Those of you who know me well, know that I am a person who values tradition. And even though most of my life is lived without the presence of any specific religious or cultural influences, I still choose to adhere to a cobbled-together smattering of rituals. Many revolve around my Catholic, Italian-American upbringing. A quick look at my pantry will prove my devotion to pasta, tomatoes, and pizza, never mind the odd collection of religious mass cards, rosary beads, and candles that are scattered throughout the hidden storage areas in my house.

Over the years, I have become more fascinated with the contemporary adherence to faith-based traditions. New Mexico is an ideal place to see this on display, especially around this time of year, as the 40 days of Lent lead to the celebration of Easter. Every year, for probably the past 10 years or so, I’ve taken part in two Lent-related rituals. One is my weekly Lenten Special lunch at Garcia’s Kitchen. Tortas de Huevos are a special treat, only available during Lent, and every Friday I’d head down to Central Ave in West Downtown to get my fill. The other thing I would do is the Good Friday pilgrimage walk up Tomé Hill, at sunrise. The site is truly magical, and to scramble up the rocky hill, and sit beneath the crosses as the sun peeks out over the Manzanos in the east; it is something very special, regardless of your own belief system.

Of course, this year, none of this was able to happen. I did get to enjoy a couple of meals at Garcia’s before the stay at home orders came out. But my annual trek up the Hill did not happen yesterday. I truly missed it. Even the pre-dawn drive south has a certain kind of feeling to it. I am sad I could not do it this year, but also grateful that I am home, safe, with my wife. We have food, alcohol, toilet paper and a fairly reliable wifi connection, so all things considered, I am lucky…blessed even.

As I said, I am not a religious person, but this weekend seems to be an appropriate time to have thoughts of renewal, recovery, return. While I breathe, I hope.

Every year for the past 4 or 5 years, on Good Friday, I’ve made a sunrise climb to the top of Tomé Hill, outside of Los Lunas, New Mexico. This is one of two main Catholic pilgrimage sites in the state, a much smaller, more intimate kind of experience than one would have up north in Chimayó. I like it because it is low-key. is a fairy challenging, yet short hike to the top of the Hill, and it always rewards my waking up at a criminally early hour with a glorious sunrise over the surrounding valley.

Though I’ve shot here numerous times, I tried to take a different approach this year and devote myself primarily to shooting on film. Those resulting images will have to wait for developing and scanning. I did take a few shots with my iPhone as well, but restricted myself to capturing in high contrast, black and white.

Though I am pretty much by this point an agnostic, there is still something about the Catholic exercise of faith that draws me in creatively. And spending a sunrise morning on top of a hill above the beautiful New Mexico desert is not a bad way to start a day.