Hipstamatic Photography. 04-22-2026

Geraint April 21, 2026 No Comments

Hello from San Cristobal, NM! I hope everyone had a good week. This week, I captured some images on a rainy and overcast day in January 2024 from my car. I wasn’t driving, so I took the opportunity to shoot photos out the window using the Hipstamatic camera app on my iPhone. I know it’s been in existence for quite some time, but I’d never tried it out. Some of my clients use it frequently, and some use the app primarily for their image-making. These pictures are unedited and straight from the camera, using settings I selected just for fun.

I enjoyed the spontaneity and randomness of the subjects, with no preconceived outcome or expectations. I took these photos while traveling on highways 68, 64, and 522, from Taos to San Cristobal, as well as on Old Highway 3 through the village of San Cristobal. And… in no particular order.

I’m not a devotee of the hipstamatic app, and doubt I will be, but I enjoy playing, and that made for an enjoyable ride on a dull day.

Hipstamatic Photography local market image — Our Local Market in Arroyo Hondo

These hipstamatic iPhone pictures do bring out the nitty gritty elements of the region.

On another note…

The acequia culture in New Mexico is a centuries-old tradition of community-managed irrigation systems that trace their origins to Spanish colonial times and even earlier indigenous practices. These communal irrigation ditches, known as acequias, are vital for agriculture in the arid Southwest, allowing communities to share and manage scarce water resources equitably. The acequia system is not just a method of irrigation but a cultural institution that fosters community cooperation, governance, and sustainability. It involves a mayordomo, or ditch boss, who oversees water distribution and maintenance, and regular meetings where members, or parciantes, discuss water rights and responsibilities. This system reflects a deep connection to the land and water, emphasizing the importance of collective stewardship and resilience in the face of environmental challenges. Acequias are recognized for their cultural and historical significance, embodying a unique blend of indigenous and Hispanic heritage that continues to shape the landscape and communities of New Mexico today.

Taos mountain acequia, El Prado. — Taos Pueblo Mountain Acequia, El Prado.

As always, thank you for taking the time to look. I hope you enjoyed them. Join me next week as I share more photographs of the idyllic vistas, like the one above, found around northern New Mexico, highlighting the beauty and cultural significance of the acequias. Have a wonderful week! G

Taos Pueblo, Three Views. 04-15-2026

Geraint April 15, 2026 1 Comment

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, three views of the North House at Taos Pueblo. If you are fortunate to be in Taos this year, put the Taos Pueblo on your list of places to visit.

I hope everyone had a good week. A short post this week, nonetheless, an expansive one. Three panoramas, taken before winter, during winter, and the following spring, plus a view on a spring day, from a hill in our National Monument. Enjoy.

Taos Pueblo, located in northern New Mexico, is a remarkable Native American community that has been continuously inhabited for over a thousand years. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is renowned for its multi-storied adobe buildings, which exemplify traditional Pueblo architecture. The structures, made from earth, straw, and water, are meticulously maintained by the Taos people, who are committed to preserving their cultural heritage. The Pueblo is nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, offering a stunning backdrop that enhances its historical and spiritual significance. Visitors to Taos Pueblo can experience the rich traditions and vibrant culture of the Taos people, who continue to uphold their ancestral customs and way of life.

Taos Pueblo North House, in winter. — North House, in winter.

Taos Pueblo North House, in spring. — North House, in spring.

On a spring hike last week, up a small hill with expansive views in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Ute Mountain in the distance, left of center, and San Cristobal, where we live, is in the foothills behind the tree on the right.

The mountains in this view, from left to right, are:
Cerro de la Olla, Brushy Mountain, Ute, Cerro Chiflo, the Latir Peaks, Guadalupe Mtn North and South, Flag Mtn, and Lobo Peak. The hill we were standing on (not named) is only 333 feet up, but with excellent vistas.

We also re-visited this old corral out there in the middle of nowhere.

Old corral, in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

See more images of Spring in Taos.

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

Alamosa Railyard, Colorado. 04-08-2026

Geraint April 7, 2026 2 Comments

Hello from San Cristobal, NM. I hope everyone had a great week. This week, a visit to the Alamosa railyards that I hinted at last week. Mostly abstract photo ops that float my boat. Enjoy!

“The Alamosa train depot, located in Alamosa, Colorado, is a historic landmark that reflects the rich railroad heritage of the region. Built in the early 20th century, the depot served as a crucial hub for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, facilitating the transport of passengers and goods across the San Luis Valley. Its architectural style, characterized by classic brickwork and traditional design elements, embodies the era’s industrial optimism. Today, the depot stands as a testament to the transformative impact of railroads on the American West, and it continues to be a point of interest for visitors exploring the area’s history and scenic landscapes.”

Carriage and cloud. — Rio Grande Scenic, carriage, and cloud.

Carriage window and rust. — Carriage windows, patina, rust close-up!

"Ponder the Coalescence" at the railyards. — “Ponder the Coalescence” graffiti at the railyards.

On the road along the railroad tracks in Romeo, Colorado.

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

Random Selections. 04-01-2026

Geraint April 1, 2026 No Comments

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..

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.

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.

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

Geraint Smith Photography

Month: April 2026

Hipstamatic Photography. 04-22-2026

Taos Pueblo, Three Views. 04-15-2026

Alamosa Railyard, Colorado. 04-08-2026

Random Selections. 04-01-2026