Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Month: April 2026

Random Selections. 04-01-2026

Hello from San Cristobal, NM. I hope everyone had a great week. It’s raining here today. We are very happy about that. This week, more random selections from the archives, including the San Luis Valley, El Rito (west), and northern New Mexico.

I hope you enjoy!

Random selections from bygone days.

Random selections, A stone house, fence, San Luis Valley, Colorado
Stone house and fence, San Luis Valley, Colorado.

Near the house in the photo above, is owl nest on a platform of sticks in a potato bunker. Initially, I thought it might be a magpie or hawk nest, but then an owl flew directly over my head from another part of the building and out through the entrance. Over the years, I’ve seen more owls in different bunkers, alas no pictures, yet.

Owl nest potato bunker, Colorado
Owl nest in a potato bunker, Colorado.

On a different trip these two juvenile great horned owls were seen in a tree close bye to the bunker..

Juvenile great horned owls
Juvenile great horned owls.

In the San Luis Valley of Colorado, potato storage bunkers/cellars play a crucial role in preserving the region’s abundant potato harvests. These bunkers are specially designed facilities that maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels to extend the shelf life of potatoes, preventing spoilage and sprouting. The valley’s high altitude and arid climate make it an ideal location for potato farming, and the storage bunkers ensure that the produce can be stored for months, allowing farmers to supply fresh potatoes year-round. These structures are often partially underground, leveraging the earth’s natural insulation properties to maintain a stable environment, which is essential for maintaining the quality and nutritional value of the potatoes.

Railway depot in Romeo, Colorado.

Romeo, Colorado
Romeo, Colorado.

A faded flag emblem on the side of a carriage at the Alamosa, railyards. Maybe I’ll make a post on images from the railyards soon.

Faded flag emblem, Alamosa, railyards.
Faded flag emblem, Alamosa, railyards.

A favorite image and print from a location near the Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve in Colorado.

White House doves, San Luis Valley CO.
White house and doves, San Luis Valley CO.

The El Rito Mansion, on a Spring photo tour/workshop. Since this photo was taken, I’ve been in touch with the family and relatives who grew up here.

Random selection, El Rito Mansion, NM
El Rito NM.

At the end of a good day of shooting, the soft twilight, on the Rio Grande Gorge, and Ute Mountain, NM. A hand held image shot in near darkness and lightened in Photoshop® to bring out the lavendar hues and highlight on the river.

Random selections. At dusk, the Rio Grande, Ute Mountain, NM
Rio Grande Gorge, Ute Mountain, NM.

New growth on a pine tree in Arroyo Seco, NM. The new growth on the branches are a lighter green than the rest of the tree. Edited as a black and white image, this is what I came up with.

Random Pine tree
Pine tree, Arroyo Seco, NM.

As always, thanks for visiting and looking. Have a great week. G