Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM

Geraint May 22, 2019 4 Comments

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM. On a photo tour today in the Valle Vidal (Valley of Life) at Comanche Point where the Rio Costilla and Comanche Creek meet. The temps were in the low 30’s F. and the windchill ten degrees colder. Flocks of Cowbirds, Mountain Bluebirds, and Robins were in abundance, impervious to the snow and cold. By noon the snow was gone. The wind eased up by mid afternoon as we photographed hawks, wild horses and old homesteads in the San Luis Valley. By the end of day 6oº F felt positively tropical. Thanks for looking. G

Page, Arizona. View From The Road

Geraint May 21, 2019 4 Comments

Page, Arizona, a view from the road. Antelope Canyon Navajo Tribal Park, NGS – Navajo Generating Station at Lake Powell, and a pony. As we flew by on the road, the scene grabbed me and called me back. Antelope Canyon guides were loading up tourists. The power plant was cranking out the gigawatts. The pony seemed oblivious to all, including us! Thanks for looking. G

Cottonwood Tree, Abiquiu

Geraint May 20, 2019 2 Comments

Cottonwood Tree, Abiquiu. In a wash in a “white place” on the Rio Chama in Abiquiu, NM. This is a beautiful cottonwood tree featured as a hanging tree in the movie “Hostiles” starring Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike and Wes Studi. Check it out on Netflix or Join me on a tour in Abiquiu and the Rio Chama Valley. Thanks for looking. G

Vermillion Cliffs National Monument

Geraint May 19, 2019 No Comments

Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona. Here’s a larger perspective shot, a portion of the White Pocket area of the Vermillion Cliffs. What a great adventure exploring this area. There are some people down there providing scale to the scene. Thanks for looking. G

Comb Ridge, Utah, Last Light

Geraint May 18, 2019 4 Comments

Comb Ridge, Utah. Last light of the day, last week at Comb Ridge. It was raining all around, but the sun cast a few shafts of light and tipped it’s hat before saying goodnight. Here’s another view from a few years ago. Thanks for looking. G

Taos Mountain Moon Rise

Geraint May 17, 2019 1 Comment

Taos Mountain Moonrise. The moon rose well to the south this evening, so we didn’t have to go very far to watch the moon rise over Taos Mountain. A few wispy clouds and the last light on the mountain made for not only a nice photo op, but also a beautiful evening. Thanks for looking. G

White Pocket Rocks, Arizona

Geraint May 16, 2019 4 Comments

White Pocket Rocks, Arizona. White Pocket is located in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. 30 to 40 miles on rocky and sandy roads keeps the number of people at a minimum. It still has an air of peaceful solitude. I was so overwhelmed by its beauty, I didn’t know which way to turn. Mostly I drank in the scene vowing to return soon. This scene is approximately 5 feet by 6 feet a macro of the larger landscape it makes up. Stay tuned for a larger view. Thanks for looking. G

Dreamcatchers, Left Mitten

Geraint May 15, 2019 4 Comments

Dreamcatchers, with Left Mitten. There are many vendors down in the valley proper. Many of them make dreamcatchers. I keep one in the car and one on the bedpost. Here’s an image in Monument Valley I posted in 2006. Thanks for looking. G

Highway 163, Monument Valley, Arizona

Geraint May 14, 2019 2 Comments

Highway 163, Monument Valley, Arizona. “Run Forrest Run”… in circles. I spoke to a Navajo artisan, at his roadside stand, as to why people aren’t stopping in anymore. His answer “F*****g Forrest Gump. Everyone stops at mile marker 13 where Forrest Gump stopped running in the movie and they take a selfie.” Go figure. We watched a large group of bikers blocking the highway for multiple selfies, only to hop on their bikes moments later and head east. Another tourist ran in place while his partner made a video. A third, we observed, leapt up in the air, legs and arms spread as if announcing … I’m here I made it. WTH! A short distance west I stopped and made images of these donuts in the highway. I can’t imagine the motivation for these. I bought a little piece from a Navajo vendor. Thanks for looking. G

The Mittens, Merrick Butte, Car Headlights

Geraint May 13, 2019 4 Comments

The Mittens with Merrick Butte and car headlights. Monument Valley, Navajo country at night. Many aspects of the southwest are stunning. This scene, with headlights from a truck driven by a Monument Valley resident is encumbered by the light pollution from distant towns. Farmington NM, Bluff UT, Cortez CO and more illuminate the horizon. The bright foreground light is pollution from the hotel on the valley rim, formally occupied by a campground frequented by large groups of German tourists playing western movie tunes on boom boxes. Things change. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Category: Photo of the Day