Mission Espada

Sometimes we'll end up at one of the Missions on a whim, usually with a guest who's never seen them.
Since I almost always have one of my cameras with me, I'm semi-prepared for these spontaneous visits but miss having more of my kit.

This time, I wished that I had my flash gear.
Good high-iso performance got me this, but I had to pass-up the shot I wanted.






This is a new look at a subject that I'd entered in a contest years ago.
It lost, and also managed to generate some controversy--good times!




I would've liked to have had my infrared camera along, as the Missions are a great place to shoot in black and white.

Maybe next time.

Mission Accomplished

The grain mill building:
If you're lucky they'll actually be grinding corn when you visit.
It's fascinating, intricate, primitive, and beautiful.

A first for me: Restroom window in infrared.

This is why many people stop using the lens that came with their fancy big cameras.
The curving walls give this lovely church a fun-house feel that I find very distracting.
Makes me a little nauseous, even.

There are wide angle lenses that don't do this, but you have to pay a lot for the extra complexity. If you sell your photos, it's often worth it.
If there's room, simply backing away from your subject and using some zoom will usually straighten things up again.

Ahhh, that's better!
Not only did I back up, I also switched to my infrared Sony F828.
A version of this shot from a few years ago is hanging on many walls around town, so I thought I would give it another go.
That one has a stormy feel to it that really works, but I like this, too.

That's all from my most recent Missions visits.
There is nothing in the pipeline until I get a chance to shoot something new.
Maybe by the weekend.
Thanks for visiting!

Mission San Jose

Following the Mission Trail, San Jose is next.
This is the most complete and impressive of them all, so if you have visitors from out of town and limited time, bring them here.

On my fourth or 5th visit I finally noticed the similarity between the visitor's center....

...and this.
All of the doors on the right lead to little 2-room living areas built into the outer perimeter walls. The wood poles supported whatever they used for shade.

Most people miss this unless they're on a guided tour.
As primitive and crusty as all the Missions look today, 250 years ago they looked a bit better.
When San Jose was completely plastered and painted like the fragment seen here it must have been the most beautiful building in all of south Texas.
I can imagine the indigenous locals thinking "Wow, these people who worship the man on the tree must know what they're talking about!"

With all of the church interiors restored we have an idea of what they must have looked like, but this last surviving section of exterior somehow gets overlooked.


Imagine if this part of the church was still in original condition?
BTW, I take this same photo every visit and have yet to beat my very first attempt.
That was over 5 years ago, and I made so many technical errors that it took a lot of PhotoShop to get a decent 5x7 print--an 8x10 was out of the question.
But the light and shadows were perfect.

Beginner's Luck.


More to come...

Mission Concepcion

Took some Missions virgins on a tour last weekend.
We managed to hit 2 of the 4 not named Alamo before I had to go home and get ready for work. The rest of our crew stopped to eat and before they knew it, 5pm had arrived and the doors got locked by the National Park Service.

I took two cameras and wished I had thought to put a strap on one of them so I could do without carrying a bag.

First up is an infrared shot using the F828:
It took just about all of my patience but I got this shot without any people in it, and they were all over the place. I think I had 2 seconds before someone walked into the frame again.
Sometimes I wonder if y'all think I go shooting at weird times on days when the whole world is busy to keep random folk out of my pics, but the truth is that I just stand in my spot and focus my powers on the weak minds of every other person around me, compelling them to move out of the frame.
Much like Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi mind tricks, but with more liberal use of swear words. "You need to seek shade right now, or your sweaty ass will betray you to the Empire".



The recent restoration of the interior looks fantastic, and again I had to "influence" a lot of people to leave in order to get these photos.

The pic from my "Happy Easter" post on Sunday was also taken here at this time.
It was my favorite for many reasons, and while it was supposed to be the highlight of this post I'm not sorry that I ran it early.

Happy Easter!

This door stays open



Mission Concepcion
San Antonio Texas
April 3, 2010