Fans of every conceivable thing on this earth and in our society exist in odd and wonderful forms.  I am a fan of many, but as a photographer, I am very fond of stucco or plaster.  This ancient finishing coat has been used around the world in both artistic and architectural applications, and has the added bonus of being less susceptible to fire.  It usually is developed to have some texture, and a rainbow of different pigments can be added to give it more personality.  The characteristics of a finished stucco surface render it nearly perfect for environmental portraiture (studio fabric backdrops and scrims imitate its edible texture), and it delineates shadows in crisp lines.

While in Taos last September for the Taos Fall Arts Festival opening, I shot several photographs of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with a dramatic, near-sunset sky. But what I did not notice, initially, was how sharp the shadows of the church bells were against the stucco tower.                                                            

Bell tower and shadows, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Taos, New Mexico church bells and shadows

Even within the limitations of the "no, absolutely not" hours for shooting (between 10 and 2 in high summer), a photographer can get some interesting results by isolating light falling on stucco, as in this image of the church at Los Ojos, New Mexico.

Los Ojos church

Fort Union National Monument, with its many restored adobe and brick (and brick-capped) walls, makes everything and everyone ready for a close-up.  The shadows from the wagon wheel against the stucco seem perfectly clear and precisely etched.

Fort Union wagon wheel

Finally, an environmental portrait of actor Stewart Herd against a stucco wall that, just by being there, seems to add to his persona

Stewart

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image@