This iconic adobe mission church has been drawing photographers since Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams made it famous, and it rewards careful composition with its sculptural, earth-toned buttresses and thick mud-plaster walls that seem to change character throughout the day. The rear of the church is the classic shot, where the massive rounded buttresses create strong geometric forms and deep shadows that emphasize the organic curves of the adobe. Morning light hitting the south-facing back wall brings out warm ochre tones and crisp shadow lines, making it the most popular time to shoot. Late afternoon works well too as the light rakes across the surface and reveals texture. A wide to standard focal length, around 24 to 50mm, suits the tight plaza setting. The church sits right on the plaza in Ranchos de Taos, is easy to walk around, and the surrounding area offers multiple angles including low perspectives that isolate the towers against the sky. (Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, United States)
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