Rio Bravo, Rio Grande
Looking at Albuquerque and one of its concrete-lined storm ditches from the Sandia foothills. The ditch takes mountain storm runoff all the way across town to the Rio Grande.
About a year ago I began a project photographing the Rio Grande, the not-so-grand-or-wild river that runs near my house south of Albuquerque. It’s polluted, it’s smelly, and it’s over-utilized, in political lingo (i.e. there’s often not a lot of water in it). The river’s traditional Spanish name, Rio Bravo (Wild or Brave River) is what it still goes by in Mexico, though much of its recent history is a list of attempts to tame, control and “utilize” it.
Spanish soldiers and priests followed the Rio Bravo from the modern Mexican border north to Santa Fe back in the 1500′s, much to the long-term chagrin of several native communities.
I plan to photograph the cultural, political and climactic forces that continue to mold the river to the needs and wants of the people all along the river’s length. The project likely will take a few years to properly complete.
[...] Does a River Look Like? Photos from my continuing project on the Rio Grande. You can see more in the scrolling gallery on the front of my site. Sandhill Cranes at first light [...]