Greetings from San Cristobal, on this beautiful Spring day. The light in the late afternoon is remarkable. The clouds roll through, and spring storms envelop the valleys and the mountain peaks in waves. The sun gets through where it will, spotlighting the new growth.
Click on pictures to enlarge.
A Spring day in the San Cristobal Valley.
The acequias, irrigation ditches that divert water across northern New Mexico are flowing full in the spring runoff. This time last year, New Mexico’s largest wildfire was underway, ultimately destroying 350,000+ acres. We are very grateful for the moisture this year.
Water in an acequia, irrigation ditch in El Prado, NM.
Flashback to North Wales, where I lived and worked at an Outdoor Pursuit Center on the west coast in 1974-75.
The Ogwen Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in North Wales. During that year, I spent many days rock climbing in the area with the guides and instructors I worked with. The Idwal slabs in the upper left of the picture are one of the most popular places to climb in Wales. I shot this picture on a return visit to Wales in 2013.
Ogwen Valley, North Wales.
A year in Wales may sound like a long time to visit and see all the sites. I had never traversed the Crib Goch Ridge seen in the picture below while living there. On a visit there in 1982, it was time to add the route to the list of the places I climbed and hiked. It was a marvelous experience, one I’ll remember for life. It’s not a very difficult hike, but I did take along enough gear and clothing prepared should I have to spend the night out there. Weather in this part of Wales, with the storms coming off the Atlantic and Irish Seas, can change rapidly, turning a warm, early summer day into a winter day.
Crib Goch, Snowdonia National Park, North Wales, 1982
As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G.
Greetings from San Cristobal. This week, a trip down memory lane, a visual flashback of images from my first few trips and early years in New Mexico.
Looking back it’s hard to visualize almost 40 years since I took the first photograph below in November 1984. The images are in no particular order and captioned with the place and year.
Traveling down memory lane has inspired me to start scanning what will ultimately be a few thousand transparencies. All images are scans of Kodachrome 64 slide film. I hope you enjoy the visit.
John greeting visitors to Taos Pueblo, Thanksgiving, 1984
I’ve photographed the church of San José de Gracia in Las Trampas more times than I can count. Below is my very first shot during my first time visiting New Mexico. I have other shots from the trip but I like this one because of the dog sitting casually, minding its own business. Nowadays tourists are the ones getting in my shots.
Las Trampas church dog on the High Road to Taos, 1984
The sign at the Taos Inn is still welcoming visitors to Taos. No more curios that I know of. Some local characters may pass for curios.
Taos Inn neon sign, 1985
I’d appreciate someone letting me know what vehicles these are. I’m pretty certain the car on the right is a Ford. Currently, the Ford and Adobe are still there.
Old Cars, and adobe, Galisteo, 1986
Traveling during August in New Mexico 1985 many small scale purveyors of local havests, their roadside stands festooned with the red and the green chiles were in abundance and a treat to photograph.
I shot the image below shortly after Dennis Hopper finished filming a murder scene in this old adobe building in the movie Backtrack with Jodie Foster. The adobe home was demolished this year.
Saint Francis through an open adobe window, 1989
Flashback to the Ranchos de Taos Plaza when the Magic Sky Gallery (coral colored building) was open with a boardwalk and planters.
Magic Sky Gallery, Ranchos de Taos, 1988
Ranchos Plaza, view through the window of a vintage truck, 1991
Ranchitos Road adobe, building, and artist studio, 1988
Currently, the Stewart House” formerly a BandB buildings are no longer visible from this location, as many homes now occupy the foreground. Vallecito Peak in the background has become a favorite subject for my work. Change, is the only constant, along with death and taxes.
“Stewart House” Highway 150, with Vallecito Peak 1987
Plenty of snow my first winter in New Mexico. That’s my 1958 Volkswagen Beetle buried there in front of the house.
Talpa, dude Ranch compound 1989
Here’s a picture of my friend and artist, Harry Vedoe when we skied from Talpa and way beyond into the hills. Later in the day we had a wonderful run down and soak in the Ponce de Leon hot springs before heading home. In the winter of February 1989, we had a lot of snow. We were able to cross-country ski out the door on many occasions.
Flashback to cross-country skiing, Talpa, 1989
This tree has been featured in my work for many years. After thriving for many years it has finally succumbed to neglect and lack of moisture. It’s still standing, for now.
Lone Tree, at the overlook Taos, 1993
Santa Fe 4 Sale license plate, 1986
Pasqual’s Santa Fe, reading the menu, 1984
A drive to Sandia Crest revealed a trail worthy of an afternoon stroll in the fresh snowfall, with views to the west of Albuquerque.
Sandia Crest, Albuquerque, 1987
The bison below escaped from the herd at Taos Pueblo. I happened to be driving along and took some shots before it was caught and returned to the Pueblo.
An escaped Bison trucking alongside US 64 Taos, 1994
As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal. Jaroso, Eastdale, and the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado.
Yesterday, my friend Tom picked me up at home and we headed north for the afternoon in southern Colorado. It was my first trip out for any length of time since my surgery. It was nice to get out in the fresh air, get windswept, and in some spots nearly swept off our feet. The Rio Grande was in full flow with the illusion that it was running upstream in the wind.
The main street of Jaroso is divided by a row of tall pines. Anderson’s occupy the south side of the street, with the Jaroso Hotel and a number of artists’ studios on the north side. It’s a step back in time and I always enjoy a trip here.
Main Street Jaroso, Colorado.
Harold Anderson is a friendly gentleman with a pleasant disposition. We didn’t bump into him yesterday, though it is spring and a busy time on the farm.
Anderson’s Farm tractors Jaroso, Colorado.
Harold has a collection of Minneapolis Moline-made farm vehicles.
Anderson’s Farm, Minneapolis Moline.
Hotel.
A country block away from Jaroso is the extinct town of Eastdale, Colorado. The monument in the pictures below is inscribed with words that denote the brief history of its existence.
Eastdale Township, historical marker, San Luis Valley, Colorado
The obelisk reads: “Mormon pioneers settled here 1890. They built reservoirs, homes, school, and a church. By 1900 there were 120 pop, and post office. A water dispute led to the demise of town and sale of lands to Costilla Estate Development Co. in 1909.”
Eastdale Township, historical marker, San Luis Valley, Colorado.
Greetings from the San Cristobal, NM. and beyond from Scotland.
Over the years, distant memories travel to the forefront of my mind’s eye. I’m prompted to look up the pictures to support my memories. I like to gratify my remembrances by reliving the trips I made. One of these days, I’ll load up the scanner with slides from trips before the digital era and post them here.
For now, I’ll settle for the images below from Scotland. I hope you enjoy them.
We arrived at Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland after sunset. The castle was glowing in evening splendor, so we found a vantage point where I could put the camera on a bean bag on a post for a twenty-second exposure. The mist gave the scene a look of mystery. Overall, I was pleased with the shot.
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
The next day the weather was expected and familiar. Overcast and drizzling.
Rainy day at Eilean Donan Castle.
Driving through Glencoe, we pulled over to enjoy the waning light on the landscape. As we returned to the car, Pami and I looked up and exclaimed in unison, “Oh, look!” There was a red stag watching us. He had probably been watching us for the time we were watching the light fade. I made the picture of the red stag in almost darkness, but the image of it standing there stock steady, with us locked in its gaze, is magnified and emblazoned on our hearts and minds forever.
Red stag, Glencoe.
This tree has grown in notoriety over the years. It appears to be growing out of the rock. A closer look revealed that the tree was growing down through a crack, its roots spread out under the rock. Perhaps a symbol of the tenacity and spirit of the people of Scotland.
A tree growing out of a rock, in the highlands.
The moisture on the lichen made for marvelous patterns. We could have taken many photos of grave markers and rock walls all day. I think we did!
Lichen on a Celtic Cross.
I had always wanted to visit Glenfinnan and see the viaduct. You may recognize it from the Harry Potter films and numerous other movies. We waited a while for the train to arrive and cross the viaduct. It began to rain, of course! I liked the mood the weather created, and the locomotive was in full steam. If you get a chance to visit Glenfinnan, there is more to amaze in the area than just seeing the train.
I want to thank everyone for all the well wishes. I’m out of my big restrictive boot and into a comfortable pair of “Hoka” walking shoes. I had no idea how comfortable these shoes were. Lucky me.
As always thank you for looking. Have a good week. G
Greetings from the San Cristobal, NM. This week a series of images of some of the big birds that frequent our area.
I hope you enjoy the following gallery of big birds.
Some of the largest birds in the area are the Sandhill Cranes that pass through on their migratory route. I photographed the two below in the Bosque del Apache.
Sandhill Cranes, the big birds.
The Turkey Vulture below is about to return to our area. They are known as the harbingers of Spring. If you are interested, you can read more here.
Turkey Vulture.
I chose these images below out of a collection of photos that showed up when I searched my hard drives for large birds. It was hard to decide which to include, so I picked the ones I distinctly remember taking the shot. I went for feeling more than anything. I hope you like them. Click on an image to enlarge it.
Swainson’s HawkSnow GooseSnow GeeseRough-legged HawkRed-tailed HawkRed-tailed HawkRavenRavenGreat Blue HeronPeregrine FalconKilldeerLong-eared OwlMagpie and Red-tailed HawkMourning DovesNorthern Pintail ducksGreat Blue HeronRed-tailed HawkMale Northern HarrierGreat-horned OwlGolden EagleGolden EagleGolden EagleSnow GeeseEurasian Collared DovesBald EagleCooper’s HawkCormorantSandhill CranesBald EagleBald EagleCanada GooseCanada GeeseAmerican White PelicansAmerican AvocetWhite-faced IbisAbundance of Ducks
Sandhill Cranes, ritual dance.
Always remember the birds at the zoo like this Flamingo. I had a stunning picture of a captive eagle in the Albuquerque Zoo published in Raptors of New Mexico.
Flamingo
As always, thank you for looking. Keep looking up you may be surprised by what’s above and around you. G
Greetings from the San Cristobal Valley, NM. This week a series of images of some of the little birds that frequent our area of the planet, more precisely, our valley.
I hope you enjoy the following gallery of little birds.
Eastern Bluebird, a little bird that frequents our valley.
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.
Pine Siskin.
A Cassin’s Finch so I was told. It could be a glorious house finch.
Cassin’s Finch.
White Breasted Nuthatch.
Brewer’s Blackbird.
Northern Flicker.
Brown-headed Cowbird.
For the last few years, we’ve had a solitary Canyon Towhee in our garden. This shot was taken in a canyon, no less.
Canyon Towhee.
American Robins.
Woodhouse’s or Western Scrub-Jay?
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, I think!
This is a Pinyon Jay, that I’m sure of. They have arrived in large flocks in the valley over the last two years, groups of a hundred to a few thousand.
Pinyon Jay.
Song Sparrow.
Spotted Towhee.
Townsend’s Solitaire.
Rock Wren.
Mountain Chickadee.
Western Tanager.
Bullocks Oriole with Hummingbirds.
The Red-winged Blackbirds nest in the cattails. Right about now there is a frenzy of activity and nest-building. The males are kept on their guard protecting the nesting spot.
Red-winged Blackbird.
The Magpie is every dog’s nemesis. They taunt our dogs and of course, our dogs take the bait.
Magpie
This Evening Grosbeak was stunned following a window strike. I put it on the fence to recover. It did. Ten minutes later, it flew up into the crabapple tree.
Evening Grosbeak.
Western Meadowlark.
This Northern Pygmy Owl would fit into a teacup and is smaller than most of the birds above.
Northern Pygmy Owl.
Not one of the truly little birds but not large either. It’s about the size of an American Crow.
Greater Roadrunner.
American Crow.
Finally one of the rare visitors to the valley. I only spotted one Lewis’s Woodpecker this last year. Two years ago there were three at one time in the Ash tree.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Little birds rock the valley, my heart and soul.
Happy Spring.
As always, thank you for looking, and for all the comments, compliments, and well wishes. G
Greetings from San Cristobal in the beautiful mountains of northern New Mexico.
I threw virtual darts at the archives this week, and the following images popped up. Northern New Mexico has continued to excite me for forty years. Here’s to many more.
The first two shots were taken during drives around the extended neighborhood, with the first on an evening photo shoot with friends from Kansas City.
Reflections in a large snow melt puddle, Arroyo Seco, New Mexico.
Nearby is a more expansive view across the meadow to the mountains with winter colors.
Des Montes and the mountains of Taos.
I did a one-day shoot for AAA New Mexico Journeys Magazine eight years ago in Bandelier National Monument. The Alcove House pictured was accessible with an exciting climb up numerous, 30′ ladders. It was well worth the ascent with a backpack and tripod.
Alcove House, Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico.
The Quarai Ruins at the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument yielded this image on my third visit to the site. I created this image with three shots stitched vertically, in effect, a vertical panorama. This location isn’t technically northern New Mexico, more like central NM but I like it.
Quarai Ruins, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.
Refrain from stacking stones in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. I heard the Park Service tore it down shortly after I shot it. I know it wasn’t there on my next visit.
Cairn, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM.
I enjoy a nice glass of wine when reading a book. Reading “House of Rain”, in the landscape it depicts was a perfect pairing. Thanks to Craig Childs for the many virtual adventures.
Reading “House of Rain” by Craig Childs, and drinking wine.
One of the first panoramic shots I made of our mountains has been hanging in the waiting room at our local hospital ever since.
Taos Mountains sunset shot from across the plateau.
Below is the full moon shot in the Rio Grande Gorge. I love that I can stand on top of the highest point (Wheeler Peak) in New Mexico in the morning and spend the evening deep in the Rio Grande Gorge, watching the full moon grace the ridge cradled by a bare piñon tree.
Moonrise over the Rio Grande Gorge in Pilar, New Mexico.
As I become more mobile I’m looking forward to working with a number of new and repeat photographer/clients. Join me this spring, summer, and fall on a photo trek around some of the best photo locations northern New Mexico has to offer.
On location in…
As always, thank you for looking. Enjoy your week. G
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.
A localized weather pattern over Ute Mountain.
Road to the mountain.
Old sheep corral out on the plateau.
A view from Guadalupe Mountain across the Taos Plateau.
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Do you recognize the peak back there?
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.
Near Costilla, New Mexico.
Lastly, a couple of shots from closer to home.
The moon rise this week from the deck in San Cristobal, NM.
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.
Cerro Pedernal shot from Taos, NM.
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.
Celebrating Saint David’s Day in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
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 Rio Grande, looking downstream from the Lobatos Bridge.
The Conejos River was almost overflowing and partially frozen as it drifted under the old rail bridge near Conejos, Colorado.
The Conejos River and rail bridge, 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.
Conoco gas station, Garcia, Colorado.
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.
Old House and outbuilding, San Acacio, Colorado.
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.
My favorite barn, San Luis Valley.
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.
Piedra Lumbre in black and white, Ghost Ranch NM.
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.
Lyle Wright, Taos artist banner submission.
As always, thanks for looking, and a sincere thank you for all the well wishes. Your good thoughts are working. G
