Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a photo tour with Scott to Abiquiu, Cimarron, and Dawson, NM, and all points in between.
We began the weekend at the Saint Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos and caught the moon setting over its buttress. From there, we went to Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch and had fun finding compositions around the lake and red rock formations. We spent the day out there and returned with some unique landscape images. It’s always a good day in Abiquiu, NM.
San Francisco de Asis.
The second day was spent between the Enchanted Circle drive through the Moreno Valley, the Palisades to Cimarron, and Dawson Cemetery, returning through Red River to photograph Bighorn Sheep. The whole day paid off in desired but unexpected images. I think Scott got these elk crossing the Vermejo River.
Elk on the Ranch Road.
Dawson Cemetery, NM.
Memorial weekend is coming up, I hope everyone has a good start to summer. Here’s a favorite shot from the biker rally held this weekend every year. You may remember it.
Memorial Day in Taos, NM.
As always, thanks for looking. Have a good week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, I’m sharing a wide panorama from Williams Lake, a panorama shot on my iPhone. It’s a short post, but a sweeping view. I’m going back up to the lake sometime next week and follow up with another perspective.
The Wheeler Traverse extends from Wheeler Peak on the left of the frame to the peak on the extreme right and beyond down to the Taos Ski Valley. I did the traverse in 1989, again in 1990, and maybe again this year. Click on the image to expand.
Williams Lake, New Mexico.
Williams Lake and Wheeler Peak, New Mexico, are located high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Taos, New Mexico. Williams Lake and Wheeler Peak form one of the most iconic alpine destinations in the state. Their rugged beauty, pristine wilderness, and accessibility from Taos Ski Valley make them favorites for hikers and backpackers.
Wheeler traverse.
Wheeler Peak, elevation 13,161 feet (4,011 m), is the highest point in New Mexico. From Williams Lake, a steep, rocky spur trail continues another 2 miles and gains 2,000 feet to the summit. The views are sweeping: to the north, you see the Rio Grande Gorge; to the east, the Moreno Valley and Eagle Nest Lake; and to the west, the layered mesas of northern New Mexico. Bighorn sheep, marmots, pika, golden eagles, and the occasional black bear frequent the alpine tundra.
If you’re fit and would enjoy a guided hike to the lake for a photography tour, please message me through my contact form.
Print of the week. Click on the image to see more details.
Rio Grande Gorge Rainbow.
As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This past week brought a mix of wild weather, scenic locations, and rewarding moments during a photo tour through the San Luis Valley.
On May 1st, I led a photo tour with my client Randy. The wind created dust plumes and walls of sand moving across the landscape, adding a dramatic edge to our image-making. Despite the challenging conditions, Randy captured some striking photographs. With just a bit of light editing, he’s heading home with a collection of print-worthy keepers.
Just yesterday, May 6, we were treated to a surprise of nearly three inches of snow layered over a bed of hail. Overnight, our deck turned into a sheet of ice, much to the delight of the dogs, who raced and skidded across it like athletes.
Back in the San Luis Valley, one of our first stops was the historic Anderson Grain Elevator in Jaroso, Colorado. It’s a compelling subject with its weathered textures and quiet presence, with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a backdrop.
Anderson’s Grain Elevator, Jaroso, CO.
A familiar landmark that I visit often, the iconic red barn, continues to bear the brunt of time and wind. Sadly, it’s beginning to lean and twist under pressure. The siding has started to give way, and I suspect the resulting gaps are funneling the gusts through, paradoxically easing the strain while hastening the barn’s decline. Its days are numbered.
From there, we moved on to another of my favorite locations, the Lobatos Bridge, a steel span across the Rio Grande dating back to the 1890s.
The view from the bridge is a photographer’s dream, with the river winding away toward the towering Blanca Peak Massif in the distance. It’s a scene that never fails to inspire.
Rio Grande from the Lobatos Bridge, Colorado, with Blanca Peak.
Greetings from New Mexico. This week, I have some new offerings and a flashback to the early days with an updated twist on the vintage postcards that occupied many card racks at visitor centers and gas stations.
Vintage travel postcards served not only as souvenirs but also as instruments of national and regional branding. They projected idealized visions of travel destinations, often blending nostalgia, boosterism, and artistry. Today, they’re valued as collectibles and windows into the visual culture of past generations.
Below are a few of the creations I conjured up over the weekend using my imagery from around this part of northern New Mexico. Enjoy!
Greetings from New Mexico.
Idealized vintage style postcard.
Ghost Ranch.
Rio Grande.
Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos.
Milky Way with Jupiter and the Tipi.
And just for the heck of it, greetings from Utah!
Utah Buick.
They make great gifts as posters and greeting cards. Send me a message.
As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM This week, saying less is more, more or less.
The old saying “less is more” came to mind when I spotted this van at the trailhead covered in stickers. It was so overwhelming, I certainly didn’t take the time to read more than a few of them. To each their own.
And below, a magpie nest that had fallen from a juniper tree on our property. Its exposed structure reveals the intricate work and craftsmanship involved in building a home for a young magpie family—a perfect example, I think, of using only what’s essential.
Magpie nest, inside out, with the roof blown off.
As a side note, I left the nest untouched for a year, in case the magpies wanted to reuse the twigs for their next brood. They did return, but built a new nest from scratch, so I repurposed the old twigs to create the Dancing Magpie Ladder series in this featured post.
As always, Thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Less Is More
“Less is more” is more than just a design principle—it’s a philosophy, a mindset, and often, a path to clarity. Coined by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the phrase suggests that simplicity and restraint can lead to greater impact, beauty, and meaning.
In a world saturated with noise, distractions, and excess, the idea of less invites us to strip away what is unnecessary. Whether in art, architecture, writing, photography, or everyday life, reducing clutter, both physical and mental, can reveal the essence of what truly matters.
Minimalism doesn’t mean emptiness; it shows intentionality. It’s the white space in a painting that gives form to the figure, the pause in a piece of music that deepens emotion, or the lone word on a page that hits harder than a paragraph. In photography, for example, a single subject placed in a wide, empty frame can tell a more powerful story than a busy scene ever could.
“Less is more” is a reminder to trust simplicity: to allow space for interpretation, for breath, for depth; to do less, but do it better; to own less, but feel more; to speak less, but say what truly counts.
In the end, less is not a loss. It’s a refinement, a distillation of what’s essential. And often, it’s where we find the most beauty.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, minimalist abstract art in a square format.
In June 2024, I said there might be another post of random abstraction, and as I have so many of this type of image, mostly shot on an iPhone, here goes.
Click on an image to expand and click off it to go back. Enjoy!
I wrote some sentences and put them as prompts into Grammarly and ChatGPT. This is what they came up with, modified further by me. Let me know your thoughts.
The Allure of Minimalist Abstract Art in Square Format
In a world saturated with noise and complexity, minimalist abstract art offers a visual breath of fresh air—clean lines, subtle textures, and intentional simplicity. When paired with the symmetry of a square format, this genre takes on a uniquely balanced and meditative quality that resonates deeply in modern spaces.
Why Square? The square canvas provides perfect equilibrium. Unlike rectangles, which inherently suggest direction, the square is neutral—neither vertical nor horizontal. This neutrality invites the viewer to experience the artwork without predetermined movement, making it an ideal playground for minimalist expression.
Less is Powerful Minimalist abstract art thrives on reduction. It strips away the nonessential, leaving only what truly matters: form, color, space, and emotion. A single brushstroke, a subtle shift in tone, or a geometric repetition can evoke calm, curiosity, or contemplation.
Harmony in Design Whether hanging solo or as part of a grid, square-format minimalist pieces create rhythm and order. Their visual harmony complements contemporary interiors, bringing structure to eclectic rooms or serenity to stark spaces. They don’t shout—they whisper, and in that quietness, they speak volumes.
Final Thoughts Minimalist abstract art in a square format isn’t about what you see—it’s about what you feel. It’s not minimal for the sake of aesthetics but to create space: for thought, stillness, and connection. In its quiet, it offers a rare and refreshing clarity.
Explore the balance. Embrace the square. Let less say more.
As always, Thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a trip around Ghost Ranch New Mexico.
This first image doesn’t scream “stunning,” but it is available as a postcard statewide and a good title shot for this post, “Welcome to Ghost Ranch”. Keep looking.
As always, thank you for looking. I hope you enjoyed the tour. If you are inclined, join me on a photo tour/workshop. I’d love to introduce you to the area and work on getting you some stunning images. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Route 66 Centennial, and a composition created in collaboration with my good friend and business partner David to celebrate the upcoming Centennial of the “Mother Road” in 2026.
We have been creating murals and prints up to mural size on many subjects, including the image below, depicting the heyday of the cross-country artery that turns 100 next year. Is the song going around in your head? You know the one!
A composite of Route 66 images from Tucumcari and Albuquerque, NM.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, random images on the road in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, with my good friend, John. It was a beautiful day to be “out there” despite the wind, a little dust, and my allergies. I’m feeling better today as I’m indoors to avoid unnecessary pollen.
We went looking for these characters but only found where they’d been! We did find a few other places and creatures that made our day. The shot below is from a few years ago. I wanted to share our expectations.
Wild Horses on the road in Colorado.
At the old Lobatos Bridge, a road crew was inspecting the infrastructure with restricted traffic, so we walked across and stopped for a couple of shots looking north.
Blanca Peak, Colorado, and the Rio Grande.
The San Luis Valley is well known for its potatoes, and the area is scattered with abandoned bunkers attached to long abandoned farms in favor of large agri-businesses. All the more fun for us.
Potato Bunker Shadows.
With the sod roof missing the midday shadows are abundant.
Bunker shadows and an old tire.
Outside looking in.
A Red-tailed Hawk, I think.
… and a Western Meadow Lark singing to its heart’s content as they do.
Western Meadow Lark.
… and, in my opinion, the most inaptly named bird, the “Killdeer”
Killdeer at the stabilization reservoir.
Lastly, a quick stop to visit the Old San Acasio mission church. John got a tour of the history and miracles of the site. I found this painted picture on glass with some flies.
Window painting at the Old San Acacio Church, Colorado.
A great day out. Thanks for joining me, John.
As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week’s images depict the nature of March. The wind-swept madness of March came in like a lamb, and never mind the analogy of a lion, it morphed into a rhinoceros in an English tearoom. Haboob-like dust storms occurred earlier in the month, and again yesterday, they delayed flights and closed interstates with winds fanning the flames of wildfires.
The pictures of the Lunar Eclipse I’d planned to post this week didn’t occur due to the crazy March weather here. Thick clouds, freezing rain, and snow made sure of that.
That said, here are some images of the gentler side of March.
Spring Weather, Taos, NMChama River Road, NMArroyo Hondo, NMBighorn Sheep, NMBighorn Sheep, NMBighorn Sheep, NMCoyote, Rio Pueblo, NMGreat Sand Dunes NP, COGreat Sand Dunes NP, COEnchanted Circle Drive, NMGhost Ranch, NMGhost Ranch, NMGreat Sand Dunes NP, COMonument Valley March, 2022Monte Vista NWR, CO.Moonrise, Vallecito Peak.Latir Peaks SunsetTaos Mountain Storm.Raven, CORed Barn, snow San Luis Valley, CORio Chama Abiquiu, NMRio Grande near San Luis, CORoadside Puddle ReflectionsSandhill Cranes, Monte Vista, COSandhill Cranes, Monte VistaSangre de Cristos MoonriseSan Luis ValleyShiprock, NMSpider Rock, Canyon de Chelly, AZSun Star, Chaco Canyon, NMSunset Clouds, San Cristobal, NMPueblo Peak, Taos MountainTaos Mountain Clouds,Last Years Cornfield, Taos, NMUte Mountain, NMAspens, Tres Ritos, NMZapata Falls Ice Cave, CO
