Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Tag: Aspens

Leaves And A Few Other Things

The light, it’s all about the light. Waiting until the sunlight lit up the road and the aspens ahead didn’t take very long but it did require a few moments until the sun emerged from the clouds. The moment and the picture happen, click!!!

highway 64, northern NM
Fall color and light on Highway 64, northern NM.

The following three images depict a local pond, a different way the leaves turn in one particular area, and a spontaneous composition on a log in the Carson National Forest a few days ago.

Aspen leaves on a mountain pond
Aspen leaves on a mountain pond, in the Sangre de Cristos.

Aspen Leaves
Aspen leaves in the high country of northern New Mexico.

Aspen leaves on a log
Aspen leaves on a log in the Carson National Forest.

One fallen aspen tree leads the eye through the standing trees to the copse beyond.

Aspen Tree Hopewell Lake
Aspen tree Hopewell Lake, New Mexico.

A nice hillside of aspens in various stages of fall. There are still a number of weeks of turning colors to come. Join me on a photo tour and I’ll share some of my favorite locations with you.

Brazos Cliffs
Aspens on the flanks of the Brazos Cliffs, New Mexico.

I frequently enjoy visiting this pond in the mountains between Taos and Angel Fire and this week we hit it with precision timing. The leaves were falling like rain on and around us. Here’s a video I shared on Facebook. Turn up the sound if you watch!

Autumn pond
Autumn pond in Valle Escondido, NM.

And… last but not least, spending as much time on the road as I do, the opportunities abound. In this case a Porcupine trucking across the road. I had to move fast. The porcupine was fast, but I was slightly faster and that’s how I got this picture of a sweet little creature.

Porcupine
Porcupine trucking across Highway 64, New Mexico.

As always, thank you for looking. G

Abstract Impressionism In The Aspens, New Mexico

Abstract impressionism in the golden aspens, northern New Mexico. I did this to create a feeling of what I felt rather than the more literal take in yesterday’s image. I like them both equally well but I had more fun playing in this instance, which is always good. Thanks for looking. G

Abstract impressionism in the aspens, New Mexico.

 

Hopewell Lake, Photography Tour, Northern New Mexico

Hopewell Lake on a photography tour northern New Mexico and southern Colorado today. We spent some of the morning working the lakeshore for reflections. Later we hiked into nearby aspen groves with carpets of fallen leaves, and lying on our backs we photographed the lanky tree trunks and canopy against the blue sky. On the drive home, we stopped and to enjoy the many aspen vistas around nearly every bend in the road. Thanks for looking. G

Hopewell Lake, Photography Tour, Northern New Mexico

Last Dollar Road, Ridgway, Telluride, Colorado

Last Dollar Road, between Ridgway and Telluride, Colorado. Heading down Last Dollar Road we just had to stop for this view. In 1989 I climbed Mount Sneffels, the peak on the far left of the image with my good friend Harry. When we got to the top I was exhausted. It was a little humiliating to see a father and his seven-year-old son sitting there fresh as the morning eating lunch and me huffing and puffing. 14,000+ feet will do that to you. We shared some stories with them while eating our lunches. On the way down I reinjured the meniscus in my right knee, or was it the left? Fortunately, we had ridden our bikes up to 12,000 feet and hidden them behind a large boulder. Riding down to our camp at 6,000 was a very nice and welcome cruise. Back to the present, on this day it was very pleasant to see the area in its fall finery. Thanks for indulging in my reminiscing and for looking. G

Last Dollar Road, Ridgeway, Colorado.

Ohio Creek Pass Road, Colorado, Aspen Colors

Ohio Creek Pass Road from Gunnison to Crested Butte, Colorado with gorgeous aspen colors. The kind of fiery color we like to see in the mountains. Traveling, virtually again today, not a bad day at that. Thanks for looking. G

Ohio Creek Pass Road, Colorado, Aspen Colors

Blue Sky, Last Leaves, Hopewell Lake

Blue sky with last leaves on one aspen tree near Hopewell Lake, NM. I love the simplicity of this composition, where the bare branches appear to be about to let go of the remaining few leaves. I’ve photographed the last leaves on many trees over the years. I feel there’s a certain melancholy to this scene, although the blue sky and golden leaves present a pretty picture. I think I’ll call this one, “Before the fall”. Thanks for looking. G

Blue Sky, Last Leaves, Hopewell Lake

Carson National Forest Road 437, Garcia Park, NM

Carson National Forest, FR 437, to Garcia Park, New Mexico today. This meadow was going off and creating a golden reflecting light source for the whole area around. It was a special drive on our annual visit to see the colors up high at 9800 + feet above sea level. If you have the opportunity to get out up into the mountains this week, I would highly recommend it. P.S. Look up in the sky tonight for the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn in close proximity. Thanks for looking. G

Carson National Forest, FR 437 Garcia Park, New Mexico

Aspen Grove, Clouds, Highway 17, Cumbres Pass, Colorado

Aspen grove, against grey clouds on Highway 17, at the Cumbres Pass, Colorado. Four hours drive away from yesterday’s photo of the day, just over the state line in Colorado, the colors are doing their thing precisely on time. I’ve photographed this scene many times over the last few years. It continues to be a favorite location each Autumn when the aspens light up the hills in the Rocky Mountains. Interesting fact, aspens grow from one root system. They are the largest living organism on the planet. Thanks for looking. G

Aspen Grove, Clouds, Highway 17, Cumbres Pass, Colorado

Aspen Road, Mountains, New Mexico

Aspen road, in the mountains of northern New Mexico. The aspens around Taos are in all shades from green and in some cases yellow and gold. Farther north in southern Colorado, at ten thousand feet, things are advancing fast. It is great to smell autumn in the air with moisture and cooler temperatures. Enjoy your autumnal equinox (7:31am MST) this morning and the rest of your fall. Thanks for looking. G

Aspen road, in the mountains of northern New Mexico