Tag: Northern New Mexico

Santa Fe And Beyond. 02-11-2026

Geraint February 10, 2026 2 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, I’m revisiting Santa Fe, Taos, Abiquiu, and beyond, continuing my First Impressions series, including first impressions from other areas in the Southwest.

Doodlets of Santa Fe with their iconic geese. This was a surprise find while waiting to be seated at Pasqual’s restaurant in Santa Fe.

Doodlets Santa Fe, NM — *Doodlets of Santa Fe, 1985.*

It seems that every photographer, whether they are a friend or a stranger, possesses a captivating collection of door images. These portals, each with a story to tell, have an irresistible allure that draws us in. My own archive is a testament to this fascination, spanning a diverse array of locations. From the charming streets of the United States to the historic avenues of Europe, the minimalist beauty of Scandinavia, and the timeless elegance of Britain. Each photograph is a window into the culture and history of its location, offering a glimpse into the lives and stories that lie beyond.

The image below was taken at the historic Chimayo Plaza and was one of many doorway photographs featured in my 1985 exhibit in Pasadena, CA. I presented 40 photographic works that sold out, and inspired me to make numerous trips to New Mexico, eventually leading me to settle here in 1988.

Late afternoon light on the morada in Abiquiu, NM. Kodachrome 64 film, 1984.

A grave marker in Las Trampas, NM, inspired by an image of Ansel Adams.

*Grave marker, Las Trampas, on the High Road to Taos.*

The iconic New Mexico chile ristra wreath.

Chile ristra, displayed on a truck door, NM — *Chile ristra wreath, displayed on a truck door, NM.*

The iconic Saint Francis Church with mammatus clouds.

Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos. NM — *Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos. NM.*

In 1985, I visited Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park for the first time while driving back to California after spending the Christmas holidays in Taos. I captured the image below after waking up early, having arrived in the darkness the night before. Growing up in the UK, I had seen this landscape depicted in many westerns, but nothing could have prepared me for the awe-inspiring sight before me and the emotions it stirred within me.

And lastly, happy Valentine’s Day. “Streethearts”, Pasadena, California. Kodachrome 64, 1986,

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

Bald Eagle, Moonrise, Taos Pueblo. 02-04-2026.

Geraint February 4, 2026 1 Comment

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a bald eagle on a day out shooting along the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, a moonrise from our field, and a few more images from my “New Mexico: First Impressions” series.

My friend John visited for a few days this week, so we decided to take a trip to Colorado and explore the Rio Grande in search of bird life. Although we spotted an otter, it was too elusive to capture a good image, so I don’t have a photo to share. We did see Mallards, Common Goldeneyes, and Common Mergansers. Red-tailed Hawks were abundant, and we were lucky enough to witness a Northern Harrier catch its prey right in front of us. Unfortunately, most of the wildlife, including wild horses and a herd of Pronghorn that I’m sure would have noticed us, were nowhere to be found. However, as we continued north along the Rio Grande, we were thrilled to spot a majestic bald eagle with the Rocky Mountains as a stunning backdrop. We knew the potential for spotting a Bald Eagle was good, as this is their domain, but we were still amazed when we saw it in this location with this backdrop.

Bald eagle, Colorado — Bald Eagle, Colorado.

Eagle, in cottonwood, southern Colorado — Closer.

Common Goldeneye ducks, landing, Rio Grande, Colorado — Common Goldeneye ducks landing, Rio Grande, Colorado.

The full Snow Moon.

Three more from my “New Mexico: First Impressions” series.

“In Thanksgiving week 1984, I made my first of many trips to New Mexico. On this occasion, five of us friends set out on a foggy morning from Santa Fe and made our way north on the high road to Taos. The sites and sounds on the streets of Santa Fe soon opened up to the immense vistas of mesas, and beyond to the Taos Volcanic Plateau.

“We passed through the village of Chimayo, climbing the hill to Truchas (Spanish for Trout). Rapidly gaining elevation, the landscape changed to pristine hills of ponderosa pines and rust-colored tones of scrub oak in the undergrowth. The vast square miles of pine trees in the Carson National Forrest were punctuated by the bare, white highlights of lanky aspen. Through the misty veil of condensation on the window, we were afforded more than a subtle hint of what autumn in the high country of New Mexico might have looked like one month earlier.

“Leaving Truchas for Penasco, the fog set in. The temperature dropped in the sparsely populated, mountain communities of Las Trampas and Picuris. The colder air outside the car became magically enhanced by the aroma of piñon and juniper burning in the fireplaces of scattered homes. At this very moment… sometimes you just know it, the mystery of things unknown and northern New Mexico took a very palpable hold on me.

“Not more than four years later, in the spring of 1988 that hold tightened and I moved to a small adobe building, with two fireplaces, in Talpa, NM, and began stockpiling five cords of wood for what promised to be a cold winter that year… See More

Church cross, Taos Pueblo, 1984 — Church cross, Taos Pueblo, 1985.

Taos Pueblo, 1984 — Taos Pueblo, South House, 1984.

Apologies for the wrong date on last week’s post.

As. always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

New Mexico, First Impressions. 01-28-2026

Geraint January 28, 2026 4 Comments

Greetings from New Mexico. This week, I’m continuing with images from my New Mexico, First Impressions series.

I hope you enjoy traveling back in time with me. While some things have changed, dirt roads have been paved, some buildings have been replaced with box stores, and open fields and wetlands have given way to neighborhood apartment blocks—many iconic locations remain. For that, I am grateful.

San Lorenzo Mission Church, Picuris. This original structure was replicated in the early 1990‘s.

San Lorenzo, Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico. — San Lorenzo Mission Church, Picuris.

Abiquiu Morada, Thanksgiving, 1984.

Abiquiu Morada, late summer, 1985.

Chile ristras, Chimayo, NM

A chile ristra is a string (or braid) of whole chile pods—traditionally New Mexico red chiles—tied together and hung up to dry. You’ll see them draped over doorways, portals, porch beams, or kitchen walls all across New Mexico. They’re food, folk art, and regional identity all rolled into one.

Koshare doll/artwork/sculpture in the window of a Santa Fe Art Gallery, 1984.

Koshare doll in a Santa Fe Art Gallery — Koshare doll.

Taos Pueblo snowfall, thanksgiving, 1984.

San Geronimo Church, Taos Pueblo, 1985

Taos Pueblo blowing snow, 1987

And one this week taken from the kitchen window. I love the view we have and feel very fortunate.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

Galisteo, NM, Flashback, 1986. 01-21-2026

Geraint January 21, 2026 2 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a flashback to the village of Galisteo shot on 4×5 film, 1986, the Rio Grande Gorge, and a quick cellphone shot of the northern lights from our village.

House and fence shot on 4×5 film, Galisteo, NM 1986.

Gateway, with bell, Galisteo, 1986.

Taos mountains and gorge rocks — Taos Mountains and Rio Grande Gorge rocks.

Taos mountain from the Rio Grande Gorge — Taos Pueblo Mountain from the Rio Grande Gorge.

The northern lights and the little chapel from our village of San Cristobal. Not as impressive a display as previous auroras, but I liked the way the ambient light illuminated La Capella, setting off against the sky.

Over the next few week’s I’ll be posting more scanned images from approximately 40 years ago, taken on multiple trips to the Land of Enchantment during the 1980s, that I call “New Mexico, First Impressions“.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

Pueblo Peak, Buddha, Flicker, Moon. 01-14-2026.

Geraint January 14, 2026 2 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week’s photos include Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak), before the foot of snow, Buddha in the garden after the snow, a northern Flicker in the old cottonwood, and a crescent moon.

I hope everyone had a good week. We enjoyed a weekend of snow. Now it’s back to sunny days and walks with the dogs in the snowy woods.

Our Buddha statue is always the first to melt the snow and ice in its little corner in the garden.

Garden buddha — Buddha in the garden, San Cristobal.

Here’s our other statue, one of my popular images in my print gallery.

A northern flicker was busy burying seeds and whatever it had in the cottonwood tree. When I pulled into the driveway a couple of days later, my eyes witnessed an opportunistic magpie harvesting its stashes.

Waiting until the crescent moon showed up. What a nice surprise!

Crescent Moon, Clouds — Crescent Moon, through an opening in the clouds.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

Wolf Moon Rising, 01-07-2026

Geraint January 7, 2026 No Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. Happy New Year! The first pictures of the new year, the first full moon of the year, the Wolf Moon, which is also known as “Canada Goose Moon”, “Greetings Moon”, and a favorite of mine, “Frost Exploding Moon”.

This year, I shot the moon rising from our driveway in order to avoid the big juniper trees on the property. It was a magnificent sight to behold.

When it first appeared behind the Sangre de Cristo foothills.

Wolf moon rising over the foothills — Rising over the foothills

The sunlight on the clouds disappeared fast.

Moon rise SC — Moonrise over the foothills, San Cristobal.

Here’s a post of the wolf moon rising and setting in January 2021 on a photo shoot with my friend John W.

The Super-Wolf Moon eclipse, in the crystal clear skies, San Cristobal, New Mexico, in 2019.

And a favorite photo of mine from 2022.

sangre de cristos — Over the Rocky Mountains.

Here’s more on the moons and their names throughout the year.

I hope you saw it from where you are.

If you’re interested in joining me on a photo adventure this year, I’m booking dates now through the end of the year and beyond.

As always, thanks for looking. It’s a great pleasure for me to share my work with you, and I’m honored to have you join me.

So Many Questions? 12-31-2025.

Geraint December 31, 2025 10 Comments

Happy New Year from Taos, NM. So many questions? I’m still waiting for the answers. Maybe next week there will be an answer. The random chair was a bonus with the ever-changing billboard, Taos, New Mexico.

And just around the corner, a random couch for free.

Ranch hands west of the gorge, Taos.

This picture, taken last week, evokes memories of my first time traveling on the High Road to Taos in 1984.

Las Trampas church on the High Road to Taos — Las Trampas Church on the High Road to Taos.

Also on the High Road to Taos, the church in Llano San Juan. I’ve been wanting to catch an image like this one! Three sunstars. I first caught one star burst, then two, and, waiting for the sun to rise ever so slightly, caught the third. The trinity. Here’s a photograph of the same church by FSA photographer Russell Lee.

As always, thanks for looking. Thank you for another good year. Have a happy New Year. G

Happy Holidays. 12-24-2025

Geraint December 24, 2025 6 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. May our days be filled with happiness, love, and laughter as we celebrate with family and friends. Happy Holidays!

Thank you for a great year. Thanks for joining me here, for your support and friendship, and for joining me on one of my photo tour workshops. I hope everyone has a wonderful time. See you next week. G

Cormorants, Mountains, Wild Horse, Bisti. 12-17-2025.

Geraint December 17, 2025 4 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, cormorants roosting along the Rio Chama near Abiquiu, Taos Mountain, a favorite wild horse photo, and the Bisti Badlands near Chaco Canyon.

Twelve years ago, I created the piece below titled “Leaving the Roost.” Unfortunately, the original piece disappeared, so I spent an hour locating the original individual shots to recreate it. The piece measures 80″x80″ and is now ready to be sent to the printer. I particularly enjoy the ‘wild’ panorama stitching that follows the shape of the old cottonwood and how many cormorants utilize this tree. This one is for you, Larry H.

Cormorants Roosting, Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM — Cormorants leaving the roost along the Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM

Clearing storm, on the mountain.

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness near Chaco Canyon. Over the years, I’ve spent many months camping in this area. I think my first camping trip here was in 1989, when it was a wilderness study area. Here’s a petrified tree stump. Click on the photo to enlarge.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

Let me know if you want to go to the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness.

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is a designated wilderness area located in northwestern New Mexico, known for its unique and otherworldly landscape. This area is part of the larger San Juan Basin and is characterized by its striking badlands, which feature a variety of unusual geological formations.

Here are some key features of the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness:

Hoodoos and Rock Formations: The wilderness is famous for its hoodoos—tall, thin spires of rock that protrude from the bottom of arid basins. These formations are created through the erosion of softer sedimentary rocks, leaving behind the harder rock formations.
Fossils: The area is rich in fossils, particularly from the Late Cretaceous period. Visitors can find petrified wood and fossils of ancient plants and animals, offering a glimpse into the region’s prehistoric past.
Colorful Landscape: The badlands are known for their vibrant colors, with layers of sedimentary rock displaying shades of red, orange, yellow, and gray. This colorful landscape is especially striking during sunrise and sunset.
Remote and Undeveloped: As a designated wilderness area, Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah is largely undeveloped and offers a sense of solitude and tranquility. There are no established trails or facilities, making it a destination for those seeking a more rugged and natural experience.
Photography and Exploration: The unique geological features and dramatic landscapes make Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah a popular destination for photographers and outdoor enthusiasts. The area provides ample opportunities for exploration and discovery.

Visitors to Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness should be prepared for a remote and challenging environment. It’s important to bring sufficient water, navigation tools, and be mindful of Leave No Trace principles to preserve the area’s natural beauty.

Stunning Lenticular Clouds. 12-10-2025.

Geraint December 10, 2025 10 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, lenticular clouds, and this seems to be the season. Although these clouds can appear throughout the year, they are particularly abundant right now. Their stunning, lens-like shapes add a touch of magic to the already breathtaking landscape, making this time of year truly special.

Enjoy! And click on the image to enlarge.

Lenticular clouds San Cristobal — From our deck in San Cristobal.

San Cristobal — Moments before the following photo.

Lenticular clouds — From the deck in San Cristobal.

Click on the image below for a full panorama of the total event. I was driving home from Santa Fe when this happened. I believe it was visible across the entire state.

Taos Pueblo Peak lenticular clouds. — Taos Pueblo Peak, from the deck.

Taos mountains moonrise — Mountain Moonrise.

Lenticular clouds with Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds that look like ocean waves are forming.

Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds look like ocean waves — From the garden wall to the Jemez Mountains.

Lenticular clouds are lens-shaped clouds that typically form at high altitudes, often in perpendicular alignment to the wind direction. They are scientifically known as “altocumulus lenticularis” and are most commonly found in mountainous regions. These clouds form when stable, moist air flows over a mountain or a range of mountains, creating a series of oscillating waves. If the temperature at the crest of these waves drops to the dew point, moisture in the air condenses to form clouds.

Lenticular clouds are known for their distinctive, smooth, and often saucer-like appearance, which can sometimes be mistaken for UFOs. They are stationary, meaning they don’t move with the wind like other clouds, but instead remain fixed in position while the air flows through them.

These clouds can indicate turbulence for aircraft, as the wave patterns that create them can also produce strong updrafts and downdrafts. Despite this, they are often admired for their striking and unusual appearance, making them a popular subject for photographers and cloud enthusiasts.

Click here for more on these clouds from Earthsky.

Looking north from the New Mexico/Colorado state line.

As always, thanks for looking and all the comments, compliments, and emails. Have a great week. G