This photo of jewelry vendors setting up stands in Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico is one of my favorite from the southwestern US. It was captured in the early morning on a pleasant winter day as Native American vendors set up stands in preparation for tourists. I happened to peek around this corner at the end of a morning of shooting photos, and was enthralled by this beautifully lit and posed scene. I managed to get one photo, perfectly capturing the modest, hard-working spirit of these dignified women. Quiet, colorful settings like this have drawn New Mexico near to my heart.

Camera: Samsung GX 1S, 18-55mm kit lens. Photo by Don Peterson.

Old Town, Door In Winter. This photo shows the front door of a boutique in historic Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico after an early morning snow. We also see classic New Mexico women’s wear framed by the adobe structure of this Old Town storefront. The snow never lasts for long. Typically, by noon, it has all melted as the sun and the temperature rises. Camera: Samsung GX 1S, 18-55mm kit lens. The photo was altered with Fotosketcher “oil painting” effect and final edits made in Photoshop.

Old Town, Albuquerque, Gift Shops. These photos shows a beautiful Old Town, Albuquerque gift shop in the heart of this historic district in New Mexico’s largest city. Unlike the adobe architecture common to much of Old Town, this building has a more traditional construction. It is a charming and inviting feature of this historic district. Old Town is also one of the most photogenic locations in Albuquerque.

These images were captured using Fuji Superia film and scanned from the negative. Camera: Minolta X-700 and 50mm F:1.4 lens.

Kiva Ladder & Adobe. In this Old Town, Albuquerque (New Mexico) photo are found three of the most enduring elements of New Mexico style. First, the kiva ladder. The Hopi and Anasazi People of New Mexico used these log ladders to reach the upper floors of their pueblo dwellings, some of which were up to five flights tall. These ladders are now frequently seen as decorative accents in New Mexico homes and businesses. Second, the beautiful texture of Adobe architecture. Pioneered by the Anasazi people, Pueblo Adobe construction using mud bricks was later adopted by Spanish settlers and has become an iconic symbol of New Mexican culture. Finally, the turquoise color. Turquoise is an important accent color representing the sky and long used by the native culture for decorating homes and jewelry.

This photo was captured about 6 years ago in Old Town, Albuquerque. I shot this image on negative film (Fuji Superia 100, Minolta SRT-101)  which was scanned and converted to digital. It remains one of my favorite photos, representing the rich cultural and historic charms of New Mexico.

These two photos show settings in Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The first photo shows an Old Town women’s gift shop with a whimsical outdoor display. The second image shows a setting from an Old Town art gallery.

This photo is my personal favorite of the many I have captured in Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was captured in the late morning, as Native American women set up their vendor stands for the day. To my eye, it conveys the sense of quiet dignity and charm that I have found throughout New Mexico. The conversion of the the photo to black and white gives it a timeless look. I love this scene!

Just looking at this photo of the warm hues of Adobe architecture in Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico makes me yearn for the warm summer days spent here. Rich in cultural and historic significance, Old Town provides a glimpse of the early days of Albuquerque, along with restaurants and gift shops.

Old Town, Albuquerque is the charming, historic heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This photo shows an Adobe style gift shop in Old Town, adorned with classic New Mexico colors; Turquoise Blue and Adobe Tan.