Greetings from San Cristobal. This week some views of Ute Mountain.
“Ute Mountain is a free-standing, Dacitic, extinct Pliocene volcanic cone”. That’s a mouthful. Besides being one of my revered peaks, it is also set in one of my favorite areas, the Taos Plateau Volcanic Field and the San Luis Valley. The mountain also lies within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
The images below encompass a span of almost twenty years.
On the home front, I feel the surgery on my foot will make my photo treks much more enjoyable for years to come.
The image below is the one that initiated my fascination with this iconic landmark. Often, I will take a drive north, a pilgrimage of sorts, to visit the mountain. Click here if you want to see more images.
Lastly, a couple of shots from closer to home.
And a view across the plateau and beyond to Cerro Pedernal (not a volcano but very much resembles one), “flint peak” near Abiquiu, NM. Immortalized by the artist Georgia O’Keeffe it can be seen from a vantage point behind our home. In the photo, Cerro Pedernal is probably 65-70 miles as the crow flies. The views out west extend a hundred miles or more on clear days. The vistas open like nowhere else, and the skies go on forever.
As always thank you for looking and visiting. And thank you for all the continued well wishes, comments, and compliments.
If you want the name of a wonderful foot and ankle specialist I can give you a recommendation! G
It’s March 1st, and in Wales, it is the day they celebrate Saint David’s Day. The wearing of daffodils and leeks. On the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales is a town that boasts the longest place name. In the photo below, you’ll see what stringing a bunch of English words together looks like in Welsh. Yes, I can pronounce it in Welsh, so if you see me out and about, ask me. In Wales, we always had half day off school on Saint David’s Day. Worthy of celebration. Today I’m walking on both feet, watching the clouds drift by the picture window, and hoping the clouds clear for a view of the Jupiter and Venus conjunction this evening. Be sure to check it out in the western sky at twilight.
I’m still burrowing in the hard drives and came across the images below, taken around this time of year. They are random, and while I enjoy looking back, I’m looking forward to posting a current photo next week.
The Conejos River was almost overflowing and partially frozen as it drifted under the old rail bridge near Conejos, Colorado.
This Conoco Gas station in Garcia, Colorado, has been closed for many years. Situated on the CO/NM State Line, it was probably a happening place in its heyday. If you are inspired to visit New Mexico this year, I frequent this area on my San Luis Valley photography tour/workshop.
These buildings are no longer standing and are five years gone already. I remember the day I shot it in San Acacio on my first trip there many years ago. It is a palpable picture for me. I can almost taste the moisture in the air and in my frozen nostrils.
A few miles south of San Acacio is another favorite location, the red barn, this time in black and white with a raptor in flight. Since I shot this image, the hawks now nest in the surrounding cottonwoods, and a great-horned owl has moved into the barn.
I originally shot this scene in color. Since then, I’ve processed it in black and white, and on a recent trip, I noticed that the overhang has flaked off. So glad I wasn’t under it when it came crashing down. To my knowledge, I haven’t heard if anyone was hurt when it fell.
Here’s my entry in the Taos artist banner submission, which was accepted, and will hang on a lamp post in the “Taos Is Art” campaign this summer. I hope the banner hangs in a prominent location and is not hidden behind two hanging flower baskets this time. Lyle Wright the model is seen in an 1870’s era Navajo serape. I shot the image for an ongoing ad campaign for Tres Estrellas Design, Taos.
As always, thanks for looking, and a sincere thank you for all the well wishes. Your good thoughts are working. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week the Rio Grande and surrounding views.
I’m sitting here with my foot elevated, looking out the window on our valley. The snow is blowing in high winds and chilling the air dramatically. The wind is breaching the gaps wherever it can.
Things are healing nicely with the surgery on my foot. Thank you for all the well wishes. They are welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Throwing a virtual dart at the archives this week, I came across the first image of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge shrouded in a rare, early morning fog. I decided to pull a few more pictures from that folder and add them below.
I won’t be going very far for the next few weeks. I hope to make it to the Monte Vista NWR for the return of the sandhill cranes in mid-march. Until then, I hope you’ll enjoy my revisiting the archives with me.
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge carries US Highway 64 across the canyon and river 600 feet below. Highway 64, the other mother road, has one terminus in the Outer Banks, NC and the other at Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. I’ve driven this section of the road, many times, to its western terminus. It passes through scenic areas with many opportunities for image making. In my humble opinion, unless you like abandoned motels, gas stations, and 1960’s era neon signs (all great subjects in their own right), on Route 66, take US 64 for the more scenic route.
Lastly, a view acros the gorge to Taos mountain. A gorge bush!
As always, thank you for looking, and thank you again for all the well wishes. G
Greetings from snow-bound San Cristobal. This week a coyote watches me from the sagebrush along the Rio Grande in Pilar, NM. A flashback to a photo tour/workshop five years ago.
This week I’m recovering from surgery on my left foot! Had I realized the lack of mobility I’m experiencing, I would have prepared a post last week. So, when I threw a virtual (numerical) dart at the archives this image came up. It’s one of my favorites so I’m putting it out here. I posted a close-up version five years ago, but I like how this more expansive view represents the whole encounter.
I hope you’ll forgive the single image post this week.
Greetings from San Cristobal. This week the Snow Moon is rising over the mountains of Taos.
In the first image, I watched the moon rise behind the peak of Vallecito Mountain. It’s a favorite location of mine, as you may have seen from past posts. The sun was setting as the moon rose. The light on the landscape was balanced nicely, with the moon perfectly exposed.
Fifteen minutes later the sun had set leaving the mountain and sky with a soft lighted glow.
Three miles south and much closer to Pueblo Peak (Taos Mountain) I was able to catch the moon in a good poistion.
Generally speaking, on an outing to photograph the moon rise, I begin looking for a view point further west and then drive east, getting closer to the mountains, stopping to make more images as the moon emegeres from behind the different parks. If you want to join me on a full-moon photography adventure, please get in touch, it will be a lot of fun!
Bird of the week, the tenacious Rock Wren in the Rio Grande Gorge, Pilar, NM.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. Two days before, I’d heard that the lunar occultation (covering) of mars by the moon, was imminent, that it would begin and end between 9 to 11 pm MST. It turns out that here in northern NM, we would be on the periphery of the viewable range, in other words, we are too far north and will possibly, see Mars skirt the edge of the moon. As the evening went on, I became frustrated with the event, the frigid temps dwindling batteries, and cold hands. After a few trips indoors to warm up, I was ready to call it a night.
Here’s the first shot of the moon and Mars when I saw it. The moon’s direction of travel in the first image is from the lower to the upper part of the frame. Is there an up and down in space? Click to enlarge.
After a lengthy warm-up by the woodstove cupping a glass of whisky, I went back to the camera set up on the deck, got the moon in my viewfinder, and spotted Mars about to vanish behind the moon. Mars is on the upper right edge of the moon.
Here’s a close-up of the planet Mars emerging. The time frame of this event was about 20 minutes. Time on the deck from start to finish 2.5 hours.
Lastly this week, I have to share the birds Three crows, eyes left!
One of a very large flock of Pinyon Jays in the garden this week. They emptied the bird feed in twenty minutes. This bird was waiting for it’s opportunity to feed but it doesn’t look very enthusiastic.
As always, thanks for looking and for all your kind words and compliments.
Greetings from San Cristobal. This week, mountain snow in the highcountry of New Mexico. Snow fell on the mountain peaks, accompanied by soft winter light. It was enough to find the clouds lifting and a single moment of this pink light on the mountains. Sometimes all it takes to make my day is a simple “ah!” moment like this. The same magenta glow infused the landscape and air around me.
In this area, the Rockies are called the Sangre de Cristos. This wasn’t quite a full-on Sangre sunset color but rather more of a rosé blush. Click here to see what I’m referring to.
Here is a close-up of my favorite mountain in this range of peaks, Vallecito Mountain. After a brief moment of this light, it was gone. Then home to Pami, a nice single malt, and a warm fire. Some days it just doesn’t get any better.
Flashback. An image I shot on a Saturday morning at the Taos farmer’s market in August 2008. Enjoy.
As always, thank you for looking, and for all the comments, and compliments. G
Greetings from San Cristobal Valley. Winter is beginning to settle in, with temperatures dropping to single digits and a decent amount of snow. Not at all the amount we are used to, but we’ll take it.
Last week, on my way home, I just had to pull over to watch the shadows move through our valley. Ten years ago, I shot this same scene. It became the centerpiece in our galley and home and has been a best seller since then. I don’t think I could ever top it though I keep trying. As you can see, the foreground is overgrown, with the meadow obscured.
That cottonwood and willows in Arroyo Hondo, I can’t seem to pass this spot without making an image.
Early one morning this week I went south to the adobe mission church of Saint Francis in Ranchos de Taos. This iconic buildingalways looks good with accents of snow and a dramatic sky. One important feature of this image… I arrived in time to get a photo before the parking area filled with cars.
Below is an image from December 2010 on the road that connects the villages of Arroyo Hondo and Arroyo Seco. When I had my gallery in Arroyo Seco I drove this route most days. It’s a sweet country road with close-up views of the surrounding mountains. It is an especially beautiful, and magical drive when the hoar frost covers the trees and landscape.
If you plan to visit New Mexico this year and have a desire to improve your photographic skills, and see locations off the beaten track, look me up and consider a photography tour/workshop. I’ll look forward to meeting and working with you in some of my favorite places in the area.
Last week, on January 5, 2023, was the 99 percent full wolf moon. I spent a fabulous full-day photo tour with Richard. When we departed Taos, we had high expectations of catching the January “wolf moon” rising over the peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains in southern Colorado. We did not expect the vast cloud cover that occurred midday.
As is often the case in the west, the weather changes rapidly and dramatically. There is a saying, ‘if you don’t like the weather wait five minutes”. On this day, following six hours of intermittent cloud cover everywhere except the mountains, where the sky remained full of clouds, they finally dissipated to reveal the Sangres in all their glory! Click on images to enlarge.
In the images below, you can see what the rest of the day brought for us. The first is the Rio Grande looking north upstream to Blanca Peak.
Standing on the Lobatos Bridge bridge to get this image, we could hear the ice cracking around the bridge pillars and along the cliffs. Some of the sounds were like thunderclaps deep down below. Other sounds were like the far of moaning of a person in pain.
I’m not usually one to show both versions of a shot, but I like both equally for different reasons. The black-and-white image has a more dramatic impact. The color of the grasses sprouting up amongst the volcanic rocks in the second version is pleasing and captures the softness of nature and light I experienced there.
Below, the cactus thrives in this lava rock environment.
I first saw the Eastdale post office many years ago when the plaque with the zip code and roof was intact. Alas, things change, and vandals continue to pilfer whatever and from wherever they can.
A few days earlier in San Cristobal, the waxing moon rose, followed by the sunset on our local peaks in the Columbine Hondo Wilderness.
Greetings to all my friends in California. Stay safe!
Greetings from San Cristobal. I had a lovely time shooting in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, which always makes me smile, followed by some random images around the area this holiday season. You may recognize this scene. I visit it often on photo tours and workshops in southern Colorado.
Corraled by the creek, and then the escape. I opened the car door to get out, and the horses, surprised, jumped the fence. I missed that! The payoff came in the following two images.
One mild morning last week, my son Dylan and I walked through the Fred Baca Park Wetlands and Rio Fernando Park. There wasn’t a lot going on, which was very nice. I did take a camera and caught a shot of a Townsend’s Solitaire being solitary in a bare tree. A peaceful walk surrounded the muted colors of winter.
Seeing out the New Year, we were watching a sunset cloud from the deck.
Lastly, a flashback to Spring 1987, on a trip I made with four friends, Martin, Frank, Ken, and Dave. Frank and I got set up each morning and evening at our primitive campsite to capture the sunrise, or in this instance, waiting on the sunset. I took this shot of our two Rollei’s, Franks Deerdorf, and my Nikon F3.
As always, Thank you for looking. Happy New Year. G