Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Month: June 2021

Around the Block, San Luis Valley, San Cristobal

A couple of days ago I headed north to Sanchez Lake, actually a stabilization reservoir, just south of San Luis, Colorado. I hadn’t visited in a while and as it was such a nice evening I wanted to go and check things out. There were some RV’s parked close to the lake on the east side just off the highway so I made my way around to the west side. To my surprise, I came across several American White Pelicans, I know not what the three on the left were up to, when a lone American Avocet strolled by, oblivious to me. I spotted some Grebes in the middle of the lake too far away for a decent shot, but a Killdeer came next wading in the mineral foam (not a pretty picture) on the edge of the lake. The winds picked up, the waders moseyed further down the shoreline foraging voraciously as they went. The pelicans swam to the middle of the lake. Later, when making a few images of the drying adobe mud in the dirt road ruts, I noticed an optical illusion. Is the mud concave or convex? Let me know what you see.
As the shadows lengthened I made my way home stopping off at my favorite location, the red barn. The red paint on the barn is now more of a muted coral color softened by the grey, weathered wood and the sky seemed to dominate the scene begging for a black and white image. Except for the lone raven who sits in our cottonwood tree every evening waiting to greet me, that was that. Enjoy, I did!
Stay cool if it’s too hot where you are. It’s been raining here for a week in northern New Mexico with more on the way.

American white Pelicans
American White Pelicans, San Luis Valley Lake, Colorado.

American Avocet, San Luis Valley
American Avocet San Luis Valley Lake, Colorado.

Killdeer, San Luis Valley Lake
A Killdeer wading along the shoreline, San Luis Valley Lake. Colorado.

Drying adobe mud, San Luis
Drying adobe mud along the dirt roads, San Luis Valley, Colorado.

Red Barn, San Luis Valley
Red Barn with Ute Mountain and tumbleweed, in the San Luis Valley, Colorado.

Raven, San Cristobal
Lone Raven in the cottonwood tree, San Cristobal, NM

As always, thanks for looking. G

American Kestrel, Dragonflies, Color in Madrid and La Cueva, Wild Iris in the Valle Vidal

An American Kestrel juxtaposed with a sign in a drive-by shooting!

American Kestrel
American Kestrel, drive by shooting, Sunshine Valley, NM

It’s the “Summer of Love” in the world of dragonflies (I think they are dragonflies) at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal, NM. There were thousands of them cavorting with one thing on their minds! Addendum, thanks to my friend Larry, these are Damselflies. There were dragonflies too!

Dragonflies
Damselflies at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal, NM

Dragonflies
Damselflies at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal, NM

Some color on a porch deck in Madrid, NM

Colors in Madrid NM
A splash of color in Madrid, NM

The church of San Rafael in La Cueva with blue sky and the coral tones of Negrita (Desert Globe-mallow).

San Rafael, La Cueva
The church of San Rafael in La Cueva, NM

Last but not least, if you’ll indulge me one more time, wild iris and mountain Golden Pea in a meadow in the Valle Vidal.

Wild Iris, Valle Vidal
Wild iris and mountain Golden Pea in a meadow in the Valle Vidal, NM

As always, thank you for looking. G

Taos Mountain Cloud, Mourning Doves, Wild Iris Meadow, Venus Moon

Another fun week in the field and a couple of instances from the deck! During one of the last snowstorms not long ago in memory but ages ago for the much-needed moisture. We can watch the storms build up over Taos Mountain from the deck. The mourning doves have been enjoying life and seem to be inseparable, hanging out side by side in the old cottonwood tree, also visible from the deck. We made a trip to join our friends Chris and Carla at their ranch in Black Lake, New Mexico a few days ago. The meadows were carpeted with millions of wild iris. I’ve seen similar fields of iris in the Valle Vidal but nothing like this. And this was only a square mile of it. On June 11, the waxing crescent moon swung by the planet Venus. I have a favorite parking spot to watch this particular sight when it occurs. Summer Solstice is coming up on Sunday, June 20th. Where to go for a Solstice moment photo? We shall see!

Taos Mountain cloud
Taos Mountain storm cloud building up, San Cristobal, NM

Mourning Doves
Mourning Doves in the old cottonwood tree, San Cristobal.

Wild iris, Black Lake, NM
Wild iris, Black Lake, NM, in Lonesome Dove country near where they filmed the TV movie.

Venus, Moon, sunset
Venus, Moon and sunset across the Taos Plateau.

Enjoy the summer where you are and as always, thanks for looking. G

Waterfall, Taos Ski Valley, Valle Vidal, Yellow-rumped Warbler

First time in these mountains since last year. The air is cool, refreshing and the light at this elevation, (10,000 feet) is pristine. This waterfall is just a few hundred yards from the parking area and a short uphill hike. In about two to three weeks the Columbine and other wildflowers should be gracing these slopes. If you get a chance to go here, you won’t be disappointed. Or join me on a photo trek and I’ll take you here.

Waterfall, Taos Ski Valley
Waterfall on the Williams Lake Trail in Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico.

The next four images are from the Valle Vidal. It was 84ºF in San Luis Valley and 45ºF in the mountains. We were surrounded by hail, sleet, and rain and these exquisite, Yellow-rumped Warblers flitting about everywhere.

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM
Comanche Point in Valle Vidal unit of the Carson National Forest, New Mexico.

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Valle Vidal, (Valley of Life), New Mexico.

Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Valle Vidal, New Mexico
Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal, New Mexico.

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal, New Mexico

As always, thanks for looking and all your comments and compliments. G

Placita, Rainsville, and a Tree, New Mexico.

Three black and whites from a photo tour this week. In the first image, at Placita on the High Road to Taos, I happened to look up and there was the last quarter moon with the deep shadow from the church roofline running through the scene. The second image was taken at the church of the Sacred Heart in Rainsville, NM. I was drawn to the shapes and patterns of the shadows and light interacting with the white-trimmed window. The third image is east of the church in Rainsville looking toward the plains. We waited for the clouds to roll through with a little rain thrown in for good measure.

Placitas chapel and moon
Placita, Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion chapel and moon, High Road to Taos

Rainsville church New Mexico
Rainsville, Church of the Sacred Heart, New Mexico.

Tree and storm clouds Rainsville, NM
Tree with a backdrop of storm clouds Rainsville, NM.

As always thank you for looking. G