High Country, Old Corral
High Country, Old Corral. I always like to stop here on trips to the Valle Vidal. To contemplate the past and to wonder about those who used this corral in it’s heyday. Today the lichen creeps along the containment rails and posts. It hasn’t corralled any cattle for many years. The cattle now roam freely on the surrounding hills. Thanks for looking. G
Rio Costilla Creek, New Mexico
Rio Costilla Creek, Rio Costilla Park, New Mexico. Had a fun time photographing along the Rio Costilla on a three day photo tour last week on our way through to the Valle Vidal. The river was running with gusto so we had lots of photo ops. I made this image on my iPhone. Thanks for looking. G
Four Corners Photo Tour Shiprock, NM
Four Corners photo tour/workshop at Shiprock, NM. Landscape, architecture, people and culture photography tour and workshop in the four corners area of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Yes it was five days of fun camaraderie, great locations and image making. Thanks for looking. G
Shadows At The Saint Francis Church
Shadows at the Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos. Stopped in here at the Ranchos Plaza on a photo tour yesterday and had a little fun with the cell phone. Thanks for looking. G
White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly, Arizona
White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona. When returning from a prolific image making trip, I like to wait some time before reviewing the photos. I like the feelings, sights, sounds and scents from the locations visited to sink in, to take hold. The image, often times upon review, will reflect those feelings back to me. I think that is the reason I can remember almost every picture I’ve made.
Tomorrow I will post another image from Canyon de Chelly with a tender story, that will commit this place to my memory forever. As always, thanks for looking. G
Mural, Cortez, Colorado
Mural, and sky in Cortez, Colorado today. A striking mural in Cortez, after lunch on the road to Chaco Canyon. We had snow, hail and rain this morning in Mesa Verde, followed by gorgeous skies and a beautiful evening at Shiprock. Those photos will be forthcoming. Thanks for looking. G
1949 Buick Super Eight Bluff, Utah
1949 Buick Super Eight in Bluff, Utah. Nice and wet this morning in Bluff. The rain made the colors, and in this case, the toned image pop. I first photographed this old “three hole” in 1985. It’s fairing nicely. The windows are still intact and the chrome is glowing. Onward to Moab, Arches and Mesa Verde. Thanks for looking. G
Canyon de Chelly Photo Tour
Canyon de Chelly Photo Tour. We were inspired today by our Navajo guide, Ben, on our tour in Canyon de Chelly, to Spider Rock. The changes in light, shapes and form in the canyon, and Ben’s expert guiding made us want to jump out at every opportunity. Ourselves, having been inspired by Edward S. Curtiss for many years, we wanted to see the location of his famed Canyon de Chelly image of riders on horseback. Today the valley floor is filled with large cottonwood trees, invasive Tamarisk and Russian Olive trees, and although the rock faces are still discernible, the view has changed and is almost unrecognizable otherwise. This view above is the closest I came, to the indescribable vastness and enchanting beauty of Canyon de Chelly. Thanks for looking. G
GMC Truck Cab Shadows
GMC truck cab shadows, in El Prado New Mexico. Over the years, these trucks have provided loads of photo ops for many photographers and there’s always a new angle if one looks for it. Sadly their demise has been advanced by the proliferation of bombardments of rocks. Still… it will make for plenty more photo ops. The hornets are guaranteed a home for many years more. Thanks for looking. G
Spring Photo Tours/Workshops
Spring Photo Tours/Workshops. I just completed more than a dozen trips with photographers, sharing with them the locations I know and love. It has been a great pleasure working with so many photographers with varied, personal visions, on composition and lighting, in landscapes, nature, architecture and an occasional portrait. Below are images of a few of my guests.
Southern Colorado Photo Tour
Abiquiu and Rio Chama Photo Tour
Three Day Grand Tour/Sites of Taos
Three Day Grand Tour/Sites of Taos with Rainbows over the Taos Valley
On the road in Ocate New Mexico, during the Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
On the road in (literally) in Abiquiu, New Mexico, during the Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
At the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
At the old trucks in El Prado. Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
Group photo at the old trucks in El Prado. Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
Next, I am hitting the road on a photo road trip with two photographers to Eastern Arizona, SE Utah, and the four corners area of New Mexico.
If you would like to sign up for dates from now through summer and fall please visit my photo tour page and drop me a line: geraint@geraintsmith.com or call: 505-501-4880. And… please remember it’s never too early to sign up for winter and next years dates when you may be thinking of visiting. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you in New Mexico and southern Colorado.
Thank you to all my new photographer friends who have joined me on a photo tour/workshop. Geraint
Holman Presbyterian Mission “Chapel School”
Holman Presbyterian Mission Chapel School. So I thought I’d share this image, the feature of the last couple of days images, in it’s fabulous state of decay on the road to Mora New Mexico. I’ve been visiting here for years and it’s plain to see the rapid changes that occur when the locations are left to the elements and nature has its way with them. Thanks for looking. G
Here is an historical image of this location and other missions in New Mexico and southern Colorado. This building in in the fifth segment down PDF Download
Inside, Outside, Holman, New Mexico
Inside, Outside. Presbyterian Mission Window, Holman, New Mexico. The view from inside looking out of the window in yesterdays image. Thanks for looking. G
Morning Bobcat, Bosque Del Apache
Morning Bobcat, Bosque Del Apache, San Antonio, New Mexico. This cat has nothing to say or do at this moment. Sit, wait, warm up, wait for the guys with the cameras to get lost. Wait some more, then mosey off into the bushes. Then we left. Flash back to last December with my good friend Jon. Thanks for looking. G
Under the Cottonwoods, Abiquiu, NM
Under the cottonwoods, Abiquiu, NM. This International truck has been parked in this location for a number of years. Drove by there on a photo tour last week and it was gone, possibly sold. I made this image on a photo tour in February. I superimposed three images from that location to get this look, the truck overlaid in a shot of its own rust and patina and a third of the trees above. Thanks for looking. G
Georgia O’Keeffe Country, New Mexico
Georgia O’Keeffe Country, Abiquiu, and Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. I just finished a fabulous three day photo tour and workshop with a photographer from Columbus, Ohio. We spent time on the road around Taos, the High Road, Abiquiu and Georgia O’Keefe country, followed by a day in southern Colorado. The weather totally cooperated and the image making opportunities were stunning. Thanks for looking. G
Photo Tours In Abiquiu, Rio Grande Gorge, Southern Colorado
Winter photo tour clients on photo tours in Abiquiu, the Rio Grande Gorge, and southern Colorado.
Andy Wilson on a three day Abiquiu and the Rio Chama valley tour
Chris on the Red Rock tour in Georgia O’Keeffe country around Abiquiu and the Rio Chama Valley.
Mike working with moving water on the Rio Pueblo.
John on a southern Colorado winter photo tour of abandoned spaces and winter landscapes.
Just a few of the hundred or so wild horses we photographed on a wild horse photo tour in southern Colorado last month. The young foal was born a couple of days before.