Cave View, New Mexico Back Country

April 9, 2020 by Geraint

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Yesterday, Pami, myself and friends, Chris and Carla, made a trip to beyond, the back of beyond. We have future plans for more trips back, to the back of beyond. Much of the trip was spent driving Arroyo del Cobre, north of Abiquiu, NM. The arroyo narrowed considerably, until, what can marginally be called a road clambered out of it to a bench. After more sandy driving and choking dust we arrived at an artesian spring in a boggy meadow. Later, we visited an ancient petrified river bed and this shady ledge with a cave, probably dug many years ago by a prospector. There are camps and hunting grounds of indigenous peoples, strewn with artifacts, in this land of red rocks. These days, hundreds of bonsai junipers and tranquility abide. Chris said “we are geological time travelers”. Thanks, Chris and Carla for being our guides. Thanks everyone for looking. G

Raven, Approaching Storm, Taos Plateau

April 8, 2020 by Geraint

Raven, approaching storm, Taos Plateau. Busting out of here! Stopped to get a shot of the storm clouds building across the plateau when this raven blasted through the scene. Thanks for looking. G

Mountain Moon Rise, Vallecito Peak

April 7, 2020 by Geraint

Mountain moon rise, Vallecito Peak, and another view from last nights moon when it rose over the snow covered Sangre de Cristos. I’m familiar with this view and if you’ve followed my work you will probably recognize it too. Last night was more subtle than it sometimes is, but while we’re in this lock down situation I’ll take it. I don’t have to go very far for inspiration either, just a couple of miles down the road. Thanks for looking. G

Sunflower Pods, Moon Rise

April 6, 2020 by Geraint

Sunflower pods, Moon rise, from the meadow. I just got back in and decided this image from earlier this evening, when the moon first rose over the mountains, would make a good post. The colors were pretty cool and the moon was bright when it cleared the hazy clouds. It’s a composite exposure. I shot last years sunflowers in focus in the first image and racked focus to the moon in the second. Same exposure in both images. Combined them in Photoshop®. Thanks for looking and happy moon watching. G

Visit Taos, New Mexico Later, Please

April 5, 2020 by Geraint

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Visit Taos, New Mexico… later, please. I posted a similar picture with these words on Facebook. They struck a cord and got shared many times over. We are a small community and things spread fast. We are taking things seriously and following CDC guidelines. We will welcome you back with open arms when things are better. The situation is here is serious right now, with the highest per capita cases for a county in New Mexico. Our state is also in lock down with 14 day quarantine orders and Taos has a curfew in place. Nothing is open, there’s no where to stay anyway. For those still wanting to flee the craziness in surrounding states please help by staying home, that way our efforts here won’t be in vain. Thanks for indulging me a moment to share this. Thanks for loving Taos. We love you, I love you. Geraint

Top Of The World, Rio Grande Del Norte, National Monument

April 4, 2020 by Geraint

Top of the World, Rio Grande Del Norte, National Monument. This day 04-04-16, four years ago. I’d just bought my fifth Toyota 4 Runner, (I love 4 Runners), so Pami and I took it for a days drive through the National Monument. During the 100+ miles we covered, some roads were passable, others heavily rutted with mud. We did make it up this hill with no problems and have done so many times since. It has great views in all directions, especially the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the north and east. I know it’s not exactly the top of the world, but it feels like it and incidentally, you can see “The Top Of The World Farm” on the New Mexico, Colorado state line from here. When things get back to normal, join me on a photo tour in the Rio Grande del Norte, and I’ll show you around this area. Thanks for looking. G

American Kestrel, Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico

April 3, 2020 by Geraint

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American Kestrel, Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico. This beautiful creature embodies spirit. Fear? none of it, I’m sure. I’ve watched and photographed these birds for a couple of decades. I wish to return as a kestrel. Perhaps I already am, and Geraint is a figment of my imagination. Thanks for looking. Be tenacious, stay well and be safe. Thanks for looking. G

Petroglyphs, Rio Grande Del Norte, National Monument

April 2, 2020 by Geraint

Petroglyphs on a story rock panel, Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument. There are many more “peckings” on this rock, located alongside the great river in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. This image shows Mule Deer and Bighorn Sheep. Below the first image is a photo of a Bighorn Sheep, also photographed in the gorge. The indigenous peoples would have documented the wildlife in the area and this rock has an array of footprints pecked onto it also. When things get back to normal I encourage you to make a trip here. Thanks for looking. G

Canada Geese, Rio Grande, Pilar, NM

April 1, 2020 by Geraint

Canada Geese, setting up a nesting spot on an island in the middle of the Rio Grande, Pilar, NM. They’ll be hatching a brood of goslings soon. A beautiful day in a beautiful location and a lovely spot to raise a family. Thanks for looking. G

Rio Chama Overlook, Abiquiu, NM

March 31, 2020 by Geraint

Rio Chama overlook, in Abiquiu, NM. Lets stay in this area one more day. It’s greening up in northern New Mexico. It’s not looking quite like this just yet but it’s getting there. That means spring is here and that’s a good thing. I can feel the days warming up, with milder evenings where the wind has second thoughts. This place on the Rio Chama is a favorite stop on many photo tours. You can see why. Thanks for looking. G