Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Blue Sky, Last Leaves, Hopewell Lake

aspen_leaves_bare_branch_0303-2985498

Blue sky with last leaves on one aspen tree near Hopewell Lake, NM. I love the simplicity of this composition, where the bare branches appear to be about to let go of the remaining few leaves. I’ve photographed the last leaves on many trees over the years. I feel there’s a certain melancholy to this scene, although the blue sky and golden leaves present a pretty picture. I think I’ll call this one, “Before the fall”. Thanks for looking. G

Blue Sky, Last Leaves, Hopewell Lake

Evening Grosbeak, Crabapple Tree, San Cristobal, NM

evening_grosbeak_7560-5669881

Evening Grosbeak, in one of our crabapple trees, San Cristobal, NM. Besides colorful hillsides and mountains, fall brings an abundance of food and birds to eat it. This week the Evening Grosbeaks arrived in flocks to indulge themselves of the crabapples. Great individual shots picked out of the thirty or so birds camoflaged by the branches and leaves. Thanks for looking. G

Evening Grosbeak, Crabapple Tree, San Cristobal, NM

Panorama, Fall Color, Cumbres Pass, Colorado

cumbres_pass_colorado_3961-6113786

Panorama, Fall Color, Cumbres Pass, Colorado. A beautiful six hour Sunday drive around the big block on Highway 64 crossing the New Mexico, Colorado state lines more than a few times. Heading home over the Cumbres Pass twice in one week, the leaves were either blown off in certain areas, or magnificently peaking in others. There are many other places and a lot more fall left around northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. I hope you get out to see the gold in your area. Thanks for looking. G

Panorama, Fall Color, Cumbres Pass, Colorado.

Oak Leaf, Lama Mountain, New Mexico

oak_leaf_lama_new_mexico_0281-2490205

Oak Leaf, today on Lama Mountain, northern New Mexico. The shades of autumn in the changing scrub oak, their mesmerizing colors carpeting the hillsides of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the southern Rockies. I picked one from the car window as we passed and held it with the sun lighting from behind, against a dark shadowed background. Thanks for looking. G

Oak Leaf, today on Lama Mountain, northern New Mexico.

Jupiter, Jupiter’s Moons, Our Moon

moon_jupiter_moons_dark_comp_b_0159-recovered-8053581

Jupiter, Jupiter’s Moons, our Moon. Last night, looking up from the deck revealed this beautiful alignment of Saturn, Jupiter and four moons with our moon waxing. Saturn was too small and farther away to include in this photo. This photo comprises one exposure for our moon and another for Jupiter and it’s moons. Thanks for looking. Keep looking up. G

Jupiter, Jupiter's Moons, our Moon.

Carson National Forest Road 437, Garcia Park, NM

aspens_garcia_park_road_3743-3649210

Carson National Forest, FR 437, to Garcia Park, New Mexico today. This meadow was going off and creating a golden reflecting light source for the whole area around. It was a special drive on our annual visit to see the colors up high at 9800 + feet above sea level. If you have the opportunity to get out up into the mountains this week, I would highly recommend it. P.S. Look up in the sky tonight for the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn in close proximity. Thanks for looking. G

Carson National Forest, FR 437 Garcia Park, New Mexico

Aspen Grove, Clouds, Highway 17, Cumbres Pass, Colorado

aspen_grove_highway_17_colorado_0078-copy-4759399

Aspen grove, against grey clouds on Highway 17, at the Cumbres Pass, Colorado. Four hours drive away from yesterday’s photo of the day, just over the state line in Colorado, the colors are doing their thing precisely on time. I’ve photographed this scene many times over the last few years. It continues to be a favorite location each Autumn when the aspens light up the hills in the Rocky Mountains. Interesting fact, aspens grow from one root system. They are the largest living organism on the planet. Thanks for looking. G

Aspen Grove, Clouds, Highway 17, Cumbres Pass, Colorado

Aspen Road, Mountains, New Mexico

garcia_park_aspens_road_2093_2099-4037366

Aspen road, in the mountains of northern New Mexico. The aspens around Taos are in all shades from green and in some cases yellow and gold. Farther north in southern Colorado, at ten thousand feet, things are advancing fast. It is great to smell autumn in the air with moisture and cooler temperatures. Enjoy your autumnal equinox (7:31am MST) this morning and the rest of your fall. Thanks for looking. G

Aspen road, in the mountains of northern New Mexico

Red Barn, San Luis Valley, Milky Way

red_barn_san_luis_valley_milky_way_nr_9984-1-4645046

Red Barn in the San Luis Valley under the Milky Way yesterday evening. Sitting in a chair, tripod set up, a pleasing composition, waiting for it to get dark. It was a beautiful sky after the clouds and fire haze cleared. Half the fun of doing night photography is being out under pristine skies enjoying the peace and tranquility, a pack of coyotes far off in the distance, their chatter echoing across the valley, and a nice cup of tea. If nothing else, landscape photography keeps me in the outdoors, in nature and good company. Thanks for looking. G

Red Barn, San Luis Valley, Milky Way