Mammatus Clouds, The Rio Grande Gorge

Geraint June 7, 2017 4 Comments

Mammatus clouds (Read More) and sun setting at the Rio Grande Gorge, in Taos County, New Mexico.

After a road trip around the block (about 200 miles) yesterday we arrived back at the high bridge, overlooking the Rio Grande Gorge, and were greeted by this wonderful sight. There were some tourists on the bridge with phones doing their thing. The bachelor heard of bighorn sheep were munching alongside the parking lot. We had our intentions set on a fitting image to end our day trip. I like the way the shape of the clouds mirror the shape where the light and shadows meet on the opposite canyon wall. Thanks for looking. G

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Mesa Road To The Mountains

Geraint June 6, 2017 No Comments

Mesa road to the mountains under a big southwest sky, Taos, New Mexico. Just after a rain shower moved through the area the scent of wet sage filled the air and all was well with the world. At least that is how it felt standing in this little spot on the mesa looking to the mountains. Thanks for looking. G

Abandoned Potato Bunker

Geraint June 5, 2017 4 Comments

Potato bunker storage in the San Luis valley Colorado. It’s about the shadows and highlights and even with the open rafters the exposed air was moist and cool in the midday sun at this underground bunker. This image was made directly west, behind the homestead in the June 3, image. Finding evidence of the odd few pieces of living room furniture, potential lairs of snakes and other sundry reptiles, allowed us a glimpse into a latter day environment that served more than one generation and perhaps gave shelter to more than one species. Thanks for looking. G

Red-Tailed Hawk Nest Guarding

Geraint June 4, 2017 No Comments

A Red-tailed Hawk guarding it’s nest gave us quite a display above and beyond. We wanted to get a few photographs of the hawk as it circled over us and for a few go rounds we made some images. It’s wonderful to watch and make images of these amazing aerial acrobats but stress affects us all, so we moved on. Thanks for looking. G

Little White House On The Plains

Geraint June 3, 2017 4 Comments

Little White House in the San Luis Valley, Colorado. Could be the plains, looks like the plains but alas is in one of the most fertile valleys where potatoes are the mainstay crop. The San Luis Valley, Colorado.

What struck me the most about this scene was the walk way leading to the front door. One recurring observation I have, regarding a lot of the abandoned towns and buildings in this area, is how thriving things must have been in the day when folks occupied every last dwelling. And another thought … Approaching this home … I wondered who resided here and how many people had walked up this path to the front door, long before me, and were greeted openly by the occupants.

This day we were greeted by a family of ravens who inhabited an abandoned outbuilding nearby. The new guardians served up a bombardment of unwelcome squawks and screeches, no doubt their way of letting us know visitors were not wanted. Things change. Thanks for looking. G

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San Isidro Church, Las Mesitas, Colorado

Geraint June 2, 2017 1 Comment

The Ruins of the San Isidro Church in Las Mesitas, Colorado. Built in 1878, destroyed by fire in 1975.

Three New Haircuts, Flash Back, 1985

Geraint June 1, 2017 7 Comments

Three new haircuts in Pasadena, California 1985. And a thought occurs to me.

I’m going through my archives and pulling images that I remember as turning points in my photography career. These three young boys were sitting on a bench outside a barbers shop on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California. As I passed them, they saw that I had cameras with me and asked, “Are you a photographer?” I answered “Yes” to which they responded “Can you take our picture?” Without hesitating I put the camera to my eye and the boy on the right positioned himself closer to the camera and I made the image. It was that synchronous. That’s it!

Having had their haircuts earlier, they were now waiting for their papa who was still in the barber’s chair. I’m sure they were being very patient, as kids sometimes are when parents are taking their time.

These three boys made it easier for me, from then on in my career, to approach people, and allow them to be who they are. In a way… photography can be a metaphor for allowing life to unfold exactly as it is meant to, without any control over the subject or outcome. Thanks for looking. G

Laguna Pueblo New Mexico

Geraint May 31, 2017 2 Comments

Flashback to 1986, Laguna Pueblo, the iconic view from Interstate 40, New Mexico. I’ve revisited Laguna Pueblo twice in the last two months. Each time reiterates the experience I had the first time I visited Laguna Pueblo in 1986. I was looking back in time, much like visitors had, over the centuries past. The view from the freeway is pretty much unchanged with the terraced housing and mission church of Saint Joseph dominated by Mount Taylor, a stratovolcano, named in 1849 after then president Zachary Taylor. In the village today, there is a “round-about”, sidewalks, some street lighting and a new administration building. The charm and friendly nature of the people I met there thirty years ago, was exemplified on these last few visits by the local priest sitting in a pew, with his bare feet resting on the earthen floor. He regaled us with many stories in the cool, slightly moist, air of the cavernous mission church. His voice rose softly, echoing around the interior, and off the walls of the building as if summoning up the ghosts from the past to bare witness to his tales. Thanks for looking. G

Ploughed Fields And Blanca Peak

Geraint May 30, 2017 No Comments

Ploughed fields in the San Luis Valley. Center pivot irrigator, and beyond spring snow pack on 14,000 foot Blanca Peak along with the Crestone Peaks of the southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado.

Great Horned Owl Fledglings

Geraint May 29, 2017 No Comments

Great Horned Owl fledgelings. On a private photography workshop this weekend we spent two days photographing raptors in southern Colorado. We discovered these two exquisite Great Horned Owl fledgelings on the second day which for us topped the previous day with the hawks and eagle altercation. This scene seemed a fitting moment and conclusion to a wonderful trip, that re-enforces the great continuum and absolute balance of nature.

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Geraint Smith Photography

Category: Photo of the Day