I spent last week on a photo workshop with Richard Choe at the Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, NM, a 75 minute drive northwest of Santa Fe. You can view a larger selection of my photos in my New Mexico flickr album. The official Ghost Ranch narrative goes something like this:
Years ago, the land was a 21,000 acre dude ranch. Arthur and Phoebe Pack bought the ranch in 1936 and later severed a small parcel which they sold to Georgia O’Keeffe who had a strong affinity for the land. As the Packs grew older, they began to think of how best to dispose of the land. Georgia O’Keeffe wanted to purchase the ranch, but the Packs deeded it to the Presbyterian Church in 1955. They wanted to keep it out of “private” hands so that it could be enjoyed by everyone. That’s the official narrative.
It’s easy to see why Georgia O’Keeffe would be drawn to the land. It practically paints itself. She was particularly drawn to Mount Pedernal which glows in low light at dawn and dusk.
An image is a kind of narrative. I produced a photo of Mount Pedernal which gives a narrative of raw natural beauty. But my narrative is only possible if I leave out certain information. I have deliberately framed the photo to exclude human encroachment on the natural space. I’ve left out the wires, buildings, cell tower, gravel. I think all of us are tempted to do this when we produce images.
More than 50 years later, the Ghost Ranch includes a Welcome Centre, Museum, Corral, Dining Hall, Arts Centre, countless sleeping cabins, and a camping ground. That’s a lot to exclude if you want to tell a narrative of raw natural beauty.
The official narrative is one of inclusion. The Packs didn’t want the Ghost Ranch to end up in private hands with a big “No Trespassing” sign by the entrance, so they gave it to a church.
I have nothing against Presbyterians. Hell, some of my best friends are Presbyterians. I spent my week with friendly down-to-earth church folk. Here’s what I found in my frame: white, middle-class, Protestant. Nevertheless, as a photographer, I can’t help but wonder what was excluded from the frame. I didn’t have to go far for an answer.
