Encino, New Mexico

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

This is the first of several I'll post in this thread from this town.

This is the old post office in the tiny town of Encino, New Mexico. There is now a modern post office down the road from this abandoned adobe building. Both post offices are on US-285.

I had visited this town four years earlier, but did not get to do much photography because of bad weather. I didn't make it back there before I had to move back to Indiana. I took advantage of my time in New Mexico when I drove out there in August, 2011 to go back to Encino. It is a tiny, nearly abandoned town, with many interesting places.

8-16-11

 

[Ezzie]

I too find desolation and decay interesting. There is a lot character to be found in buildings that have lived a life. Not that often we see it in my part of the world, the moment a building starts to looks shabby its either redone, or knocked down. The result being we don't have too many old buildings. A sorry fact.

 

[robklurfield]

Chris, it would seem that we'll soon be seeing many more of these defunct post offices dotting the country. Another nice image of your travels.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Chris, it would seem that we'll soon be seeing many more of these defunct post offices dotting the country. Another nice image of your travels.

It is amazing how many tiny towns have a little post office. This one is abandoned, but there is a modern small post office right down the road in the same town. I've seen some in Indiana that are barely as big as my living room...the whole building is that small!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

This is the side of the abandoned Los Penas Grocery and Bar in the tiny town of Encino, New Mexico. In English, the graffiti says "Dear Poet: Survive." In Spanish it says "La Mera Verdad," which translates to "The Mere Truth."

 

[robert blu]

I like the visual simplicity in your photos. And I like the writing on the wall, almost faded as a sign from an older time. We have very few writing on the walls now in Italy, I should take some photos before they all disappear...
robert

 

[oftheherd]

Nice photos. I like the first for a certain boldness to what is an old, essentially abandoned building that seems not to want to give up. I'm not sure how you captured that, but I think it is the light. The second seems to have a certain mystery and yet pleasing color. Well done, both.

Was that taken with a TLR or a Hassy?

 

[gdmcclintock]

In literary terms, Chris is depicting the palimpsest as social artifact. Brilliant!

I like the visual simplicity in your photos. And I like the writing on the wall, almost faded as a sign from an older time. We have very few writing on the walls now in Italy, I should take some photos before they all disappear...
robert

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Nice photos. I like the first for a certain boldness to what is an old, essentially abandoned building that seems not to want to give up. I'm not sure how you captured that, but I think it is the light. The second seems to have a certain mystery and yet pleasing color. Well done, both.

Was that taken with a TLR or a Hassy?

Hasselblad. All of my color work on this trip were done with it. This one was done with the standard 80mm CF Planar.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I like the visual simplicity in your photos. And I like the writing on the wall, almost faded as a sign from an older time. We have very few writing on the walls now in Italy, I should take some photos before they all disappear...
robert

Robert, you should. Document the old world before it is destroyed!

 

[fotomeow]

the texture and colors are insanely (RIP Mr Jobs) good, giving 3d "pop", only b/c of the slight change in texture on the plastered/painted surface. I was gonna say, thats gotta be MF or LF .....

This is the side of the abandoned Los Penas Grocery and Bar in the tiny town of Encino, New Mexico. In English, the graffiti says "Dear Poet: Survive." In Spanish it says "La Mera Verdad," which translates to "The Mere Truth."

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

These are the front doors of the abandoned Tom Montoya and Son Grocery and Dry Goods store on US-285 in the nearly abandoned town of Encino, New Mexico. The town must have been a flourishing place at one time, because there is another abandoned grocery store across the street. Tom Montoya and Son is in the same building as the abandoned post office.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

This restaurant in the small town of Encino, New Mexico appeared to be closed and abandoned. It has been many years since any place could sell breakfast for just 99 cents!

 

[raydm6]

Hasselblad. All of my color work on this trip were done with it. This one was done with the standard 80mm CF Planar.

Thanks for sharing these Chris. I really miss shooting with a 'blad and the 80. That, with the standard hood looking down onto the fresnel glass, and my Gossen Luna Pro SBC - transferring the EV settings to the CF lens - made for some fun outings. Tempted to get a similar set up.

 

[kosta_g]

nice work Chris, really enjoying your contributions of these parts of the states.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Another photograph of the abandoned Tom Montoya Son store in Encino.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Another one from Encino. This is across the street from Tom Montoya and Son.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

This is Los Peña's Grocery, the store that has the "Dear Poet: Survive" graffiti on the side. It is next to the building with the missing roof in my last post, and across the street from the post office.