Peggy Reeder
April 2026 - White Dove of the Desert
Original
About the Image(s)
This image of the Mission San Xavier del Bac outside of Tucson was taken at sunrise. I did a lot of editing in Lightroom trying to capture the sunlit areas as well as the shadows. I finally finished it with a texture from Topaz Studio that gave more of the look I was going for.
7 comments posted
Excellent job of capturing the church at sunrise and bringing out the details from the shadows. I love the golden sunlight hitting the bell towers. If you travel there in the future, I suggest you try different angles. While this is a nice capture, it seems static to me, especially when there may be better opportunities for compositions there. Posted: 04/01/2026 13:42:20
What a difference from when I was there during the Tucson PSA Conference. It was under renovation. Peggy, you know, I have the same tendency of rushing to take picture when I go somewhere. Mike makes a god point. We all need to slow down and take more that a look and snap. Well, I am hoping that you do not fall into that category and that you took several other images at different angles, but if not, perhaps you can returne there another time. Posted: 04/04/2026 21:28:25
Mike and Joe - I did spend some time there taking shots at different angles and even from the back. But yes, I also do have that tendency to rush - as though my subject is going to disappear somehow!! Slowing down is such good practice, but often hard to remember. Posted: 04/04/2026 22:15:32
In reading from one of the blogs of photographer Art Wolfe that when he takes clients on photo shoots he makes them study a subject before even taking their cameras out of the bag. The idea is for them to carefully consider the subject and angles before even thinking about snapping a shot Posted: 04/06/2026 19:12:25
We winter in Casa Grande, AZ and I've been to this mission several times over the years as it's been restored. It's now a beautiful site as you've depicted here. It's not fully lit so the brightness of the white doesn't show. I prefer shots from angles of the mission but it's only a preference. Good image. Posted: 04/07/2026 16:08:21
I like the overall pleasing colors, the beautiful blue sky and the whites (even if they are over exposed -- could you have toned them down?) and deep tans. Even the gold and yellow highlights on the entrance facade lend to the composition. The overall feeling of weight of the structure gives a stable and solid look, kind of offsetting what would ordinarily be a static final image. Posted: 04/08/2026 01:52:55
You've done a nice job of bringing out the front that were so dark. I sort of wish there were a few clouds in the sky but then that might take away from the building itself. Posted: 04/16/2026 23:26:40