Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Month: November 2017

Chapel, Talpa, New Mexico

Chapel of Nuestra Señora de San Juan de los Lagos Talpa, New Mexico. Time of day and more importantly the time of year, in this case, helped create the resulting image. At this time of year the sun is almost at it’s most southerly. The sky was overcast and the light on the scene was very diffused when we arrived, on this second day of a three day grand tour. I’d already framed up the three black crosses on the chapel, and as I settled on the final composition the sun emerged momentarily from behind the clouds and the little shadow from the cross on the left popped out. The shadow added a further element to a scene I’d pre-visualized, without any more preparation than just showing up at the location. Always prepared to be amazed … thanks for looking. G

talpa_chapel_8942_8943-4224147

Chevy Hood Ornament, Arroyo Seco

Chevy Hood Ornament, Arroyo Seco, NM. That old Chevrolet truck in Arroyo Seco, parked by Arroyo Seco Mercantile is a feature of the village and great for a photo op. Today we dropped in to Arroyo Seco on a photo tour, and… standing over the hood of the old truck I saw this scene of the hood ornament against the dust, it looked like one of those images of an airplane breaking the sound barrier. Yes… New Mexico is run down and full of decay! Believe it or not this truck still runs in the 4th of July Parade. Drop in sometime. Thanks for looking.G

Chevy hood ornament

Corn Woman Of Vallecito Peak

Corn Woman of Vallecito Peak, the mountains of Taos, New Mexico. Yes! it snowed today and when the clouds lifted we got to see how much. In this image the shape of the pine trees in the bowl of the mountain resembles a woman sowing the corn seeds, hence, corn woman. Others say it’s “weaver woman” and other folks amongst us with a sense of humor, say it’s “Olive Oyl”. What do you think? Anyway… as I was saying, it snowed, which made for a gorgeous day. Thanks for looking. G

vallecito_cornwoman_5263_5264-2769453

Here are a few other images from the archives:

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/january_15/january_05_15.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/april_14/april_30_14.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/january_12/jan_02_12.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/december_11/dec_10_11.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/march_10/march_02_10.html

Mountain Sunset Over The Jemez Mountains

Mountain sunset over the Jemez Mountains southwest of where we live, and there have been some amazing sunsets this week. I now have a shooting platform I hadn’t considered before… until now. It’s just outside the garden gate a few steps from the the studio door. It’s called a wall! Yes a beautiful flat wall with this spectacular view of the winter sunsets. I’ll have to wait until spring to check out the continuity of views from this location. Thanks for looking. G

mountain sunset jemez

Embudo, New Mexico, Cemetery And Shrine

Embudo, New Mexico, Cemetery And Shrine. The hillside shrine, Barrancos Blancos, along highway 68 in hamlet of Embudo, stands resolute, a backdrop for the cemetery. The dirt hills, flanked by the highway to the east and the Rio Grande to the west, look like they should have weathered away by now. Today they still skirt around the cemetery like a guardian and creating a prominent feature of the local landscape. A few people stop their cars and get out and snap a photo. More often than not the traffic whizzes past at speeds that barely allow the occupants a glimpse of the shrine. Not too long ago I parked the car and walked around the site and made this image. I’ve included a link below of a picture from another day for your enjoyment. Thanks for looking. G

Embudo cemetery and shrine

Here’s another image of the location from the highway:

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/july_14/july_08_14.html

Thistle Notes, Baca Park, Taos, New Mexico

Thistle Notes, Baca Park, Taos, New Mexico. Yes… I wondered what tunes the wind might play through these musical note-like, dried thistles. I thought of the dark background as black as a Steinway Piano. The dry leaves on the stalks made me think of treble and bass clefs on a page of music. In my mind I could here Mozart on the ivories. Thanks for looking and continuing to join me here on my photo of the day. G

Thistle Notes, Baca Park, Taos, New Mexico

Winter White Aspens, Moreno Valley

Winter white aspens, Moreno Valley, northern New Mexico. We made a drive yesterday (Thanksgiving day) through the Moreno Valley, from Red River, through Bobcat Pass, Eagle Nest to Angel Fire and back home again to San Cristobal. A late picnic lunch of tuna and pickle sandwiches, chips, washed down with “Happy Camper”, a true New Mexico IPA, followed by Pami’s specialty, “pumkin crunch”. It was a good day out. The peace and tranquility was exceptional. The winter down-time beckoned, although the lanky, bone white aspens, sans leaves, stood blatantly assertive, defying winter, in the surrounding forest of pines. At home again, dinner consisted of green chile, chicken stew and more pumpkin crunch followed by a nightcap of whiskey. It was a good evening. Thanks for looking. G

aspens_moreno_valley_4975_4980-1476595

Here’s a link to the same grove a few years ago. Wow … seven years ago actually.

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/october_10/oct_07_10.html

Thanksgiving Morning, Sangre De Cristos

Thanksgiving morning, Sangre De Cristo mountain sunrise, San Cristobal New Mexico. It’s not always like this, but recently we’ve had some wonderful sun rises that make you want to get up out of bed and go outside! This was about 6:15 this thanksgiving day morning and it was a pleasure to be present. Thanks for looking. G

sunrise_sc_4898_4900-5407935

Highlands Of Scotland Tree

Highlands of Scotland, tree, where there are no trees, and seemingly growing out of a rock. Flashback fall to 2013 in the Scottish Highlands. Thanks for looking and a happy thanksgiving. G

highland_tree_7584_7589-1-7352833

Here’s a few images from our last trip to Scotland.

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/october_13/oct_20_13.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/october_13/oct_21_13.html

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/october_13/oct_22_13.html

And here is the same tree from the view we first saw.

https://geraintsmith.com/potd/pages/archive/june_16/june_30_16.html

Winter Trees, Crescent Moon

Winter Trees and Crescent Moon, The last few nights have been wonderful for watching the waxing moon. The temperatures are quite temperate adding to sky watching pleasure. And really… we don’t have to go to far, just step out on to the deck and look west. When it does eventually chill down there’s always a little whiskey and my lovely woman Pami. Thanks for looking. G

Winter Trees and crescent moon

[wp_cart:Crescent Moon, Winter Trees 4809:price:[Available Sizes|8.5×11 inches $95,95|13×19 inches $155,155|17×22 inches $235,235|24×36 inches $475,475]:end]