Category: Photo of the Week

Winter Weather, Snow, Book Covers. 11-13-24

Geraint November 13, 2024 5 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, some scenes of winter weather, two new book covers, and snow. It’s been a cold week, but it’s warming up again. The heaters are cleaned and running, and the sun is shining. I hope it’s beautiful where you are.

Winter weather, Ranchos de Taos pond — Winter weather, Ranchos Valley.

Last week we took a drive during the snowfall here. Little did we know that the 12 to 15 inches we received in San Cristobal amounted to about an inch in downtown Taos as you can see from the image of the little chapel on La Loma Plaza in Taos. We have been fortunate to get hit by lots of moisture this year in our village north of Taos.

St Clare’s statue was huddled under a cloak of snow before it slid off.

Saint Clare, Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos — Saint Clare’s statue at the Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos.

Sunflower seed pods wearing snow cap crowns.

Sunflower pods in winter weather — Sunflower seed pods.

The following are two of my images used on the covers of recently published books. I’m honored to share these publications with you.

Ranchitos road Taos, mirror image — Ranchitos Road, Taos, mirror image.

Lise Goett’s book of poetry, “The Radiant”

Lisa Goett's book cover "The Radiant" — Lise Goett’s book cover “The Radiant”

The second cover is from J.M. Mitchell’s Novel “Migrations of Butterflies and Lies”, Check it out here on Amazon

Ghost Ranch NM — J.M. Mitchell’s Novel “Migrations of Butterflies and Lies”

And the cover…

J.M. Mitchell's book cover Migrations of Butterflies and Lies — Book Cover.

You can also purchase a copy of J.M. Mitchell’s book “Migrations of Butterflies and Lies.” at Barnes and Noble.

If you are writing a book and would like to use an image of mine on the cover or inside, please get in touch. All proceeds go to a local Taos non-profit for kids.

And finally an autumn leaf on a winter pond.

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

Pond Ripples, The Second Coming. 11-06-24

Geraint November 6, 2024 16 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week Pond Ripples, a photo I shot in a mountain lake almost twenty years ago, and a poem by W.B. Yeats.

Click on the image to enlarge.

The Second Coming

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

William Butler Yeats

As always, thank you for looking. G

Pond ripples, bosque del apache NWR — Bosque del apache NWR

Red Barn, Awesome Comet, Snow. 10-30-2024.

Geraint October 30, 2024 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, the red barn and its neighbors, Comet Atlas, the Arroyo Hondo cottonwood tree, and an image from October 27, 2020, with the piles of snow we have unfortunately not received this year.

The red barn is deteriorating before my eyes. The siding might as well fall off while I’m standing there looking, and it’s also starting to twist from the prevailing winds.

Red barn with anthill and Ute Mountain San Luis Valley Colorado — Red barn with anthill and Ute Mountain, San Luis Valley Colorado.

If we ever get snow again the scene will look like this.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) shot on an iPhone 13 Pro Max on October 13, 2024. I couldn’t resist the ease of what the iPhone can accomplish these days. The comet image is a little soft however, night mode on the phone is very good for handheld shots. It’s even better on a tripod.

Arroyo Hondo cottonwood, October29, 2024 — Arroyo Hondo Cottonwood, October 29, 2024.

The same scene on November 1, 2018.

This scene below is on our deck on October 27, 2020.

Snow cover on the deck, San Cristobal, October 27 2020 — Snow cover San Cristobal, October 27, 2020

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

Powerful Bighorn Sheep, A Petroglyph, And More. 10-23-2024

Geraint October 23, 2024 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Bighorn sheep in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area, along with some random mages from the last few weeks. Autumn colors have been stunning this year, and I’ve been busy on photo tours with great photographers/clients. Now it’s time to settle in, light the fires, and enjoy the remaining colors and exceptional light around us.

These bighorn sheep in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area were head-butting each other. When I pulled up they stopped. The dogs had never seen anything like it.

*Bighorn Sheep, Wild and Scenic Rivers Recreation Area, NM.*

Avanyu. A water serpent petroglyph along the Rio Grande south of Taos.

The fall colors keep on giving in the woods near Hopewell Lake where I spent seven days this month.

That cottonwood tree in last weekend’s storm in Arroyo Hondo!

I was surprised to see these hardy plants thriving in the colder temperatures. It was the only group of this plant, that I spotted on my two-mile walk with the dogs.

*Blanket Flower, Wild and Scenic Rivers Recreation Area.*

I took a short drive on the night that nearly everyone in the northern hemisphere could see the aurora borealis. This was the view I had from the foothills behind our house. I used an iPhone and stitched six images together. The next evening I was prepared with a camera and tripod but the northern lights weren’t visible.

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

Falling Leaves In The Forest, 10-16-2024

Geraint October 16, 2024 16 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week falling leaves in the aspen groves around northern New Mexico.

Over the last three weeks, I’ve spent many hours in the woods on photo tours with clients from the East Coast, West Coast, Dallas, Houston, Albuquerque, and beyond.

One thing that always moves me is being overwhelmed by the golden light underneath the aspen canopy. Standing in the aspen groves with leaves falling all around is another.

In the following images, I wanted to create a feeling of standing amongst the aspens with leaves falling around me. I hope you like them.

Aspen grove with leaves — Leaves and aspen trunks.

As always thank you for looking. I hope you have a great week. G

On The Taos Plateau, 10-09-2024

Geraint October 9, 2024 10 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week on the Taos Plateau, a last shot today on an exhilerating photo tour with Scott Purdy. Sorry for the delay in posting… I spaced out what day it was.

I’m thinking of all my friends in Florida as I look at this cloud, and send love.

San Antonio Mountain corral — San Antonio Mountain with the old corral.

The old corral west of Taos on the western edge of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

Old corral, Taos Plateau — Old sheep corral on the Taos Plateau.

I think it’s a sheep herders corral. It looks like it would never pen in a herd of cattle.

Thanks for looking. I apologize again for the limited post. I really did forget what day it was. G

In the Aspens, Fall In New Mexico. 10-01-2024

Geraint October 1, 2024 14 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, in the aspens. It’s leaf-peeping time in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. I hope you’re able to get out there. I’ll have six days on the road with wonderful friends and great clients.

I did some intentional camera movement (ICM) in the first few shots. I’ve done it before, no two pictures are alike.

All were shot around Hopewell Lake along Highway 64 in NM.

A favorite spot.

Aspens and cloud Cumbres Pass, Colorado — Aspens and Cloud, Cumbres Pass, Colorado.

As always, thanks for looking. I hope it’s a beautiful Fall/Autumn where you are. G

Ute Mountain, Taos Mountain, Mountain Biking. 09-25-2024

Geraint September 25, 2024 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Ute Mountain and the Rio Grande in the Wild and Scenic Rivers area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Taos Mountain is preparing for winter and mountain biking in the Taos Ski Valley.

I love it when we visit this location, I feel sure you know it, and the shadows from the fast-moving clouds pass over the landscape creating numerous composition possibilities. I hope my clients get some images they want to share.

Ute Mountain Rio Grande Wild Rivers — Ute Mountain and the Rio Grande.

This picture of Taos Mountain has been popping up recently. One of these days I’ll print one for myself and hang it on our living room wall. It will warm up the room as we settle into the colder seasons.

Taos Mountain, Pueblo Peak, sunset — Taos Mountain, Pueblo Peak, Sunset.

I watched this guy head down a trail at the terrain park in Taos Ski Valley. I composited nine images to get the shot. It looks like he was out on a Sunday ride, not a mountain biking course. There’s a nice trail to hike nearby.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

San Luis Valley Homestead. 09-16-2024

Geraint September 17, 2024 6 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week my favorite abandoned San Luis Valley homestead. I think you know the one!

On a photo tour/workshop last Monday we visited the high country around Hopewell Lake, the Chama and Antonito depots on the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad, and a few favorite locations in the San Luis Valley.

It rained most of the day but we were tenacious and worked between raindrops. The colors are beginning to turn and are vibrant from the rain under an overcast sky.

We worked in this location and I’m looking forward to seeing what my client Larry came up with.

San Luis Valley homestead through the fence.

Next, I’m heading out on a three-day trip, we’ll see what each day reveals.

I had a great show last weekend. Thanks to all who came out and for all the support, purchases, and many new collectors.

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

Taos Artist Combo 3, Taos Art Shows. 09-11-2024

Geraint September 11, 2024 6 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week I’m busy printing for two art shows. If you happen to be in Taos please join me at one or both shows, at the Taos Artist Combo 3 this coming weekend September 13-15 at the Stables Art Gallery, and the second at the Sliver Gallery at Taos Lifestyle opening Friday, September 27—more details to follow next week.

Taos Artist Comb 3
Stables Gallery at the TCA
September 13-15, Noon to 5 pm
Artists reception September 13, 5-7 pm

Taos Artist Combo 3 at the Stables Gallery Taos. — Featured Print, “Arroyo Hondo Cottonwood”.

Below are a couple more featured images at the Taos Artist Combo 3 show.

Arroyo Seco Ladder — Arroyo Seco Abstract.

Acoma Pueblo ladder and adobes — Acoma Pueblo ladder shadows.

The Stables Galley is located at 133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571.

“Sliver Gallery” is at 815 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM 87571.

I look forward to seeing you at either or both gallery shows.

Taos Artist Combo 3 participating artists.

As always thank you for looking. Have a great week. G