Category: Photo of the Week

On the Road, Colorado. 03-25-2025

Geraint March 26, 2025 4 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, random images on the road in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, with my good friend, John. It was a beautiful day to be “out there” despite the wind, a little dust, and my allergies. I’m feeling better today as I’m indoors to avoid unnecessary pollen.

We went looking for these characters but only found where they’d been! We did find a few other places and creatures that made our day. The shot below is from a few years ago. I wanted to share our expectations.

At the old Lobatos Bridge, a road crew was inspecting the infrastructure with restricted traffic, so we walked across and stopped for a couple of shots looking north.

Blanca peak, Colorado with the Rio Grande — Blanca Peak, Colorado, and the Rio Grande.

The San Luis Valley is well known for its potatoes, and the area is scattered with abandoned bunkers attached to long abandoned farms in favor of large agri-businesses. All the more fun for us.

With the sod roof missing the midday shadows are abundant.

Raptor, red tailed hawk. — A Red-tailed Hawk, I think.

… and a Western Meadow Lark singing to its heart’s content as they do.

… and, in my opinion, the most inaptly named bird, the “Killdeer”

Killdeer at the stabilization reservoir.

Lastly, a quick stop to visit the Old San Acasio mission church. John got a tour of the history and miracles of the site. I found this painted picture on glass with some flies.

Window painting at the Old San Acacio Church, Colorado.

A great day out. Thanks for joining me, John.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

The Nature of March. 03-19-2025

Geraint March 19, 2025 No Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week’s images depict the nature of March.
The wind-swept madness of March came in like a lamb, and never mind the analogy of a lion, it morphed into a rhinoceros in an English tearoom. Haboob-like dust storms occurred earlier in the month, and again yesterday, they delayed flights and closed interstates with winds fanning the flames of wildfires.

The pictures of the Lunar Eclipse I’d planned to post this week didn’t occur due to the crazy March weather here. Thick clouds, freezing rain, and snow made sure of that.

That said, here are some images of the gentler side of March.

Chama River Road Cliffs and Windmill. — Spring Weather, Taos, NM

Here’s another short PDF I created in March a few years ago, with images from the San Luis Valley.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

Exciting, March 2025 Lunar Eclipse. 03-12-2025.

Geraint March 11, 2025 2 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a glimpse of the upcoming Lunar Eclipse. “The Moon will pass into Earth’s shadow and appear to turn red on the night of March 13 or early in the morning on March 14, depending on the time zone. Here’s what you need to know about the total lunar eclipse.” NASA

I’ve seen all of the lunar eclipses since the first one I photographed in 2008 from the old gas station in Tres Piedras. That picture wound up on the BBC worldwide as it wasn’t visible from many locations or because of cloud cover. A couple of others I have gone out to photograph have been stymied by cloud cover. Below is one lunar eclipse on a crystal clear evening I shot in January 2019.

And closer in. I love how the stars are visible all around.

A shot from May 2022.

Here’s more from NASA

I hope you get out there and that the sky is clear where you are.

As always, thanks for looking and all the support and friendship. Have a great week. G

Mountain Clouds, Storm Clearing. 03-05-2025

Geraint March 5, 2025 6 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, mountain clouds and the clearing storm over the peaks of the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness.

“You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still, and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.”
Franz Kafka

In the picture below I was looking east out of the kitchen window yesterday morning as the clouds cleared revealing the foothills of the Columbine Hondo Wilderness. The lens hood directly masked the sun and the field of view was so bright that I didn’t see the sundog/rainbow in the shot until I downloaded the image.

Mountain clouds and clearing storm, San Cristobal, NM

I like surprises and I’d barely left the room… ok, I went out to the garden. I had to go further afield for this shot.

Close-up of sundog/rainbow with mountain clouds — Close-up of sundog/rainbow, over the Columbine Hondo Wilderness.

As I panned the camera to the left and in a northeasterly direction the winds became stronger and began whipping up the clouds and fresh snow that fell overnight.

A closer crop.

The sun lighting up the trees on the ridge with the blowing snow created a fiery scene in the close-up shot below.

Winter weather and wind — Winter weather, wind, and light.

And a little bird (Starling) watching with me.

And sunset that evening on my neighbor’s tree and those same mountain peaks.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week where you are. G

Scenes From Winter Past. 02-26-2025

Geraint February 26, 2025 6 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a few scenes from winter past. It was 64º F (17.5º C) yesterday. Tee shirt weather, almost. It got me thinking about the winters we’ve had in the past.

I pulled a few images I found while submitting 40 images for the New Mexico Treasures 2026 Calendar. I believe this year’s 2025 calendar has sold out.

The first image was shot in December 2005. The snow came and went, came and went again frequently that winter. It was a cold day but not cold enough to freeze the river. This image is one of my best sellers and one of the first digital vertical stitched panoramas I’ve made.

December from winter past — December on the Rio Hondo from winter past.

The next image was shot in February 2008, a good year for snow. Here’s the same location in summer.

Rio Grande in snow, from the Taos Juncrion bridge — Rio Grande in snow from the Taos Junction bridge.

Winter Past in the Ranchos Valley was also shot in 2008 looking north to Taos Pueblo Mountain.

Winter Past in the Ranchos Valley also shot in 2008 — Ranchos Valley fields with Taos Pueblo Mountain.

This piñon pine tree stands out against the sky on the ridge descending from Bobcat Pass elevation 9820 feet (2,990 meters).

Tree on ridge at Bobcat Pass — Tree on the ridge at Bobcat Pass.

Out the kitchen window in December 2013.

Blowing snow, San Cristobal NM — Blowing snow, San Cristobal, NM.

Just a few miles downstream from the Taos Junction Bridge in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is this scene, shot in December 2014. Sunny but very cold.

December 2014 Orilla verde recreation area — Orilla Verde Recreation Area.

A flock of Red-winged Blackbirds was shot in January 2016 in Arroyo Hondo across from the liquor store and market. This year we’ve had many larger flocks in our cottonwood and elm trees.

Red winged Blackbirds, Arroyo Hondo NM — Red-winged Blackbirds, Arroyo Hondo NM.

Finally, the image below is not from a past winter but from May 1, 2016. It sure looked and felt like winter. Of course, the sun came out the next day and it vanished leaving muddy dirt roads and trails in its wake.

Snow in Arroyo Hondo, in May — Arroyo Hondo Valley

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G.

Blanca Peak, Monte Vista. 02-19-2025

Geraint February 18, 2025 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM, and beyond. This week, a road shot of Blanca Peak, the whole massif in color and black and white, followed by a shot of the sandhill cranes, soon to arrive at the Monte Vista NWR, flying over a herd of elk as they make their way north.

I’m rather partial to the black and white.

Blanca Massif, Colorado, Black and White — Blanca Massif, Colorado, Black, and White.

The cranes return every year in mid-March to the Monte Vista NWR. Let’s go!

Sandhill cranes and elk at the Monte Vista NWR, Colorado.

And just for good measure a flock of Sandhill Cranes with a backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo (Rocky Mountains).

Sandhill cranes, Rocky mountains — Sandhill Cranes, Rocky Mountains.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

Found In The San Luis Valley. 02-12-2025

Geraint February 12, 2025 4 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week the San Luis Valley, and some random images I found recently browsing for stock imagery.

Wall treatment, and lighting Alamosa, CO.

Reflection, Alamosa railyards, San Luis Valley, CO.

wooden door with pullring. — Wooden barn door with pull ring.

Red Barns, Capulin Colorado — Red Barns, Capulin, Colorado.

Red barns in snow.

White Homestead in snow with birds.

If you want to read more about the San Luis Valley. Also check out my photography tour/workshops in the area.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. Stay warm and safe. G

Crescent Moon, Venus, Sunset. 02-05-2025

Geraint February 5, 2025 2 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM where the temperature is a balmy 60º F (15.5ºC) This week the crescent moon and Veus with a beautiful sunset. Red-winged Blackbirds, a crow, and the Village of Valdez, NM

The view from the front gate. All rather pleasant to watch.

Crescent moon, venus, and a sunset — Crescent Moon, Venus, and the sunset.

I zoomed in a little closer,

This year we’ve had large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, and Evening Grosbeaks, in the old cottonwood tree and Siberian Elm tree each morning and evening. Last year we had thousands of Pinyon Jays in the valley but they haven’t returned this year… yet!

Red-winged blackbirds and a crow, San Cristobal.

The Lewis’s Woodpecker has returned which I’m happy to see.

If you want to see more birds, click here, or here.

Below is the Village of Valdez, just north of Taos in the snow. The scene depicts the chapel of San Antonio de Padua in the center of the village plaza. This picture was taken in winter 2007. It’s fun to relive past moments and look at them with a fresh perspective eighteen years later.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

Chair Work. New Work, 01-29-2025

Geraint January 29, 2025 8 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, new chair work. It’s spring-like weather out there, including the cold wind. And as of 30 minutes ago snow. I’m gearing up for new projects this year, starting with the pieces below.

If you remember the images I posted from my show in October 2022 you’ll see where I’m going with my new pieces.

Below is a large print on paper or canvas, entitled “Twenty One Chairs'” photographed with a storm brewing, just north of Taos.

New Chair work pieces, twenty one chairs Wild River RA — New chair work, Twenty One Chairs. 38″ x 60″

Three chairs and a tree. 40″ x 60″ paper or canvas

One Chair in the aspens. — One chair in the aspens. 32″ x 40″ paper or canvas

Two white chairs with aspens — Two white chairs in aspen grove. 26″ x 60″ paper or canvas

The image below is one taken in Ranchos de Taos twenty years ago. I like its simplicity and to look back on images that inspire my work today.

I’m back at it sculpting new pieces and will post them and more of these large prints in a “new work” gallery on this website as they become available. Stay tuned.

As always. Thank you for looking. G

The Stunning Great Blue Heron. 01-22-2025

Geraint January 22, 2025 14 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week the Great Blue Heron, (GBH) and a poem by the late great Mary Oliver.

Heron Rises From The Dark, Summer Pond

So heavy
is the long-necked, long-bodied heron,
always it is a surprise
when her smoke-colored wings

open
and she turns
from the thick water,
from the black sticks

of the summer pond,
and slowly
rises into the air
and is gone.

Then, not for the first or the last time,
I take the deep breath
of happiness, and I think
how unlikely it is

that death is a hole in the ground,
how improbable
that ascension is not possible,
though everything seems so inert, so nailed

back into itself–
the muskrat and his lumpy lodge,
the turtle,
the fallen gate.

And especially it is wonderful
that the summers are long
and the ponds so dark and so many,
and therefore it isn’t a miracle

but the common thing,
this decision,
this trailing of the long legs in the water,
this opening up of the heavy body

into a new life: see how the sudden
gray-blue sheets of her wings
strive toward the wind; see how the clasp of nothing
takes her in.

Mary Oliver

Great Blue Heron about to lift off — Action …

“Native American Lore: In Native American cultures, herons represent wisdom and patience. They are seen as intelligent creatures that guide humans to live harmoniously with nature.”

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. Stay warm. I hope you enjoyed the snow in Florida. Send some our way. G