Philmont Scout Ranch

Bob Rea and I noted in the catalog for our photography exhibit ar the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage and Arts that it was our trips to Philmont Scout Ranch, in northern New Mexico near Cimarron, that sparked our love of the southwest and fascination with the quality of light here.  The clarity and focus that intense light made possible is something that we will be attempting to capture for the remainder of our lives.  Philmont, and that light, are two of the strongest things Bob and I have in common.  We also both acknowledge the powerful role our scoutmaster, William C. Holton, had on both of us.  We have both spent our lives trying to live up to the ideals and standards Bill taught us as scouts.  His spirit was with us at the opening of our photography exhibit last Saturday.  Here is a photograph Bill took of me in 1960, during my first trip to Philmont.

And no, I don't want to hear any comments about what I must have done to that poor burro.  They said the burro would carry our gear.  They did not tell us we had to carry the burro.