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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Eight: Light and shadow shape meaning > Geometry, Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, 2007
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07-NOV-2007

Geometry, Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, 2007

The Acoma Pueblo, also known as Sky City, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the US. The first white man to enter Sky City was the Spanish explorer Francisco de Coronado, in 1540. Built on a 367-foot high mesa, the Pueblo rises to 7000 feet above sea level. The light is magical -- here it plays geometric games on the walls of the Pueblo's Visitor Center.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/250s f/5.6 at 28.5mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time07-Nov-2007 14:06:03
MakeLeica
ModelV-LUX 1
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length28.5 mm
Exposure Time1/250 sec
Aperturef/5.6
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias-0.33
White Balance
Metering Modemulti spot (3)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programprogram (2)
Focus Distance

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Phil Douglis11-Dec-2007 19:48
I am glad you relate the pattern of light to the geometric patterns on Acoma pottery. I did not have that in mind when I made the image, but it is so true, and in this case, very appropriate. Thanks, Patricia, for pointing this out.
Patricia Lay-Dorsey11-Dec-2007 17:38
The simple shadows on this earth-toned facade bring to mind the geometric shapes so often seen painted on the beautiful pottery still created by the residents in the Acoma Pueblo. Marvelous image with much meaning found within its simplicity.
Phil Douglis26-Nov-2007 01:44
The geometry gives this image the feel of a cubist painting, Ceci -- that is what drew me to these reflections in the first place. I made more complex versions, but I chose this because it was the simplest and most expressive approach.Yet there is still is, as you note, a lot going on here at once. It an abstracted view of a building, and the incongruous juxtaposition of light and shadow makes the image express its message. I did not see the religious theme you mention, but that is why I make my photographs -- to kindle the imaginations of my viewers. Thank you, as always, for bringing your own imagination to bear on this image.
Guest 25-Nov-2007 10:36
What a lovely, simple, spare, beautifully balanced picture this is, Phil! The larger chocolate portion with its geometric shadows above, and the blond section with its three perfect windows (Father, Son, Holy Ghost?) below. It feels more like a modern Western painting than a photo, as well as both juxtaposition and abstraction, all at once. Yum!
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