Description

Atalaya Mountain, a favorite destination for hikers and mountain bikers, is situated east of Santa Fe. Considering the mountain’s height of 9,121 feet, the name Atalaya, the Spanish word for watchtower, is appropriate. The source material for the scene includes a tempera study as well as two photographs. Baumann synthesized the photos, compressing the scene, and used artistic license to make the receding distant mountains appear to loom above the adobe houses.