Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Lightning Storm, Taos New Mexico

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Lightning storm, Taos, New Mexico. I set up on the deck in San Cristobal last night. I’d been watching the lightning filling the clouds on the horizon from my chair in the living room. The number of flashes intensified. The storm was far away so there were no discernible sounds of thunder. As things would have it, the sheet lightning I’d originally observed turned to direct strikes on the landscape. Here are the images of multiple “blasts”. Thanks for looking. G

Lightning Storm, Taos New Mexico

Lightning over Taos from San Cristobal NM

Lightning San Cristobal NM

Lightning San Cristobal NM

Lightning over Taos NM

 

Badger, Northern New Mexico

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Badger, northern New Mexico. This badger is building a “set” in the middle of a meadow, strewn with wild flowers, in northern New Mexico. It has taste in locations, the setting was stunning. Pami spotted dirt flying in the air from a hole in the ground. We were going slow, as we drove along the rain muddied road, or we may have missed this outstanding creature. I made a number of images before it was done digging, before it disappeared down the hole. I’ve seen three of these animals over the years, one alive in England, one dead at the side of the road in England, and this magnificent specimen. This badger made our hearts beat faster today. Thanks for looking. G

Badger, Northern New Mexico

Monsoon, San Cristobal Valley

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Monsoon, San Cristobal Valley. Before the unleashing and the lightning strike that made my hair stand on end. It was quite a downpour that followed and there is a large waterfall in the Rio Grande Gorge in this same spot where I shot this image in 2008. Monsoon season has been on again off again, but todays storm made up for it. Thanks for looking. G

Monsoon, San Cristobal Valley

Pronghorn “Where The Rockies Meet The Plains”

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Pronghorn, Ocate, New Mexico, “Where The Rockies Meet The Plains”. Working through some images from yesterday I thought this was a real sweet picture with soft diffuse lighting adding to the gentle look of this Pronghorn. Can’t say I’d like to stand in it’s way when it decides to bolt! It is the fastest land animal in North America, with sustained speeds of 45 mph and top speed just over 60 mph. I know a couple of photographers who can attest to this fact, Paul Malinowski and Linda Duffy. Remember the lone Pronghorn racing the car? Thanks for looking. G

Pronghorn "Where The Rockies Meet The Plains"

Bison Cow And Calf Colfax, NM

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Bison cow and calf, today in Colfax, NM. Traffic stops are frequent and annoying but when you spot a Bison and her calf being rounded up and corralled by a cowboy on an ATV, you don’t mind the waiting until the way is clear. It was one of the highlights on today’s photo tour “Where The Rockies Meet The Plains”. We also saw and photographed, American White Pelicans, Horses, Prairie Dogs behaving with reckless abandon, Pronghorn, Raptors, Geese, Cowbirds, Bluebirds, Kingbirds, Great Pyrenees Sheep Dogs, Western Meadowlarks, Turkey Vultures everywhere, tidying up, a Golden Eagle, the biggest Raven I have ever seen, Bighorn Sheep and… four Camels!!! All of the above against a backdrop of the plains, the mountains and massive thunderstorm clouds. Not a bad day for image making. Thanks for looking. G

Bison Cow and Calf, Colfax, NM

Blanket Flowers, San Antonio Mountain

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Blanket flowers, San Antonio Mountain. These blanket flowers are growing beautifully wild in view from the car along highway 285 at San Antonio Mountain. They are easy to spot as we drive past, glowing, all happy looking in the morning light. Incidentally, San Antonio Mountain is reputed to be the largest free standing (not attached to any mountain range) mountain in the 48 States. Thanks for looking. G

Blanket Flowers, San Antonio Mountain