Tag: Northern New Mexico

San Cristobal Valley, Winter, Ranchos de Taos. 01-18-2023

Geraint January 18, 2023 18 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal Valley. Winter is beginning to settle in, with temperatures dropping to single digits and a decent amount of snow. Not at all the amount we are used to, but we’ll take it.

Last week, on my way home, I just had to pull over to watch the shadows move through our valley. Ten years ago, I shot this same scene. It became the centerpiece in our galley and home and has been a best seller since then. I don’t think I could ever top it though I keep trying. As you can see, the foreground is overgrown, with the meadow obscured.

San Cristobal valley cottonwoods — San Cristobal Valley.

Here is the same view, one of my iconic images from ten years ago. Here is the same location in fall 2020.

San Cristobal valley cottonwoods, and aspens — San Cristobal Valley cottonwoods, and aspens

That cottonwood and willows in Arroyo Hondo, I can’t seem to pass this spot without making an image.

Arroyo Hondo cottonwood, willows. — Arroyo Hondo cottonwood and willows.

Early one morning this week I went south to the adobe mission church of Saint Francis in Ranchos de Taos. This iconic building always looks good with accents of snow and a dramatic sky. One important feature of this image… I arrived in time to get a photo before the parking area filled with cars.

Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos, NM.

Below is an image from December 2010 on the road that connects the villages of Arroyo Hondo and Arroyo Seco. When I had my gallery in Arroyo Seco I drove this route most days. It’s a sweet country road with close-up views of the surrounding mountains. It is an especially beautiful, and magical drive when the hoar frost covers the trees and landscape.

Hondo, Seco Road, New Mexico — Arroyo Hondo, Arroyo Seco Road, New Mexico

If you plan to visit New Mexico this year and have a desire to improve your photographic skills, and see locations off the beaten track, look me up and consider a photography tour/workshop. I’ll look forward to meeting and working with you in some of my favorite places in the area.

As always, thank you for looking. G

Photo Shoot, Tres Estrellas Design, Taos. 12-15-22

Geraint December 14, 2022 14 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal. This week I want to share a few images created for Tres Estrellas Design, Taos. These images are from an ongoing project for their ad campaign. You may recall previous posts over the past few years. In this shoot, we worked with Lyle Wright, a Taos Pueblo artisan, model, and all-around good guy.

I planned to post images from this shoot a couple of months ago. As you know, I’ve been busy with three exhibitions, so this post was on hold. I hope these images give you a glimpse of some of the fun, creative work I get to do. I love my job.

My friends Chris and Carla have one of the most beautiful ranches out at Black Lake, NM. It makes my job fun and dare I say easy in such a great setting.

The serape that Lyle is wearing is a “Navajo Late Classic Serape” raveled and hand-spun yarns circa the 1870s. It is in pristine condition and makes a powerful statement and testament to the skills and craftsmanship 150+ years later.

Tres Estrellas Design, Black Lake photoshoot.

Tres Estrellas Design, Black Lake photoshoot with Lyle Wright — Black Lake photoshoot with Lyle Wright.

There were also moments of levity and laughter, between takes as you can see in the following shot. Lyle and Chris review a video moment on the iPhone.

Chris Ferguson and Lyle Wright — Chris Ferguson owner Tres Estrellas Design with model Lyle Wright.

As always, I thank you for looking, and for all the comments and compliments. Thank you. G

Taos Mountain: In a different light. 11-30-22

Geraint November 30, 2022 4 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM

Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak) has many moods. I’ve had the honor and the great pleasure of being a witness to some of the best of the mountain’s moments. Moments that thrill us all in this place we call home.

Take a look at the many moods of Taos Mountain. Click to enlarge.

Taos Valley with the Sangre de Cristo mountains — Taos Valley with sunset on .the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

The Wright Contemporary – Taos

Join me this Friday December 2, 2022 – Opening at The Wright Contemporary Gallery.

“Photography in B&W”

Cerro Shadows, Cerro NM – 6.5″ x 6.5″ framed, one of ten images in the show.

December 2, 2022–January 15, 2022

Opening Friday 5-7pm at Wright Contemporary Taos, I’ll be participating in a group show titled “Photography in B&W”

The Wright Contemporary is located at 627 Paseo del Pueblo Sur Taos, NM 87571 575-224-0530

I look forward to seeing you there.

PHOTO TOUR/WORKSHOPS

I’m booking dates from now through the end of next year for private one to one photo tours and workshops. Join me here in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado and beyond. I look for to showing you around this corner of our beautiful planet.

photo_tour_clients_ — Photographers on location in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

GIFT CERTIFICATES

Gift certificates can be applied to photo tour/workshops, prints, and editing tuition.

BOOKS

I just received a new shipment of my book, Rio Grande del Norte: An Intimate Portrait. It makes a great gift for family and friends who love northern New Mexico.

As always, thanks for visiting and looking.

Geraint

Lunar Eclipse, Taos Mountains, Snow. 11-09-22

Geraint November 9, 2022 25 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. This week I got up to watch the lunar eclipse. I hadn’t intended to photograph it. I’ve shot it so many times before. When I looked out the window I couldn’t resist. The sky was crystal clear, and the stars were genuinely twinkling. The “cold-hearted orb” wasn’t. It warmed up the night sky and I felt it. I got the camera set up in the front doorway, out of the cold and wind, and began shooting. The most significant impact it had on Pami and me was how three-dimensional it appeared suspended amongst the stars. It was another wonderful, lunar eclipse-watching night. I can honestly say that I will continue to get up to watch future eclipses from now on.

Click on images to enlarge and view individually.

Total lunar eclipse moon — Lunar eclipse, totality, from our front door, San Cristobal, NM

The day before the eclipse our moon rose unblemished in clear skies, visible out the dining room window, although I did go outside for this shot.

New snow in our mountains last week.

Significant snowfall on Taos Mountains — Snowfall on Pueblo Peak, Taos Mountain in El Prado, Taos, NM

Snowfall on Pueblo Peak, Taos Mountain in El Prado — Snowfall on Pueblo Peak, Taos Mountain shot on iPhone 13 Pro Max

I had originally considered driving south to the Taos tipis for a shot. I thought of a composite instead. This is what I came up with. Here’s the image with the tipis and lunar eclipse from April 2015

As always, thank you for looking. G

Ghost Ranch, Rio Chama, Snow. 10-26-22

Geraint October 26, 2022 16 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM, and beyond. We went to Abiquiu, Ghost Ranch, and the Rio Chama this week. We had the most changeable weather I’ve ever experienced in one eight-hour day.

If you’ve watched the movie “Silverado“ you’ll recognize this location in one of the earlier scenes. The four main characters come galloping across this landscape with a backdrop of spectacular lighting. If you haven’t seen the movie join me on a photo tour/workshop and I’ll take you out this way. On this day we were on an outing with friends Ron and Monica. It snowed, rained, and hailed with intermittent blue skies and sunshine, making for some dramatic images.

Returning home from Ghost Ranch we pulled over for a second time during the day. We watched it snow over the hills and Rio Chama as it winds and decides its way through to Abiquiu. The colors were astounding and the moisture made the air come alive.

Rio Chama Overlook — The Rio Chama overlook with colorful cottonwoods.

My solo exhibition at Bareiss Gallery here in Taos continues through October 31, 2022. The gallery will be open 9 – 2 pm on weekdays. I’ll be there on Saturday, October 29, or by appointment. Come and visit. It will be great to meet you. If you purchased a piece of work in the show, thank you so much and please come by on Sunday, October 30, or Monday, October 31 to pick it up your new acquisition.

Bareiss Gallery is located at:
15 State Rd 150 Taos, NM
575-776-2284

As always thank you for looking. G

Cottonwoods, Arroyo Hondo, Taos Valley 10-19-22

Geraint October 19, 2022 18 Comments

Greetings from the beautiful San Cristobal Valley, Arroyo Hondo and Taos. The valleys are currently adorned with the colors of cottonwoods, and multiple hues of reds and golds.

Last weekend, we had rain that made the colors pop against the dark rain-laden clouds over Pueblo Peak, (Taos Mountain).

Last weekend, we had lots of rain that made the colors pop against the dark, rain-laden clouds over Pueblo Peak (Taos Mountain). This first image is from El Prado (the meadows), one of my favorite views of Pueblo Peak with a dramatic sky overhead. The cottonwoods here are more silver of bare branches interspersed with swatches of yellow and gold.

After a trip to the grocery store, this was the scene that caused me to pull over. The sky and the shadows moving swiftly across the meadows brought the place to life following a day of grey, overcast skies.

Taos Mountain cottonwoods — Pueblo Peak, (Taos Mountain) with cottonwoods in the late afternoon light.

The second image is of my favorite cottonwood in Arroyo Hondo. I was on a photo tour with Bob and Anne. We captured this view as the sun broke from behind a cloud. Within a few minutes, it was shrouded in shadow again. It made a fitting end to a great day with my guests.

Arroyo Hondo Cottonwood — Arroyo Hondo cottonwood is spotlighted by evening sunlight.

It’s fall and temperatures are dropping as New Mexico takes a magic carpet ride into the throes of winter. The aspens and cottonwoods shroud the landscape in a cape of gold, glowing against the blue skies in the pristine light. At this time of year, the night skies are crystal clear. The moon, constellations, galaxies, and milky way light up the night sky like few other places on earth. Join me on a photo tour or private workshop of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

Continuing Exhibit.

“Those who came before” at Bareiss Gallery Taos – 40″x38″ Sold

My solo exhibition at Bareiss Gallery here in Taos continues through October 31, 2022. The gallery will be open 9 – 2 pm on weekdays. I’ll be there on Saturday, October 22, and Saturday, October 29, or by appointment. Come and visit. It will be great to meet you. G

Bareiss Gallery is located at:
15 State Rd 150 Taos, NM
575-776-2284

As always thank you for looking. G

Autumn in New Mexico, Eloquence of Silence. 10-12-22

Geraint October 12, 2022 8 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. Autumn colors and clouds reflecting in Hopewell Lake and two images from my solo exhibit at Bareiss Gallery. My show is up until October 31, 2022. So far, visitors, sales, and many new collectors have made the show very successful. Thank you to all who came out, I am honored and grateful.

Click on an image to enlarge it.

The cottonwoods were peaking when we took a short walk along the lake shore.
I’m on a photo tour/workshop this week and we’ve seen some color changes on a grand scale. Hopewell Lake on Highway 64 is a go-to location, and if I go nowhere else in the fall I’ll be happy.

Cottonwood colors northern NM — Cottonwood colors Hopewell Lake, northern NM

Two images from my show titled “The Eloquence of Silence, #1 and #2” I would welcome the opportunity to share my exhibit and new work with you. I’ll be in the gallery Saturday from 11 am -5 pm. I look forward to meeting you.

Photograph Eloquence of Silence #2 — Eloquence of Silence #2

Silence has an eloquence surpassing that of speech; creating a space in which the heart’s thoughts can resound, and deeply-felt emotion can echo with a voice profound in another’s heart, that listens in the silence. (Howard Owen Smith – My Dad).

These two images work very well together as a pair.

My solo exhibition at Bareiss Gallery here in Taos continues through October 31, 2022. The gallery will be open 9 – 2 pm on weekdays. I’ll be there on Saturdays and by appointment. Come and visit. It will be great to meet you. G

Bareiss Gallery is located at:
15 State Rd 150 Taos, NM
575-776-2284

As always thank you for looking. G

“Have a Seat” Bareiss Gallery, Taos.

Geraint October 5, 2022 7 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, New Mexico.

Friday is the day for the opening of my solo exhibit, “Have a Seat”. You’ll see what it’s all about if you are able to attend the opening or visit the exhibition during the month of October in Taos.

Below is one of the prints in the show. My photography is combined with my sculpture to create a show where the chair is the conversation.

Geraint Smith at Bareiss Gallery Taos — “One in the Aspens”

Artist Statement

“Have A Seat” – Bareiss Gallery

What you see before you is the confluence of my life experiences where I have explored relationships, the search, and the desire for connection. Photography, carpentry, design, writing, and sculpting have led me to this place. This work is the exuberant expression of a eureka moment, and there have been many such moments with their outward manifestation of inner joy, conflict, passion, and peace.

Life is a conversation. Chairs often facilitate that conversation. A chair is where people sit, gather around a table to discuss and resolve conflicts, share a meal, and debate views and values. We sit in chairs to be entertained. We stand on chairs to reach things when a ladder would be much safer. A chair represents a place to rest and experience a relaxing moment; to read a book, enjoy the view, catch one’s breath, or just do nothing and stare. A chair is where old friends reminisce, discuss life, and hold conversations.

In these new pieces, the chairs become the conversation. The chair is a constant, emotion-evoking icon.

Geraint Smith
San Cristobal, NM

October 7, 2022

Geraint Smith Exhibit at the Bareiss Galley Taos

If you are fortunate enough to be in Taos during October, join me at the Bareiss Gallery. Details above. I look forward to seeing you.

As always thank you for looking. G

Equinox, Wildflowers, Fine Art, New Mexico. 09-21-2022

Geraint September 21, 2022 24 Comments

A flashback photo you may remember from a rainy day in the high country of northern New Mexico.

Wildflowers for the equinox in the Valle Vidal, NM — Colors of Autumn in the high country, NM

Taos Artist Combo II Exhibit/Sale
11 Taos Artists/ 3 Days
Stables Gallery/Taos: Sept. 23-25, 11-5 pm
Photography, pastels, prints, and paintings, direct from the artists

*Frederick Aragon *Bill Davis *Audrey Davis
*Gene Gray *Sara Jean Gray *Celesa Lucien
*Rob Nightingale *Margery Readin
*George Schaub *Geraint Smith *Doug Yeager

Opening Reception: Friday,
September 23, 4-7 pm
The Stables Gallery is located at:
133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte Taos, NM 87571

Below are three of the many fine art prints I will be showing in the fall equinox show “Taos Artist Combo II Exhibit” at the Stables Gallery in Taos.

Fine art print Buffalo Eye — Fine art print, “Buffalo” American Bison

Shrine, Los Cerrillos — At the shrine in Los Cerrillos, NM

If you are fortunate to be in Taos during the above dates, I hope you will stop by the Stables Gallery to see all the work and say hello! I’ll look forward to seeing and meeting you.

As always, thank you for looking. G

Photography Workshop Highlights, 09-14-22

Geraint September 14, 2022 20 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. This week features a few images that highlight what we saw during a three-day photography workshop, this time with Scott a talented photographer from Houston. His enthusiasm inspired me. I think I inspired him.

Our last day was spent in the mountains. If you follow me or have taken a photography workshop with me you might recall this place, Comanche Point in the Valle Vidal, (Valley of Life). It’s looking a lot like fall up there. It won’t be long till the aspens turn color. In fact, it’s already begun.

We spent a couple of hours at our first stop in Ojo Caliente, working at this location and looking for an interesting composition. This is what I came up with on this trip. I look forward to seeing Scott’s interpretation. Here’s one from a visit last year.

Santa Cruz church, Ojo Caliente, NM — Church of Santa Cruz, Ojo Caliente, NM

The Rio Grande Gorge is home to many bighorn sheep. Every now and again a ram will pop up when you least expect it, and strike up a pose where you would want it. In this case up high against a blue New Mexico sky.

Bighorn Ram, Rio Grande Gorge, NM — Bighorn sheep ram, in The Orilla Verde RA, Rio Grande Gorge, NM

Close up Bighorn sheep Ram, Rio Grande Gorge, on a photography workshop in northern New Mexico. — Close up of bighorn sheep ram, in The Orilla Verde RA, Rio Grande Gorge, NM

Restoration, repairing, and mudding are underway at the San José de Las Trampas church on the high road to Taos. The doorway arch has been replicated to an early look. The big doors were closed for weather sealing which allowed me to shoot a new angle. Usually, the doors are staked open which often provides a nice framing element.

At first glance, the scaffolding looked interesting and I had an idea to make a documentary image. Then the sun came out from behind a cloud and added shadows to the scene. Fortuitous.

Restoration at the Las Trampas church on the high road to Taos — Restoration mudding at San José de las Trampas, NM

The partially closed doors created a different look at one of the belfries.

Las Trampas church on the high road to Taos — Through the big doors at the Las Trampas Church.

Closing this week’s post is the harvest moon, shot from the deck as it rose over our mountains.

Harvest Moon rise, San Cristobal, NM — Harvest Moon rising, San Cristobal, NM

As always, thanks for looking. G