Saint Francis Sunflower, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2025
According to Cody Brothers, “The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is probably Santa Fe’s most photographed building. Every time I photograph it, I try to show a new perspective that hasn’t been seen before.”
On a recent day near the cathedral, while leading a field trip for his pinhole photography students, Brothers tried something unusual. He placed his lensless pinhole camera with a red filter beneath the head of a dinner plate-sized sunflower to shield it from direct sunlight and incoming rain. He then tilted the angle to capture only the top of the historic church.
The result is this striking, distorted view framed by nature—transforming one of Santa Fe’s most familiar landmarks into an entirely new image. It now stands among Brothers’ favorites, proving that creativity can begin with a simple shift in perspective.
4 x 5” Large Format Pinhole Analog Capture, scanned and printed on Epson Exhibition Fiber Paper, Collection of the Artist
American Film
Pavement Ends West Begins
