A White Christmas (Church Yard of Cathedral Basilica)

"Care to join us for the Christmas Mass", the statue seemed to be saying. It was the first time I attended a Christmas Mass (bored me to death). 

Christmas Eve in Santa Fe

Loretto at Night

An old lady singing Christmas Carol in front of a bonfire.

Chimayo (A Miracle Site)

In this tiny church, there are hundreds of crutches from those people who were healed by the miracles here. Will this gentleman get better after his visit?

Lookout on High Road to Taos

 Two 180 degree panoramas.

On the Road

Near Taos Canyon, with Rio Grande on our left hand side.

With my friend Yicheng driving and her partner Sheryl doing the navigation, I kept on shooting from the back seat. I soon found this type of shooting quite interesting. If done right, it could really show a sense of a journey. I slightly regretted I didn't bring my D800E with me. Though X100 was wonderful at delivering colors, it was not fast enough to catch many scenes. The focus was just too slow. After reviewing these photos, I got another idea: next time, I will try a GoPro.

We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw the sign, but the road indeed turned that way.

Taos (Church of San Francisco de Asis)

In Georgia O'Keeffe Land

Usually I hate air travel. My yearly trip to Taiwan (an obligation to my parents rather than any real vacation) is the maximum amount of air travel I can bear with (now I can even claim that by avoiding air travel I have been more environmental friendly). However, when my friends asked me if I were interested in joining them to visit Santa Fe this Christmas, I jumped on the opportunity. Because, ever since I read about Georgia O'Keeffe on Readers Digest when I was in high school (and got seduced by her flower paintings), I had longed to visit the landscape that had inspired her.  

When I finally walked on the street of Santa Fe, and saw the cow's skull hanging on a wall, with a red pepper wreath above it, as if walking out a O'Keeffe painting, I was speechless. I asked my friend to take a photo of me with it, as a bizarre reminder that my dream has come true.

Downtown Santa Fe

With My Single Malt Scotch

At my friends' home with the single malt Scotch they saved for me. 

My friends Andrea and Sheryl had saved a single malt Scotch for me when they visited Scotland (from the isle of Islay). It had stayed in their home in Irvine. Thanks to our trip to Santa Fe together, I finally got the chance to see it. Since I can't drink, I am happy with just a photo (and let my friends enjoy it).

The curious cat Sara explores my computer.

Thanksgiving at My Best Friend's House

Sunset Watching at Point Lobos

Should we have stayed at home and thought of here?
Where should we be today?
Is it right to be watching strangers in a play
in this strangest of theatres?
What childishness is it that while there's a breath of life
in our bodies, we are determined to rush
to see the sun the other way around?

--from Elizabeth Bishop's "Questions of Travel"

I had a brunch meeting with my boss. After our technical discussion, my boss politely asked me what's my plan for the day and if I would go out taking photos. I told her I hadn't thought about it yet (in fact, I was thinking: I hope you are not suggesting I should be working today, boss). After we parted, I decided to go with the flow and drove to Point Lobos. I had my D800E with me, but didn't feel like in the mood for any serious shooting so I just left it in the trunk and started hiking. On the trail, I suddenly realized I hadn't been watching the sun set for a long long time. Yes, I took photos at the magic moment, but I had always been busy, setting up camera, adjusting filter, checking exposure, etc. When was the last time I just sat and enjoyed the sun set? I couldn't even recall! 

So I stopped at this spot, sat in the chair, waited, and enjoyed the sunset for the first time in a very long time. (I was surprised the sun took much longer to set than I remembered.) Ironically I still had my cell phone with me so I couldn't help but to take a few snaps (as if I need proof for my moment of happiness). On my way home, Bishop's poem popped up in my head and I thought "not a bad way to end a day".