Winter Light, Iconic Taos Truck

Geraint February 24, 2021 22 Comments

Last week we went out for dinner at a local restaurant. We haven’t been out for a sit-down meal in a long time, and were we ever glad we did! We had a good time and the food was fabulous. The restaurant is in a great location and the view from the dining room, was such, that I was prompted to get up and leave my meal for a few shots of that favorite GMC, the iconic Taos truck, parked in an adjacent field. The diffused sunlight on the scene gave the truck and landscape a warm rosy glow.

The camera in my pocket was my iPhone. I could have walked back to the parking lot to get my ‘other’ camera but I was afraid the light would have faded by the time I got back. Within a couple of minutes later I’d shot a dozen images and was heading back to my meal. The light was fleeting and as the saying goes, the best camera is the one you have on you.

The first image is when I approached the vehicle. You can see the distracting footprints in the foreground. In the two following images, I moved in closer. The truck dominates the composition and the tracks out front were probably made by a dog or coyote rather than clunky, human footprints.

The last image is a view you would have if you were sitting in the cab looking out. I wouldn’t recommend getting in the cab as it’s full of broken glass and in the summertime is home to a thriving nest of hornets.

GMC Truck Winter Taos, NM — GMC, iconic Taos truck in El Prado, winter light.

Old Taos Truck — GMC truck in winter light, with Taos Mountain.

GMC truck El Prado, Taos NM — Close up view of the truck’s fender and hood detail.

Taos Moutain Light — Winter light on Taos Mountain.

I’m heading out on a photo tour this weekend. Let’s see what I come up with. There’s also a full moon so I’ll be out photographing its latest appearance, weather permitting.

As always, thank you for looking.

Geraint

Snow Day, Snow Week

Geraint February 17, 2021 20 Comments

I hope you are enjoying winter. I know some of our neighbor states are getting weather they don’t normally experience. Stay safe and warm where you are. Here are some images from a trip around the extended neighborhood this week.

The first image may look familiar to many people as I stop here often in Arroyo Hondo on the drive to and from home and Taos.

Red Willows and cottonwood tree — Red Willows, Cottonwood Tree.

The sun came out on the way home today and the landscape looked pristine. Here’s my favorite “stretch gate” and farm road.

Stretch gate, Hondo Mesa — Stretch Gate, Farm Road

A stretch gate in San Cristobal on my morning walk yesterday.

Stretch gate San Cristobal — Gate and Snow, San Cristobal

Martina’s Hall, formally Old Martinez Hall directly west of the Saint Francis church in Ranchos de Taos, has some nice lines accented by the snow.

Martina's Hall Ranchos de Taos — Martina’s Hall, Ranchos de Taos.

The beautiful mission church of San Francisco de Asis in Ranchos de Taos.

A view of the church in a location I’ve not shot before. The morning sunlight breaking through the clouds caught my eye from highway 68 which runs through Ranchos de Taos.

In San Cristobal this morning our garden Buddha wore his full snow blanket. The snow is still coming down as I write. We are warm and cozy with the wood stove filling the room with a golden glow as well as heat. From the sofa we can watch the snow falling all around the valley.

Thanks for looking and have a great week. G

Things I’ve seen and done in the last couple of weeks.

Geraint February 10, 2021 10 Comments

I’m continually reviewing images from previous weeks and months. The following images are from the last couple of weeks. Some from the front field and some from trips out in the greater field. I’ve also included an image of my daughter pulled from way back in 2004 that I’ve re-worked for printing. And lastly, a little something from 2005 for this weekend’s happy hearts day.

I begin with the most recent from yesterday morning with this month’s waning moon rising over Taos Mountain.

Crescent moon rise over Taos Mountain — Crescent moon with earth shine rising over Taos Mountain from the field at our home in San Cristobal.

The following are a couple of images from a drive Pami and I did into the San Luis Valley the last time it snowed.

Snow field furrows Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado — Snow filled field furrows with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, taken near Jaroso, Colorado.

San Antonio Mountain clouds and snowy road in the San Luis Valley, Colorado.

Last week Chris Ferguson and I drove south to Carson, NM for a photoshoot on the Rio Grande Gorge Rim. We had some beautiful winter sunlight in the late afternoon to create another set of old west inspired images. Stay tuned for a few more from the last couple of these commercial shoots I’ve collaborated on with Chris, at Tres Estrellas.

Tres Estrellas photo shoot — Chris from Tres Estrellas. Photo shoot on the Rio Grande Gorge Rim, Carson New Mexico.

A rather dense sunset last week on the way home from the Cellar, our local bottle shop. Not the color of fine red wine as is often the case with the Sangre de Cristos. Despite the heaviness, this sunset got a lot of attention from locals judging by the number of posts on Facebook.

Vallecito Mountain sunset — Sunset, Vallecito Mountain, in the Sangre de Cristos.

My daughter, taken back in fall 2004 in Taos, New Mexico. If she could get into or under anything she would. I reworked this image in order to make a print I’ve wanted to hang.

“Leaf Girl” my daughter under a pile of leaves, fall 2004, Taos, NM.

And lastly, something appropriate for this weekend. Fly me to the moon in a valentine balloon.

Valentine balloon moon — Valentine Balloon, Moon.

As always, thank you for looking.

Geraint

Wolf Moon Rising, Setting, Northern New Mexico.

Geraint February 3, 2021 8 Comments

Last week was the full Wolf Moon. It has many other names such as “Canada Goose Moon”, “Greetings Moon”, and a favorite alternative of mine, “Frost Exploding Moon”.
In this case, I’ll stick to calling it wolf moon as it is known around these parts. You can read more here.
On the night before the actual full moon, I met up with my friend John and set up, with plenty of time to spare, in order to be ready. When the moon rose behind the Northern New Mexico, Vallecito Mountain the light was still a little pale and not so dramatic, so we headed east and closer to the mountains to catch it rising over the exact same peak. On the night before the actual full moon, the landscape is bathed in the light of the setting sun as the moon, discernibly full rises in the scene making for a well-balanced exposure. We made some nice images that evening.

Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain, Northern New Mexico.

The Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain with the area known as Des Montes. — The Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain with the community of Des Montes.

I wasn’t done with the Wolf Moon yet so the following morning I got up early and drove about thirty minutes north near the Colorado State Line to watch it set around Ute Mountain and across the plateau.

Ute Mountain, a tree, with the Wolf Moon setting. — Ute Mountain tree with the Wolf Moon setting, Northern New Mexico.

Ute Mountain, Wolf Moon and across the plateau to San Antonio Mountain. — Ute Mountain, Wolf Moon, and across the plateau to San Antonio Mountain.

Road to Ute Mountain with the Wolf Moon setting.

Wolf Moon across the plateau with Sunshine Valley community. — Wolf Moon across the plateau with the Sunshine Valley community.

Here’s a link to the full Wolf Moon eclipse on January 21, 2019.

As always thank you for looking in. Geraint.

Geraint Smith Photography

Month: February 2021

Winter Light, Iconic Taos Truck

Snow Day, Snow Week

Things I’ve seen and done in the last couple of weeks.

Wolf Moon Rising, Setting, Northern New Mexico.