
Photography excels at capturing contrasts—between dark and light, shadow and bright, death and life.
This was a contrast that shouted death, where there should have been life.
The contrast couldn’t have been more stark. A tiny marker for a child’s grave, alone on a cold New Mexico morning, brilliant white snow and bright light overwhelming the dark shadow it cast. A morning devoted to mourning, for a lost soul alone in the snow, in Seco. ♣

La Santisima Trinidad, a mission church in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico, painted in oil on canvas (22×28”), by Jann Alexander © 2012. More photographs and paintings from my Mission: Mexico series are here.
Wow. Great shot!
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Thank you Patti. It was a somber discovery.
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I agree, Jann. Somber was the word I was going to use. Excellent photo.
janet
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Thanks for visiting and commenting, Janet. Sorry if I stole your word 😉
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What a powerful photo.
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Thank you Sue, nice of you to stop by.
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Good shot and composition, Jann. Unfortunately a bit spoiled by the fence shadow.
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Ah Stefano, you misunderstand. The fence shadow lends texture, another layer of interest, and more contrast, implying separation from this world to the next. It’s the best part.
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Ok, you’re right, I didn’t get that role of the fence shadow. I apologize.
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No apologies necessary, I’m glad you offered me the chance to reflect a bit more deeply on it. But thanks for saying so, and for visiting.
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A lovely shot, and quite poignant.
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Thanks for commenting. Poignant, indeed.
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Wow, beautiful!
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Thank you for your enthusiasm. What in particular attracts you?
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So many things about this picture speak to me. First of all – the title. Second of all the image of Christ on the cross. And then the whiteness of the blanket snow – peaceful and it makes me think of Heaven. Wow, all that in a picture. Thank you for asking.
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You’re so kind to share all of that–it’s so interesting to hear what moves you, some of which dovetails with my feelings. Thanks for your response.
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A contemplative image, the fence shadow does add texture I think without it the image might seem too pristine. Great shot!
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So glad if I’ve provoked some contemplation with this. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Refer me to one of yours you’d consider contemplative, will you?
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So sad… Can’t fault your interpretation of the challenge: exquisitely caught.
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Thanks Vic, good of you to visit and comment. Are you intrigued by cemeteries and their hidden stories, too, or something else?
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I was taken to many funerals as a child. Some people find cemeteries creepy, but to me they are peaceful. After all, they are places of (eternal) rest, and yes, I do wonder at the stories of those who lie beneath.
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Agreed, they are peaceful, and intriguing, and it’s interesting to make the connections by examining the tombstones.
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