Rough-Legged Hawk, Monte Vista Wild Life Refuge

Geraint January 27, 2019 No Comments

Rough-legged Hawk, yesterday at the Monte Vista Wild Life Refuge, southern Colorado. Was it ever cold yesterday. It didn’t seem to bother this raptor. Apparently it was also unperturbed by us. The bird sat on this post long after we left. It was a battle of wits. Once it lifted off and alighted on the next power pole, stretched it’s wings, settled back in, rotating it’s head, ignoring us just a few feet below in the snow. Thoroughly bored with us. We felt the vibe. Yesterdays count was a Golden Eagle, a Bald Eagle, and Swainson’s Hawk, a Northern Harrier, a Red-tailed Hawk, two of these Rough-legged Hawk beauties and a Coyote. Later on the drive home a large flock of Canada Geese, heading south, wheeled over the highway and head east towards the mountains. Despite the cold it was a gorgeous sunny day. I love my job. Join me on a winter photo tour! As always thanks for looking. G

Catholic Church, San Luis, Colorado, Built 1886

Geraint January 26, 2019 2 Comments

Catholic Church in the oldest town of San Luis, Colorado. The church has a date of 1886. Compared to a European time frame, not that old. There are folks here in the valley who know, in recent history, their descendent’s that built this church. There’s something about the history of the west that draws me more and more to this place. Thanks for looking. G

Taos Mountain In A Different Light

Geraint January 23, 2019 No Comments

Taos Mountain in a different light, with snow and clouds smoldering on the mountain. Our mountain always presents itself in a different light. A light that seems to improve on itself from the previous viewing. It amazes every time. This image is two days away from yesterday’s image. Thanks for looking. G

Cottonwood Shadows, Taos Mountain

Geraint January 22, 2019 No Comments

Cottonwood shadows, Taos Mountain, from El Prado, NM. Another stop on the way home from the grocery store in Taos. These fields, whether winter, spring, summer, or fall, isolate and enhance our beautiful Taos Mountain. Taking time out to watch the shadows lengthen and reach out towards the mountains, draw me closer to the source of energy we sense in the valley. Thanks for looking. G

Pueblo Peak, Taos Mountain Moonrise

Geraint January 19, 2019 1 Comment

Pueblo Peak, (Taos Mountain) moon rise this evening from US Highway 64. Pull over really quickly at a turnout when the tip of the moon crested the peak. This monthly moment draws people out to watch. Many people pull over to the side of the road and just watch. I’m grateful for this moment every month. If you scroll back through my archives for each month you will see how often I show up and attend this event. It is the timepiece of my life. Thanks for looking. G

Mountain Bluebird Of Happiness

Geraint January 18, 2019 4 Comments

Mountain Bluebird of happiness in the snow covered Ranchos de Taos valley today. This gorgeous, happy little creature was hopping along the fence and tree line paralleling the road we were on. We slowed down and came to a stop where this bird playfully dropped to the verge for a snack, then back up to the fence for a few photos, repeating this playful behavior a few times, with more photos at each break. Today, I believe, we watched happiness in action. Thanks for looking. G

Shepherd On The Range, Southern Colorado

Geraint January 16, 2019 2 Comments

Modern day shepherd on the range in Southern Colorado. Camo snow gear, thick gloves, high tech snow boots, a beautiful palomino and that’s his home on the range in the left rear. The sheep and a few goats look very healthy and winter weather resistant. Temperatures dropped to 14 degrees at 4:30pm yesterday. Today was another cold day in the valley. The shepherd and his sheep were heading north right down the middle of the road. I turned off the engine, sat and watched the show. It’s slow moving but they get there eventually. Thanks for looking. G

Snow Day Photo Tour, San Luis Valley

Geraint January 15, 2019 No Comments

Snow day photo tour in the San Luis Valley. A wonderful trip around one of my most favorite places on earth, with two wonderful photographers, at one of my favorite locations. Deep snow trudging! Hawks, wild horses, frozen lakes and rivers; snow capped high peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains with pristine light for image making. Thanks for looking. G

Monolithic Hay Bales, Jaroso, Colorado

Geraint January 14, 2019 No Comments

Monolithic hay bale structures, scattered across the landscape in the San Luis Valley, like medieval fortifications and moat-less castles standing defiant, besieged by an onslaught of snow. This was the first stop on our photo trip in and around Jaroso, Colorado. I’ll be heading back up there again tomorrow, on another photo tour, in search of more landscape images. We may encounter eagles, hawks, wild mustangs and who knows what other wonders we’ll find. Thanks for looking. G

Horned Lark, San Luis Valley

Geraint January 13, 2019 2 Comments

Horned Lark on another photography adventure in the San Luis Valley, Colorado yesterday. Vast expanses of white and white-out with blizzard conditions at times. Two bald eagles, a Zone-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, numerous Red-tailed Hawks, a large flocks of Ravens, Crows, and Magpies along with thousands of these Horned Larks in huge flocks, foraging around the edge of the fields. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Winter