California Missions - Part 3

Last weekend during my camping trip near Monterey, CA I took some time to photograph the San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission as part of my personal project to photograph each of the California Missions. Although this is only the third mission I've explored, camera in hand, it was my favorite! The colors and textures reminded me a lot of Italy.

The first photo I'd like to share was also submitted as part of Photo of the Week (hosted by Jessica Rogers Photography).

Rustic Carmel

San Carlos Borromeo Mission was founded in Monterey on June 3, 1770 by Father Junipero Sera and Don Gaspar De Portolá. On August 24, 1771, Father Serra moved the Mission from Monterey to its present site in Carmel to distance it from the military presence at the Presidio of Monterey. The original structure was made of mud and wood and later rebuilt by the Ohlone Native Americans in adobe brick.

In the early 1800's the Mission was destroyed by Privateer Hipolito Bouchard and was left in ruins until Father Angel Cassanova began to restore it in 1884. Renovations continue today to preserve this historic landmark. (http://www.carmelmission.org/museum/students/history.php, http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/bestof/2010/around-town/)

An intriguing cemetery with abalone shells marking each grave

The day that I visited the mission there were back to back weddings being held in the sanctuary.  I was able to sneak in for a couple of minutes between ceremonies, but because there were so many people around I didn't get many photos.  Still, from the two I have here you can tell it is gorgeous. Hopefully one day I'll be able to return and explore the interior more thoroughly.

I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of the San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission through my viewfinder. If you've missed my early posts on the California Missions series check them out here:

About my Personal Project
California Missions - Part 1, Mission San Diego de Alcala
California Missions - Part 2, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

California Missions - Part 2

A couple of weeks ago I continued my Personal Project of photographing the California Missions at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.  San Luis Obispo just happens to be my home town and I couldn't travel through without taking a bit of time to visit and see what the mission looked like through my lens.  I've walked and driven past it many times throughout my life, I went on school field trips, played with my high school wind ensemble on its steps, I even went to a wedding there when I was a kid (I don't recall whose); but this was the first time I really truly explored this beautiful historic site with my camera.

The first photo I'd like to share with you was also submitted for Jessica Rogers Photo of the Week last week:

The old bells of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded by Junipero Serra on September 1, 1772.  It was named after Saint Louis, the Bishop of Toulouse, France.  The building as it stands today was built between 1793-1794.  The front portico was added in 1794, torn down in 1877, and restored in 1933. For more history on this beautiful Mission visit http://www.missionsanluisobispo.org.

Here are a few more photos from my visit:

A bit of detail around the front entrance to the sanctuary

Leaning on God

This lovely floral motif extended around the sanctuary

I truly enjoyed exploring in my home town and taking the time to examine details that I passed by often without thinking.  There is such beauty in our world, if only we take the time to slow down and see it.

California Missions - Part 1

You may have read in my last post that I decided to take on photographing each of the California Missions as a personal project.  I love capturing history with my lens and the Missions seemed like the best place to start. Only a few miles from my home is Mission San Diego de Alcala, where I began my photographic journey of the Misisons.

Mission San Diego de Alcala was first of the 21 California Missions, founded on July 16, 1769, and blessed by Junipero Serra. It was the birthplace of Christianity in the west and the first church in California. The church as it stands today is the fifth to occupy the site, being rebuilt in 1931 to mirror how the church looked in 1813. (Click here for more in-depth history of Mission San Diego de Alcala)

I enjoyed exploring the Mission grounds earlier this week with my camera. I took several photos, one of which I submitted for Jessica Rogers' Photo of the Week:

My Photo of the Week submission

Inside the Church

I hope you enjoyed visiting Mission San Diego de Alcala, though my lens. I will be traveling north soon, and hope to visit at least another Mission or two along the way.

Personal Project

I listen to a lot of photography podcasts and read a lot of photography blogs. One thing that repeatedly comes up as an exercise to boost creativity is a personal project. For some this may take the form of a 365 project (taking and perhaps posting online a photo every day for a year), and for others it can be using a specific piece of equipment, or photographing a certain subject - really, the sky is the limit.

I've had it in my head for quite some time now that I need to do a personal project. I've had several ideas, but one that keeps coming back to me is the California Missions.  I'm a history buff in my own special way.  I can't recite too many pieces of random information like who was born when and what year certain events took place, but I love love love seeing history coming alive in front of me, being in a place where I can imagine the stories of the people who lived there long before me.

I know this is one of the reasons I loved living in Italy, history was absolutely everywhere! It was so easy to go out and photograph the details around me because I knew they were historically significant. Now that I'm back in the States I've found it difficult to find the same kind of photographic inspiration I had in Europe. We, as a country, simply don't have as much history.

Once I recognized this about myself, and why I like to take certain pictures it occurred to me that California is rich in history! It may not be as old as the Colosseum in Rome, but it is the history of where I live, where I am from - it is MY history.

One of the significant aspects of California's history is the Missions, and El Camino Real. I've visited several of the missions during my life, but many not since childhood. I decided that taking on photographing every one of the 21 California Missions would be my personal project.  I don't have a particular timeline involved, but in the next year (or years) I would like to visit and photograph every Mission in California.

I started my journey today at Mission San Diego de Alcala. I will share photos and a bit of history of this site later this week, but for now I will leave you with a photo of one of the many gorgeous flowers gracing the Mission grounds.

I hope you enjoy taking this journey with me. I think I will learn a lot about California, and will hopefully in the process become a better, more creative photographer.