Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, New Mexico

Geraint June 20, 2020 8 Comments

Comanche Point, in the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest, New Mexico. We went to the mountains yesterday, to the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal. Spent a couple of hours at the ponds with all kinds of birds, Brewers and Red-winged Blackbirds, Mountain Bluebirds, Robins, Pine Siskins, and a couple of Mallards. Fish were jumping, both birds and fish feasting on an abundance of lace winged bugs. There were electric blue, gossamer winged dragonflies flitting around and two muskrats were chomping on pond salad. Temps dropped to 54° F and the fire smoke blowing in from Arizona was mostly nonexistent. Thanks for looking. G

Amalia, Rio Costilla Valley, New Mexico

Geraint October 14, 2019 No Comments

Amalia, in the Rio Costilla Valley, New Mexico. Last week’s photo tour found us surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in northern New Mexico. The road through the Rio Costilla Valley has many places to stop and make images. On last weeks tour we stopped every few hundred yards. For the first time in a long while, I filled up a 32 gig camera card. If you’re so inclined, I would love to have you join me on a photo tour. Thanks for looking. G

Costilla Creek, Rio Costilla Park, New Mexico

Geraint June 13, 2019 2 Comments

Costilla Creek, Rio Costilla Park, northern New Mexico. A beautiful day in the high country with two photographers. Morning in the San Luis Valley and an afternoon along Costilla Creek with rushing waters, alpine meadows of wild iris, mountain lakes and great company. Here’s a cell phone photo of Costilla Creek as it rushes headlong from the mountains, and into the Rio Grande. Thanks for looking. G

Rio Costilla Park, Northern New Mexico

Geraint June 4, 2019 2 Comments

Rio Costilla Park, Northern New Mexico. The Rio Costilla was flowing with gusto in the mountains yesterday. We caught the last light creeping up the rocks of the canyon walls, casting shadows and reflected light onto the river. If you get a chance to visit this area I highly recommend it. Or join me on a photo tour in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains this summer. Thanks for looking. G

Amalia, Northern New Mexico

Geraint May 23, 2019 2 Comments

Amalia, Northern New Mexico. On the road to the Valle Vidal we passed through the the village of Amalia in the Rio Costilla Valley. The clouds were playing chase, swirling in circles around the sun, casting intermittent, repeating shadow patterns across the landscape. It was fun for us to catch them too! Thanks for looking. G

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM

Geraint May 22, 2019 4 Comments

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM. On a photo tour today in the Valle Vidal (Valley of Life) at Comanche Point where the Rio Costilla and Comanche Creek meet. The temps were in the low 30’s F. and the windchill ten degrees colder. Flocks of Cowbirds, Mountain Bluebirds, and Robins were in abundance, impervious to the snow and cold. By noon the snow was gone. The wind eased up by mid afternoon as we photographed hawks, wild horses and old homesteads in the San Luis Valley. By the end of day 6oº F felt positively tropical. Thanks for looking. G

Osprey, Rio Costilla Park, NM

Geraint October 8, 2018 4 Comments

Osprey, Rio Costilla Park, northern NM. I’ve seen this bird here a couple of times over the last few weeks. Today it played tag with us on the Rio Costilla. At one point we lost sight of it. As we drove west, scrutinizing the cliffs, the high sun suddenly cast this raptors shadow onto the sun roof, across the hood and down the road ahead of us. The game was back on. When we caught sight of it again it had alighted on a snag, just off camera in this shot. Soon thereafter, something other than us grabbed it’s attention, which was when I made this image. Thank you so much for your attention. G

Rio Costilla Creek, New Mexico

Geraint June 17, 2018 2 Comments

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

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal

Geraint September 13, 2017 2 Comments

Comanche Point in the Valle Vidal (Valley of Life), New Mexico. Beautiful evening light in the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest at Comanche Point and the confluence of the Rio Costilla and Comanche Creek. Thank you for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Rio Costilla