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
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a glimpse of the upcoming Lunar Eclipse. “The Moon will pass into Earth’s shadow and appear to turn red on the night of March 13 or early in the morning on March 14, depending on the time zone. Here’s what you need to know about the total lunar eclipse.” NASA
I’ve seen all of the lunar eclipses since the first one I photographed in 2008 from the old gas station in Tres Piedras. That picture wound up on the BBC worldwide as it wasn’t visible from many locations or because of cloud cover. A couple of others I have gone out to photograph have been stymied by cloud cover. Below is one lunar eclipse on a crystal clear evening I shot in January 2019.
Lunar eclipse from San Cristobal, January 2019
And closer in. I love how the stars are visible all around.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, mountain clouds and the clearing storm over the peaks of the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness.
“You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still, and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.” Franz Kafka
In the picture below I was looking east out of the kitchen window yesterday morning as the clouds cleared revealing the foothills of the Columbine Hondo Wilderness. The lens hood directly masked the sun and the field of view was so bright that I didn’t see the sundog/rainbow in the shot until I downloaded the image.
Mountain clouds and clearing storm, San Cristobal, NM
Close-up of sundog/rainbow, over the Columbine Hondo Wilderness.
As I panned the camera to the left and in a northeasterly direction the winds became stronger and began whipping up the clouds and fresh snow that fell overnight.
Blowing snow and clouds lifting.
A closer crop.
Snow on the peaks.
The sun lighting up the trees on the ridge with the blowing snow created a fiery scene in the close-up shot below.
Winter weather, wind, and light.
And a little bird (Starling) watching with me.
Starling, San Cristobal.
And sunset that evening on my neighbor’s tree and those same mountain peaks.
Sunset from the garden.
As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week where you are. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a few scenes from winter past. It was 64º F (17.5º C) yesterday. Tee shirt weather, almost. It got me thinking about the winters we’ve had in the past.
I pulled a few images I found while submitting 40 images for the New Mexico Treasures 2026 Calendar. I believe this year’s 2025 calendar has sold out.
The first image was shot in December 2005. The snow came and went, came and went again frequently that winter. It was a cold day but not cold enough to freeze the river. This image is one of my best sellers and one of the first digital vertical stitched panoramas I’ve made.
Winter Past in the Ranchos Valley was also shot in 2008 looking north to Taos Pueblo Mountain.
Ranchos Valley fields with Taos Pueblo Mountain.
This piñon pine tree stands out against the sky on the ridge descending from Bobcat Pass elevation 9820 feet (2,990 meters).
Tree on the ridge at Bobcat Pass.
Out the kitchen window in December 2013.
Blowing snow, San Cristobal, NM.
Just a few miles downstream from the Taos Junction Bridge in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is this scene, shot in December 2014. Sunny but very cold.
Orilla Verde Recreation Area.
A flock of Red-winged Blackbirds was shot in January 2016 in Arroyo Hondo across from the liquor store and market. This year we’ve had many larger flocks in our cottonwood and elm trees.
Red-winged Blackbirds, Arroyo Hondo NM.
Finally, the image below is not from a past winter but from May 1, 2016. It sure looked and felt like winter. Of course, the sun came out the next day and it vanished leaving muddy dirt roads and trails in its wake.
Arroyo Hondo Valley
As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G.
