Days Before Spring. 03-18-2026

March 18, 2026 by Geraint

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, some images taken in the days before spring.

Spring appears ready to make its grand entrance this week, and I couldn’t be happier. Spring brings the promise of warmer days that fill me with anticipation, as I look forward to many hikes and walks with the dogs and seeing the landscape transform into a lush, vibrant green, moisture permitting.

Aspen Trees.

Aspen trees, known for their striking white bark and vibrant foliage, are a prominent feature of many North American landscapes, particularly in the Rocky Mountains and other high-altitude regions. These deciduous trees are part of the Populus genus and are renowned for their ability to form large clonal colonies, where all the trees are interconnected through a shared root system. This unique growth pattern allows aspens to regenerate quickly after disturbances such as fires, making them a vital component of forest ecosystems. In the fall, aspen leaves turn a brilliant shade of yellow, creating breathtaking displays of color that attract nature enthusiasts and photographers alike. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, aspens play a crucial ecological role by providing habitat and food for a variety of wildlife, including deer, elk, and numerous bird species. Their presence also contributes to soil stabilization and water retention in their native habitats, underscoring their importance in maintaining ecological balance.

American Crow in an old cottonwood tree.

The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a highly adaptable and intelligent bird found throughout North America. Recognizable by its all-black plumage, stout bill, and distinctive cawing call, the American Crow is a familiar sight in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, urban areas, and coastal regions. Known for their remarkable problem-solving abilities and complex social structures, crows often live in family groups and exhibit behaviors such as cooperative breeding and communal roosting. These birds are omnivorous, with a diet that includes insects, seeds, fruits, small animals, and carrion, as well as human food scraps, which contributes to their success in diverse environments. American Crows are also known for their tool use and ability to recognize individual human faces, highlighting their cognitive prowess. Despite being common and widespread, they play an important ecological role by controlling pest populations and cleaning up carrion, making them a vital component of their ecosystems.

Crow in a bare tree — American Crow in a bare/dead cottonwood tree.

Valles Caldera.

The Valles Caldera, located in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico, is a breathtaking geological feature formed approximately 1.25 million years ago following a massive volcanic eruption. This 13.7-mile-wide caldera is one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in the world, offering a unique glimpse into the Earth’s volcanic past. The landscape is characterized by vast grasslands, lush forests, and diverse wildlife, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. The area is now protected as the Valles Caldera National Preserve, providing opportunities for hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Its rich geothermal activity and stunning vistas also make it a popular site for scientific research and photography. The caldera’s unique ecosystem and cultural significance, with evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years, add to its allure as a natural and historical treasure.

Picuris Pueblo.

Picuris Pueblo is a small, historic Native American community located in northern New Mexico, nestled in the scenic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. As one of the Eight Northern Pueblos, Picuris has a rich cultural heritage that dates back over a thousand years. The pueblo is known for its traditional adobe architecture, which reflects the community’s deep connection to its ancestral roots. Picuris Pueblo is renowned for its vibrant cultural traditions, including pottery, weaving, and ceremonial dances, which are integral to the community’s identity and are celebrated during various feast days and events. The pueblo’s location offers stunning natural beauty, with opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking and birdwatching. Despite its small size, Picuris Pueblo plays a significant role in preserving the cultural and historical legacy of the Pueblo peoples in the American Southwest.

Picuris Pueblo, San Lorenzo Church during reconstruction.

Restoration, Church, Picuris Pueblo — Restoration, Picuris Pueblo Church, NM.

As always, thanks for looking and visiting. Have a great week, and I’ll see you on the other side of the Spring Equinox. G

Penitente Morada, Abiquiu. 03-11-26

March 11, 2026March 10, 2026 by Geraint

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, some favorite images from the Penitente Morada in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

The penitents of Northern New Mexico, particularly in areas like Abiquiú, are part of a religious brotherhood known as Los Hermanos Penitentes. This lay Catholic fraternity has deep roots in the region, tracing back to the early Spanish settlers who brought their faith and traditions to the remote and rugged landscapes of New Mexico. The Penitentes emerged in the 19th century as a response to the isolation and lack of clergy in the area, providing spiritual guidance and community cohesion through their devout practices.

In Abiquiú, a small village known for its stunning landscapes and rich cultural history, the Penitentes have played a significant role in maintaining religious and cultural traditions. The brotherhood is known for its emphasis on penance, prayer, and acts of charity. Their practices are particularly visible during Lent and Holy Week, when they engage in rituals that include processions, reenactments of the Passion of Christ, and acts of self-flagellation. These rituals are deeply symbolic, reflecting themes of sacrifice, redemption, and communal solidarity.

The Penitentes have historically been a subject of intrigue and misunderstanding, often shrouded in secrecy due to their private nature and the intense personal devotion of their practices. However, they are also respected for their commitment to preserving cultural heritage and providing social support within their communities. In Abiquiú, the brotherhood has contributed to the village’s identity, blending indigenous, Spanish, and Catholic influences into a unique cultural tapestry.

Moonrise Penitente Morada, Abiquiu — Moonrise, Penitente Morada, and one cross.

Today, the Penitentes continue to be a vital part of Northern New Mexico’s spiritual landscape. While their numbers have dwindled, and some of their practices have evolved over time, they remain a testament to the enduring power of faith and community in the face of change and adversity. Their presence in Abiquiú and the surrounding areas serves as a reminder of the region’s rich history and the resilience of its people.

Three crosses, Abiquiu — Three crosses with a view of the Taos Mountains.

You can now find my greeting cards at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House. The cards feature images of the house, its architecture, and the surrounding landscapes.

Mabel Dodge Luhan House gateway fall. — Mabel Dodge Luhan House gateway.

As always, thanks for visiting and looking. I apologize for the comment page not working correctly. I appreciate the heads-up and taking the time to let me know. Have a great week. G

Abiquiu, Arroyo Blanco, Ghost Ranch. 03-04-2026

March 3, 2026March 3, 2026 by Geraint

Hello from New Mexico. This week, a day trip to Arroyo Blanco, Abiquiu, Ghost Ranch, and beyond.

On the last day of February, my good friend and fellow photographer, David Marks, met up at the visitors center in Abiquiu, parked the car, and headed out. First stop was to get some lunch at Bode’s General Store and a picnic along the Rio Chama just a short distance away.

Picnic lunch stop along the Rio Chama in Abiquiu, with low water but a nice spot and view of the very rust colored Cerrito Blanco.

Curly’s Cabin from the film City Slickers, at Ghost Ranch.

Curly's Cabin, Ghost Ranch, NM. — Curly’s Cabin, Ghost Ranch, NM.

A drive on the Chama River road to the Desert Monastery always reveals another scene not seen by me before. The tenacity and fortitude of this lone tree. It makes you wonder how it survives at all.

Chama river road palisades — Chama River Road Palisades.

Off-road near Abiquiu, NM off the Desert Monastery Road.

Arroyo Blanco, and an easy stroll from the car, and not to be confused with Plaza Blanca.

And some bones of what’s left of a llama, I first saw fairly intact seven years ago. I can’t say for sure, but I think Georgia would love it!

Old bones Arroyo Blanco, Abiquiu — Old bones (Llama) in Arroyo Blanco, Abiquiu.

Moonrise, Orphan mesa — Moonrise, Orphan Mesa, Piedra Lumbre (shining rock).

If you are going to be in the area this year, join me on a photo tour/workshop.

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

Majestic Elk, San Luis Valley. 02-25-2026

February 25, 2026February 24, 2026 by Geraint

Greetings from New Mexico. This week, a section of a very large elk herd in the San Luis Valley, and a few more scans from my Kodachrome 64 slide transparency collection. There were many more elk than I could fit in the panorama, in a different area of the fields. Still, you get the idea!

Click on the image to see a larger view.

More elk.
In Yellowstone.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Bull Elk, watcher in the woods.
Traffic halt on the Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Yellowstone Bull Elk.

Onto other things.
I found this scene amusing, the one guy looking up. I never did find out what he found so interesting.

Bodie ghosts town, California — Bodie Ghost Town, California.

A favorite quote from T.E. Lawrence of Arabia, Kodachrome 64 converted to black and white in Photoshop.

TE Lawrence quote on a building in Pasadena CA — T.E. Lawrence quote 1985 on a building in Pasadena, CA.

This girl left her shoes and beach shovel and went for a run on Bamburgh beach.

Girl running on a beach — Girl running on Bamburgh beach, UK

One of my jobs in the 1980s was photographing for the planning and development departments, among others. I had a lot of fun and really liked this picture when I took it and again today. Read more here in my bio.

St. Andrews Pasadena, CA — St. Andrews and construction, Pasadena, CA

Another vintage-style poster/postcard created using three of my images, the car, adobe buildings, and a landscape with sunset, along with some prompts in AI, to create the graphic design.

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

The Randomness Continues. 02-18-2026

February 17, 2026 by Geraint

Randomness, pictures of Cerro Pedernal from Taos

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM! This week, I’m again dipping into a bit of randomness by exploring the archives. I’ve selected a few images from the past, including some that were captured on this day in February in previous years.

Enjoy another nostalgic journey through time!

I selected this scene taken in El Prado, NM. There are many photo ops when driving to or home, from Taos. And the scenery is outstanding too. Join me on a Phototour/workshop.

Chiles and chairs Taos, randomness — Chiles and chairs Taos.

White homestead near the Great Sand Dunes, Colorado.

White farmhouse, San Luis Valley, Colorado. Randomness. — White farmhouse, San Luis Valley, Colorado. More…

This photo was taken on a hillside in Elizabethtown, located in the Moreno Valley, New Mexico. The hillside was covered in ice, which was beginning to thaw around the small, ice-bound plants.

Heading back a little further to 1985 and one of the most impressive castles, Bamburgh Castle, on the northeast coast of England.

Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England.

And a little further back to somewhere in Europe, Germany or Italy… I think.

Destroy Power Not People, Europe, 1982 — “Destroy Power Not People”, graffiti, Europe, 1982.

Also, 1982 in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Who remembers photo booths on a random street corner or train station? I like this one for the randomness of the people and the center-bottom image of the little kid poking his tongue out!

Photo booth, Grindelwald, Switzerland, 1982.

One of the first photos I ever took was of my parents in 1965, using my dads Kodak (a bellows) camera with roll film. I was seven at the time. Originally, it was just a small, crumpled contact sheet image. Recently, I restored it using AI technology, bringing new life to this image.

Mam and dad, Wales, 1965 — Mam and Dad, South Wales, 1965.

As always, thanks for looking. It’s a lot of fun for me, going through the slide archives and old family photos, scanning them, and presenting them here. I hope you got some pleasure out of seeing these images as well. Have a great week. G

Santa Fe And Beyond. 02-11-2026

February 10, 2026 by Geraint

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, I’m revisiting Santa Fe, Taos, Abiquiu, and beyond, continuing my First Impressions series, including first impressions from other areas in the Southwest.

Doodlets of Santa Fe with their iconic geese. This was a surprise find while waiting to be seated at Pasqual’s restaurant in Santa Fe.

It seems that every photographer, whether they are a friend or a stranger, possesses a captivating collection of door images. These portals, each with a story to tell, have an irresistible allure that draws us in. My own archive is a testament to this fascination, spanning a diverse array of locations. From the charming streets of the United States to the historic avenues of Europe, the minimalist beauty of Scandinavia, and the timeless elegance of Britain. Each photograph is a window into the culture and history of its location, offering a glimpse into the lives and stories that lie beyond.

The image below was taken at the historic Chimayo Plaza and was one of many doorway photographs featured in my 1985 exhibit in Pasadena, CA. I presented 40 photographic works that sold out, and inspired me to make numerous trips to New Mexico, eventually leading me to settle here in 1988.

Late afternoon light on the morada in Abiquiu, NM. Kodachrome 64 film, 1984.

A grave marker in Las Trampas, NM, inspired by an image of Ansel Adams.

*Grave marker, Las Trampas, on the High Road to Taos.*

The iconic New Mexico chile ristra wreath.

Chile ristra, displayed on a truck door, NM — *Chile ristra wreath, displayed on a truck door, NM.*

The iconic Saint Francis Church with mammatus clouds.

Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos. NM — *Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos. NM.*

In 1985, I visited Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park for the first time while driving back to California after spending the Christmas holidays in Taos. I captured the image below after waking up early, having arrived in the darkness the night before. Growing up in the UK, I had seen this landscape depicted in many westerns, but nothing could have prepared me for the awe-inspiring sight before me and the emotions it stirred within me.

And lastly, happy Valentine’s Day. “Streethearts”, Pasadena, California. Kodachrome 64, 1986,

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

Bald Eagle, Moonrise, Taos Pueblo. 02-04-2026.

February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 by Geraint

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a bald eagle on a day out shooting along the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, a moonrise from our field, and a few more images from my “New Mexico: First Impressions” series.

My friend John visited for a few days this week, so we decided to take a trip to Colorado and explore the Rio Grande in search of bird life. Although we spotted an otter, it was too elusive to capture a good image, so I don’t have a photo to share. We did see Mallards, Common Goldeneyes, and Common Mergansers. Red-tailed Hawks were abundant, and we were lucky enough to witness a Northern Harrier catch its prey right in front of us. Unfortunately, most of the wildlife, including wild horses and a herd of Pronghorn that I’m sure would have noticed us, were nowhere to be found. However, as we continued north along the Rio Grande, we were thrilled to spot a majestic bald eagle with the Rocky Mountains as a stunning backdrop. We knew the potential for spotting a Bald Eagle was good, as this is their domain, but we were still amazed when we saw it in this location with this backdrop.

Common Goldeneye ducks, landing, Rio Grande, Colorado — Common Goldeneye ducks landing, Rio Grande, Colorado.

The full Snow Moon.

Three more from my “New Mexico: First Impressions” series.

“In Thanksgiving week 1984, I made my first of many trips to New Mexico. On this occasion, five of us friends set out on a foggy morning from Santa Fe and made our way north on the high road to Taos. The sites and sounds on the streets of Santa Fe soon opened up to the immense vistas of mesas, and beyond to the Taos Volcanic Plateau.

“We passed through the village of Chimayo, climbing the hill to Truchas (Spanish for Trout). Rapidly gaining elevation, the landscape changed to pristine hills of ponderosa pines and rust-colored tones of scrub oak in the undergrowth. The vast square miles of pine trees in the Carson National Forrest were punctuated by the bare, white highlights of lanky aspen. Through the misty veil of condensation on the window, we were afforded more than a subtle hint of what autumn in the high country of New Mexico might have looked like one month earlier.

“Leaving Truchas for Penasco, the fog set in. The temperature dropped in the sparsely populated, mountain communities of Las Trampas and Picuris. The colder air outside the car became magically enhanced by the aroma of piñon and juniper burning in the fireplaces of scattered homes. At this very moment… sometimes you just know it, the mystery of things unknown and northern New Mexico took a very palpable hold on me.

“Not more than four years later, in the spring of 1988 that hold tightened and I moved to a small adobe building, with two fireplaces, in Talpa, NM, and began stockpiling five cords of wood for what promised to be a cold winter that year… See More

Church cross, Taos Pueblo, 1984 — Church cross, Taos Pueblo, 1985.

Taos Pueblo, 1984 — Taos Pueblo, South House, 1984.

Apologies for the wrong date on last week’s post.

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

New Mexico, First Impressions. 01-28-2026

February 5, 2026January 28, 2026 by Geraint

Greetings from New Mexico. This week, I’m continuing with images from my New Mexico, First Impressions series.

I hope you enjoy traveling back in time with me. While some things have changed, dirt roads have been paved, some buildings have been replaced with box stores, and open fields and wetlands have given way to neighborhood apartment blocks—many iconic locations remain. For that, I am grateful.

San Lorenzo Mission Church, Picuris. This original structure was replicated in the early 1990‘s.

San Lorenzo, Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico. — San Lorenzo Mission Church, Picuris.

Abiquiu Morada, Thanksgiving, 1984.

Abiquiu Morada, late summer, 1985.

Chile ristras, Chimayo, NM

A chile ristra is a string (or braid) of whole chile pods—traditionally New Mexico red chiles—tied together and hung up to dry. You’ll see them draped over doorways, portals, porch beams, or kitchen walls all across New Mexico. They’re food, folk art, and regional identity all rolled into one.

Koshare doll/artwork/sculpture in the window of a Santa Fe Art Gallery, 1984.

Koshare doll in a Santa Fe Art Gallery — Koshare doll.

Taos Pueblo snowfall, thanksgiving, 1984.

San Geronimo Church, Taos Pueblo, 1985

Taos Pueblo blowing snow, 1987

And one this week taken from the kitchen window. I love the view we have and feel very fortunate.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

Galisteo, NM, Flashback, 1986. 01-21-2026

January 21, 2026 by Geraint

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a flashback to the village of Galisteo shot on 4×5 film, 1986, the Rio Grande Gorge, and a quick cellphone shot of the northern lights from our village.

House and fence shot on 4×5 film, Galisteo, NM 1986.

Gateway, with bell, Galisteo, 1986.

Taos mountains and gorge rocks — Taos Mountains and Rio Grande Gorge rocks.

Taos mountain from the Rio Grande Gorge — Taos Pueblo Mountain from the Rio Grande Gorge.

The northern lights and the little chapel from our village of San Cristobal. Not as impressive a display as previous auroras, but I liked the way the ambient light illuminated La Capella, setting off against the sky.

Over the next few week’s I’ll be posting more scanned images from approximately 40 years ago, taken on multiple trips to the Land of Enchantment during the 1980s, that I call “New Mexico, First Impressions“.

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

Pueblo Peak, Buddha, Flicker, Moon. 01-14-2026.

January 14, 2026 by Geraint

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week’s photos include Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak), before the foot of snow, Buddha in the garden after the snow, a northern Flicker in the old cottonwood, and a crescent moon.

I hope everyone had a good week. We enjoyed a weekend of snow. Now it’s back to sunny days and walks with the dogs in the snowy woods.

Our Buddha statue is always the first to melt the snow and ice in its little corner in the garden.

Garden buddha — Buddha in the garden, San Cristobal.

Here’s our other statue, one of my popular images in my print gallery.

A northern flicker was busy burying seeds and whatever it had in the cottonwood tree. When I pulled into the driveway a couple of days later, my eyes witnessed an opportunistic magpie harvesting its stashes.

Waiting until the crescent moon showed up. What a nice surprise!

Crescent Moon, Clouds — Crescent Moon, through an opening in the clouds.

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