Greetings from New Mexico. This week, some images of fall colors taken in previous years on trips to Crested Butte. I’ll have some of these images as prints in the upcoming Artist Combo Show in Taos on September 12-14 at the Stables Gallery. I look forward to seeing you there.
Aspens, peaks, and clouds, Colorado.
Close-up of the peaks and colors.
Near Lost Lake, Colorado.
Taken from Last Dollar Road, Colorado.
I love making prints. In days past, it wasn’t a photograph until it was printed. This is the first time I’ve printed this image. You can see it at the show next week.
Crested Butte, Colorado, is renowned for its stunning fall colors, making it a popular destination for photographers, hikers, and nature lovers. The area is particularly famous for its vibrant aspen groves, which turn brilliant shades of yellow, gold, and sometimes red during the autumn months.
Best Time to Visit. The peak color in Crested Butte typically occurs from late September to early October. However, the exact timing can vary each year based on weather conditions, altitude, and other factors. It’s a good idea to check local reports or contact local businesses for the most current information on the status of the leaves.
Best Places to See Fall Colors.
Kebler Pass – Often cited as one of the best places in Colorado to see fall colors, Kebler Pass is accessible via a scenic drive on Gunnison County Road 12. The area is known for having one of the largest aspen groves in the United States.
Gothic Road – Leading north from Crested Butte towards the ghost town of Gothic, this route offers spectacular views of aspen-lined valleys against a backdrop of rugged mountain peaks.
Ohio Pass – Connecting Gunnison to Crested Butte via Ohio Creek Road, this less-traveled pass offers stunning views of the Castles, a unique rock formation, amidst the golden aspens.
Brush Creek Road – Southeast of Crested Butte, this area provides a mix of aspen forests and open meadows, offering a different perspective on the fall colors.
Slate River Road – This route provides beautiful vistas of the surrounding mountains and valleys filled with colorful aspens, especially stunning with early morning or late afternoon light.
As always, thanks for looking and following along. G
Greetings from New Mexico! This week, I find myself drawn back to the mystical shores of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, nestled on the rugged northeast coast of England. I am particularly enchanted by the island’s quaint and curious overturned fishing boat storage sheds. These unique structures, repurposed from old boats, stand as a testament to the island’s rich maritime heritage and the ingenuity of its people. They evoke a sense of history and charm that is quintessentially Lindisfarne.
Unseaworthy lobster fishing boat with Lindisfarne Castle.
Boat shed or herring shed on Holy Island
Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England. It is renowned for its medieval religious heritage and its picturesque natural scenery. Fishing has been a part of the island’s economy and culture for centuries, given its coastal location and abundant marine resources.
Two overturned-boats, repurposed storage sheds.
On Lindisfarne, you can find traditional fishing boat storage sheds, known locally as “herring sheds” or “upside-down boats.” These sheds are unique and picturesque, contributing to the island’s charm and historical ambiance. They are made from old wooden fishing boats turned upside down, with the hulls repurposed to serve as roofs. This method of recycling old boats provides a practical and durable solution for storage needs, while also preserving a piece of the island’s maritime history.
Overturned boat storage shed.
These boat sheds are typically located near the harbor, where they blend seamlessly into the landscape, often painted in bright colors that add to their visual appeal. They are used to store fishing gear, nets, and other equipment, serving as a testament to the island’s ongoing fishing activities.
Two overturned boat storage sheds.
Visiting Lindisfarne offers a glimpse into the traditional life and practices of its inhabitants, with the boat sheds standing as a unique cultural and historical feature. The island itself is accessible via a causeway that is submerged under water during high tide, adding to its mystique and the sense of isolation from the mainland. This, along with its rich history, including the famous Lindisfarne Priory and Castle, makes it a fascinating destination for tourists interested in history, nature, and traditional British coastal life.
Pilgrims cross the tidal sands to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne via the Pilgrim’s Way, a route marked by posts that can only be safely crossed at low tide when the sands are firm. The three-mile walk takes about 90 minutes and leads to the island where St. Aidan and St. Cuthbert established a significant monastic community. Modern pilgrims follow the same historic path, using refuge boxes for safety from the swift currents.
Pilgrims way, Holy Island.
Finally, with its proximity to the coast, lichen grows on everything. Below is a print of lichen on the face of a Celtic cross. I’ll have this image and some of the overturned boat images in my upcoming show.
Lichen on a Celtic cross.
As always, thanks for looking. I hope you have a good week. G
As fall approaches and temperatures begin to drop, Taos, New Mexico, gears up for its Fall Arts season, featuring numerous events throughout the period. This is a magical time in New Mexico, as the landscape embarks on a vibrant transformation with the sights, sounds, scents, and colors of autumn. Soon, the aspens and cottonwoods will drape the landscape in a golden cloak, shining brightly against the blue skies in the crisp light. The night skies are exceptionally clear at this time of year, with the moon, constellations, galaxies, and the Milky Way illuminating the night like few other places on Earth.
This morning, the chill in the air was enough to require an extra shirt. After a brief walk with the dogs, I settled into printing some images—old favorites, iconic classics, and new prints for our annual Taos Artists Combo #4.
If you happen to be in Taos during the weekend of September 12-14, 2025, it would be wonderful to see you at the Stables Gallery at the TCA, located at 133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM.
Below is a selection of prints featured in the exhibition. I’m going through the archives alphabetically, hence this series from Arroyo Hondo.
Morning pasture.
Arroyo Hondo Tree.
Fall colors in Arroyo Hondo.
Moonrise with Horse.
Moon set, Arroyo Hondo, NM.
Print of the week and one more in the show.
Cottonwood Willows.
There’ll be many more images from all around northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.
As always, thanks for looking. I hope to see you in Taos. Have a great week. G
Greetings from New Mexico! This week, I’m focusing on the Milkweed plant. The images below were taken as part of an exhibit on various seeds. I photographed the plant across three seasons: spring, summer, and fall. This year, the plant is prolific in the neighborhood.
Milkweed Umbels.
The plant belongs to the genus Asclepias, a group of plants known for their unique properties and ecological importance, particularly for monarch butterflies.
Butterfly.
Plants are primarily perennial herbs, characterized by their milky latex-containing sap. They typically have complex flowers that are uniquely structured to facilitate pollination primarily by insects. The flowers are often clustered in umbels and can vary in color from pink and orange to green and white, depending on the species.
Monarch Butterfly.
Milkweed is famously known for its crucial role in the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly. Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves, which contain toxic cardenolides. These compounds are sequestered by the caterpillars, providing them with a defense mechanism against predators even in their adult butterfly stage.
Seed pod opens.
Seed pod.
This particular pod birthed the whole seed group at once. I picked up the pod and it rolled out into my hand. I took it home. It stayed intact for me to photograph.
Seeds.
The silky floss of the milkweed seeds is buoyant and has been used historically for filling life jackets, as well as in insulation and textile manufacturing.
Seed pod opening.
Seed pod and floss.
Seeds in the breeze.
Seed.
Given its importance to the monarch butterfly, many conservation efforts focus on preserving and expanding milkweed habitats. Gardeners and conservationists often encourage planting native species of milkweed to aid in these efforts.
This one resembles my hair first thing in the morning.
Greetings from New Mexico! This week, I’m revisiting the topic of llama trekking in New Mexico. Approximately twelve years ago, and again five years ago, I was assigned by AAA to cover stories on llama trekking adventures in the state. The first assignment led me, along with a guide and clients, up the Columbine Trail. This trail winds through the mountains, surrounded by wildflowers and lush meadows of tall grass. The second story took us on a different journey down a steep canyon trail into the Rio Grande Gorge. There, we enjoyed a leisurely day that included a long lunch, lounging and relaxing in chairs, with time spent exploring the local flora, fauna, and ancient petroglyphs.
Some of the petroglyphs seen on the Rio Grande trip, mule deer and bighorn sheep.
Petroglyphs, Rio Grande Gorge.
Stay tuned for more on upcoming llama adventures.
A few nights ago, the moon was bright and, in some parts of the world, it occulted, passed in front of Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius.
In my region, what I observed was still fascinating, although I needed to take two separate photographs: one of the moon and another of the star Antares, which is named because it rivals the color of the planet Mars. However, Mars is no match for Antares in size; Antares is significantly larger.
Moon and Antares, from the deck, San Cristobal, NM.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM! This week, the neighborhood is bursting with wildflowers. I took an early morning hike with the dogs today. It was still quite cool, and the signs of incoming weather prompted us to keep it short, a 4.5-mile round trip on the Columbine Canyon Trail. The wildflowers are in full bloom and looking beautiful, although the dogs seemed a bit impatient, frequently giving me looks that seemed to ask, “Are we stopping again?” We turned around and started heading back down the trail, chatting and interacting with other hikers along the way. Although it’s mostly uphill and the climb is moderate, the descent is much quicker. I need to train the dogs to slow me down on the way down; their pulling was very helpful on the way up!
Columbine along the creek.
Columbine, Fireweed and other plants.
Mexican Hat flowers everywhere, especially along highways and meadows at 10,000 ft.
Indian Paintbrush in the Valle Vidal, Valley of Life.
I think this hummingbird is in amongst Rocky Mountain Penstemon growing wild in the Moreno Valley, NM.
Hummingbird in the Moreno Valley, NM
My friend David Marks on the trail a few years ago in Taos Ski Valley. Check out his website for some superb wildlife and his journey in phoytography.
Photographing wildflowers in the creek at Taos Ski Valley.
Next month the sunflowers wildflowers of the valley will be showing up along the roadsides. I hope I get to see them this year before the road crews mow them down.
Here’s the print of the week, I call it Sunflower Shower.
Sunflower Shower.
As always, thanks for looking. I think my comments section is working again. So if you’re inclined to comment, I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, the gallery wall.
Repairing and painting windows, washing the dogs from all the mud brought on by the glorious rain that we’ve had in the area, and editing images for AAA Journeys Magazine brought me right up to now, with a few moments for my weekly website post. The real reason could be that I haven’t been on the road out shooting much over the last few weeks.
This image was taken in Cimarron, NM.
Enjoy!
Gallery Wall – “Another Interpretation”.
I found the Last Supper in this picture on a grave marker in the San Luis Valley, Colorado.
The “Last Supper” held
I found this image of a sticker on a guardrail near a most pristine vista, the farthest removed location from a nervous breakdown.
Gallery Wall “Nervous breakdown”
I have two shows coming up, one in September and one next May, both at the Stables Gallery in Taos. I’ll post more on these events later.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a flashback with images originally posted on July 16, going back fifteen years. I’ve been on assignment this week for AAA magazine, lots of images to process, so I’m posting images here from the archive.
I hope you enjoy this flashback. You can see more images from the early years at this link: The Photo of the Day 2005-2016
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM! This week, the Taos Pueblo Pow Wow is taking place, and below are some images that reflect the vibrant energy and light of the event. If you’re in Taos this coming weekend, don’t miss the chance to experience the Taos Pueblo Pow Wow. It promises to be an enthralling experience. The event runs from July 11, 2025, to July 13, 2025. Hope to see you there!
Pow Wow, Taos Pueblo, and rainbow.
Below are some images from the middle 1980’s, shot on Kodachrome slide film and scanned.
Waiting to dance.
Dancer.
Dancer.
And the year before the Covid shutdown. “Chief from Saskatchewan”.