Valley Light

These photos were taken at Viejo San Acacio, the oldest standing church in Colorado. Of course, the church is neonatal compared to other historic buildings in the country or the world, but the relatively brief history of Costilla County, it's considered quite old. See how the blue of the Virgin's grotto echoes the sky?

Now that I look back at these photographs, which were taken on the first evening of the new year, I think I was photographing the light more than the church.

The church is adobe covered with stucco. We've looked for Viejo San Acacio in the past, without success. Finally we referred to the trusty Gazeteer to find the church, which is not located in contemporary San Acacio, a very small community that hangs onto its heritage despite its diminishing population and the growing number of vacant buildings.

There's something profoundly moving about the light in this area of the Valley. It has a full, burnished tone that's far, far older than the structures it illuminates. The light resonates with a rich, low sound that draws me back to the city of San Luis -- as if the homemade tortillas they sell at the local gas stations weren't enough. I think I would know that light even if the high desert terrain and the mountains weren't there to provide a context.