Located outside of Tucson on the Tohono O'odham Reservation, this church was built around 1797 and still functions as a local church even today. This architectural masterpiece has been called the "White Dove of the Desert" and as you approach it, the sheer size rising above the desert is breathtaking. Once again as with the the little church in Chimayo, don't forget to leave a few dollars in the donation box, visit the local vendors when they are out, and when the schoolchildren are having their morning service, please don't disturb.
As you approach the main doorway.
Ilford XP-2, no filter
Looking up at a belltower. Some of the cracks in the whitewash are visible. This church has undergone restoration several times, that last time for it's 200th anniversary in 1997/ Concrete had been used for the whitewash which caused the adobe structure to literally melt as the structure could not "breath" out the moisture. During the 1997 restoration, the concrete was removed and a more traditional whitewash made of boiled cactus was used. 200 year old wisdom prevails.
The painting has stood the time and has not been extensively restored. This was shot using Fuji 800 film, no filter or flash.