Santa Fe light can move from open, high-altitude clarity to deep contrast quickly. Early and late hours give shape to adobe and landscape, while midday often calls for careful exposure and attention to reflective surfaces.
Carry less than you think you need, but include a lens hood, spare battery, and a way to protect equipment from dust and fast weather. A polarizer can help with sky and reflections, though it should be used carefully on wide lenses.
The most important choice is often where to stand and when to return. A familiar location photographed across seasons will usually produce stronger work than a hurried checklist of landmarks.