Mountain Meadow Cottonwood, Taos NM
Mountain meadow cottonwood, Taos NM. Here is a tree, with an arrow on Highway 64 to get your attention in case you didn’t see it. We stopped here today to make some images of this young cottonwood. I’ve been watching it for the last week. Today, it was really glowing with the mountain meadow as a backdrop. This was the second stop on a two day mini photography workshop. I love what I do, I’m very fortunate and grateful. Thanks for looking. G
Cumbres And Toltec Steam Locomotive
Cumbres and Toltec steam locomotive, seconds before pulling out of the Antonito Depot in Colorado and heading to Chama with a full load of steam locomotive enthusiasts and tourists. I always love watching the engine build up steam and hearing the pulsating, throbbing sounds, whistles and bells. The people aboard wave and call out “hi!” and “bye!” as the train pulls out of the station and heads to the mountains and the Cumbres and Toltec Gorge. We take a more direct route on a photo tour to Chama NM. What a start to a day on the road in the aspens and mountain light. Thanks for looking. G
Moreno Valley Corral And Clouds
Moreno Valley corral and clouds northern New Mexico. We stopped at this delightful, dilapidated corral on the Enchanted Circle drive today in the Moreno Valley. We watched the shadows of clouds and the clouds over the mountain moving swiftly across the landscape. It was a good day to stop at a location where patience truly proved to be a virtue. Thanks for looking. G
Autumn Colors, Columbine Hondo Wilderness, NM
Autumn colors in the Columbine Hondo Wilderness. This is the view out the back door where we live in the mountain hamlet of San Cristobal, New Mexico. We’ll be heading out on some personal trips and multiple day photo tours over the next few weeks to photograph the Autumn colors of northern New Mexico. I still have a few days open if you would like to join me on a personalized photo tour or mini workshop to the areas where the colors are happening. Thanks for looking. G
Sangre De Cristo Foothills, Lama, NM
Sangre De Cristo foothills, near Lama, NM. We caught the end of the day’s light as the sun peeped out from a letterbox opening on the horizon. Besides the lighting, the landscape was looking very lush and a little bit tropical during this summer’s monsoons. Not to bad for an area that burned 22 years ago in the “Hondo Fire”. Thanks for looking. G
Rabbitbrush and Storm Cell
Rabbitbrush and storm cell, east of Tres Piedras, New Mexico. On a wonderful photo tour Labor Day weekend. I love my job. Thanks for looking. G
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