree in front of the cathedral.

The Pen

Simply a fountain pen, which was used to create the sketch, what's so special about it?

It's an old fountain pen made in the 1930s -- which means it's a nonagenarian today -- and yet, it is still beautiful due to its condition. As a vintage fountain pen restorer and collector, I appreciate it for its rarity (especially in this almost mint condition) and elegance.

The next two sections contain the photos which I took during the short trip.

The Film Photos

First up, photos from a roll of film that I took with my Leica M4-P. I haven't used that camera since I switched hobby from photography to fountain pens almost a decade ago. The Leica's small form is perfectly suited for walking around and Santa Fe + Taos area are rich with interesting photo subjects.

UPDATE: After waiting for 2 weeks, my roll of film -- a very expired and probably fogged Kodak 135 -- was developed and scanned by a local film lab. Part of me wish that I still have my chemicals and darkroom, but we can't have everything.

This absolutely scenic bend of the Rio Grande, visible right off the highway.

The iconic subject whenever we're in Santa Fe. The grain and even tonality of Kodak 135 really shines here. I had to boost the contrast a bit but not much.

Spotted a very rustic corner of a studio in Taos, perfect for the 35mm lens.

A Pontiac Star Chief cruising along the street in Taos. This is a lucky shot because there were many cars on the street and the street itself was under construction.

Inside a historic house in Taos.

The Digital Photos

These are the photos taken with my phone.

The big cross in a courtyard with a cloud "halo".

A section of the Rio Grande where we can actually step into the river. The clarity of the water is mind-boggling.

The window with weathered wood pattern makes this pueblo-styled church even more elegant.

The clouds, the random van, and the stones.

The little but busy cafe where lunch was served with Mexican ballad songs.

Roadside neighbors and a dramatic tree.

A lot going on in this photo. I'll let you pick your favorites. For me, the cloud and the roof sign.

Comments

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Redeemed Pens

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