Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

In Ranchitos Valley

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Came across this gentle creature in the Ranchitos Valley this evening. The light was soft and the animal’s nature seemed giving and loving. It came toward me, it wanted to get closer. I wanted to get closer. The barbed wire fence and an ice pond between us created a boundary for any further physical contact. The horse turned to it’s right, as if to show me its best side, and declared, “here I am!” In that moment, as I activated the camera’s shutter, a connection occurred, where all I could do was sigh in awe and disbelief as two souls cross the barriers in between.

white horse in the ranchitos valley taos new mexico

House Finch

San Acacio, Colorado

Cold snowy day here in San Cristobal. This House Finch joined four or five dozen Dark-eyed Juncos at the bird feeder. I think, at some point, it got overwhelmed by the frenzy over the bird seed I’d put out earlier. It retreated to the Ash tree close by, where this nice ‘bokeh’ (blurred background), isolated the bird and the branches. I made one image before it flew back to give the bird feeder another try … here it is.

house finch in the ash tree

Sangre de Cristo Mountains New Mexico

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The Sangre de Cristo mountains grab me every time. Today was special. The mountains seemed to occupy a secondary role in the composition, that of giving scale to the expanse of the sky. Of course, it wasn’t long before I began to look deeper in to the scene, exploring the details of the clouds and their relationship to the mountain ridges. The negative spaces created by the valleys, intrigued me even further. Those more abstract images I will keep for another day.  The initial scene made me pull over, the details kept me looking. The music that was playing, in the warm interior of the car, enhanced by the surrounding beauty of the landscape and sky increased my sense of well being today. Thanks for looking. G

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Sandhill Cranes, In Flight, Monte Vista NWR

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Sandhill Cranes in flight at the Monte Vista NWR, Colorado. It’s always fun to make the two hour drive from Taos to Monte Vista. The National Wildlife Refuge is just south of the town of Monte Vista in the eastern San Luis Valley. There is plenty to see on the drive there and thousands of Sandhill Cranes are the payoff in the NWR at the end of the journey. That said … if we are lucky…  the sunset on the Sangre de Cristo mountains on the drive home really makes for a spectacular finish to a day of photography. The Sandhill Cranes will be flying through there again in early March. That’s when we’ll make another trip north to spend time with them. Thanks for looking.

Sandhill Cranes at the Monte Vista NWR, Colorado.

Sandhill Cranes Monte Vista NWR

Last Light On The Hills

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A shaft of light cast through a narrow aperture created by a low lying cloud and the space between it and the horizon. Illuminating the peaks of the Columbine Hondo Wilderness, this familiar view from the garden in San Cristobal, is consistent in it’s continually changing drama and light.

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My Neighbor’s Tree

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My neighbor’s tree. I walked outside this evening and was struck by the light on this tree. I can see it, and the foothills beyond, from the kitchen window. I often enjoy viewing the tree in the lay of the land throughout the day. I like to think that it was planted in just the perfect spot. Thanks for looking. G

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