Black Mesa

[DougW]

This was taken with a B+W 041 lens filter (570nm) showing Black Mesa in the center of the image. It is just outside Los Alamos, NM in the Pueblo of San Ildefonso. It is a sacred place for many of the Pueblo’s. Historically, the Mesa is an important landmark in reference to the great Pueblo Revolt of Spanish rule in Santa Fe. The native’s last stand in resisting the Spaniards was here. Being close to Los Alamos and with much of the secret activities of the Manhattan Project followed by Cold War activities, rumors have floated about a large internal cave housing a super-secret laboratory from Los Alamos. And then many stories of aliens and UFO abound as well surrounding Black Mesa.

I’ve heard many legends and myths about this remnant cinder cone. Probably the oldest is that this is the heart of an ancient and gigantic “Beast” that demanded yearly sacrifices from the natives. One day a group decided to end the horrific sacrifices and volunteered to be fed to the “Spirit Beast” in the annul sacrifice. The huge monster quickly swallowed them whole, without chewing, which is what the victims had hoped. Inside the belly of the “Beast,” the brave victims brought out knives hidden in their garments and began cutting, ultimately killing the Spirit Beast. All that now remains of the “Beast” is the heart which the natives found cursorily hardened after it died.

 

[JimFox]

Love the backstory on this Doug! I have driven by there many times, and stopped and photographed it as it just stands out so much from the terrain, especially when driving by it. One time there was a rainbow radiating out from it, but I was too far away still to photograph it with the rainbow at the right angle. As I got closer to it the rainbow was just swinging into the position I wanted, I pulled off and jumped out and before I could take a photo the rainbow disappeared. Perhaps the Spirit Beast is still alive and it's swallowing rainbows?

And I love the photo! What an incredible look, and the clouds what cool shades of colors in it.

 

[AlanLichty]

Fun story for the subject and very interesting processing for this result. I like the palette.

 

[Panther]

What a Dramatic image and love the History of Black Mesa.

Very Nice Doug !!!

 

[DougW]

Thanks All! AND Jim, oh man that is a bummer on the rainbow. I bet that would have made an awesome image.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

That is a very nice palette to process this in IR. from the looks of it, it would look nice in standard color as well

 

[Alisa]

Cool moody vibes! Nice IR!