Category: Photo of the Week

In the Garden with Buddha, the Birds and a Moth

Geraint May 19, 2021 18 Comments

Not a lot of words are needed here. Suffice to say I’m playing around with my new Sony 100-400mm lens, and what better place than the garden. The birds are willing accomplices and help me put the lens through its paces. I really like this lens a lot.

Garden Buddha with seashells, San Cristobal.

Black Headed Grosbeak — Black-headed Grosbeak.

Juvenile Black Headed Grosbeak — Female immature Black-headed Grosbeak.

Juvenile Evening Grosbeak — Female Evening Grosbeak.

Male Black-chinned Hummingbird, tasting the nectar or the air.

A Brown-headed Cowbird returned to the garden this year.

White-sided Sphinx Moth, often referred to as a hummingbird moth.

Thanks for looking. See you next week. G

White-faced Ibis, White Recliner, Ranch Cowboys, Muskrat Video.

Geraint May 12, 2021 4 Comments

It’s been a fun three weeks of photo tours and workshops. I get a break next week and head out again shortly after. Thanks to all those who have joined me. I have dates open through the rest of the year and beyond if you are interested in a one-on-one photography experience.

White Recliner Carson National Forest, NM

Ranch gate cowboys — Ranch gate cowboy cutouts with setting moon, Taos NM.

I shot this short video of one of the few Muskrats we watched in the Valle Vidal (Valley of Life) last summer. Looking forward to getting back to the high country this summer on extended photography trips and some relaxation.

Thanks for looking. Keep staying well and healthy. Geraint

Snow, Cattle Guard, Osprey, Elk, RV, Road G, Chile Trompe l’oeil

Geraint May 5, 2021 18 Comments

Some shots around the extended neighborhood these last couple of weeks. Still a lot of snow in the high country and a brightly colored cattle guard glowing like Kodachrome® yellow. An Osprey with a half-eaten fish on a fence post in the Chama Valley followed by an elk skull and antlers with a backdrop of San Antonio Mountain and great sky over the Volcanic Plateau. A few days ago we cruised north into the San Luis Valley and found an RV standing alone under a brooding sky and the Road G intersection with Road 7 looking north towards Blanca Peak and south to Ute Mountain. Last but not least on a photo tour/workshop two weeks ago, Chile Trompe l’oeil in Costilla and El Rito, NM. Thanks for checking in and looking and for all the great comments, emails, and compliments. G

High Country Snow fence — High country snow and fence near Hopewell Lake, NM.

Cattle Guard, Kodachrome Yellow — Cattle Guard, thoughts of Kodachrome come to mind.

Osprey Chama NM — Osprey on a fence post with half eaten fish in Chama, NM.

Elk head antlers — Elk head, antlers with San Antonio Mountain in the Taos Volcanic Plateau.

Road G San Luis Valley looking north — Road G in the San Luis Valley looking north to Blanca Peak.

Road G San Luis Valley Ute Mountain — Road G in the San Luis Valley looking south to Ute Mountain.

Blue door with chile Trompe l'oeil in Costilla, NM — Blue door with red chile ristras Trompe l’oeil in Costilla, NM.

Painted Chiles — Painted chiles on El Farolito Restaurant in El Rito, NM

The Light, Both Ways

Geraint April 28, 2021 8 Comments

The drive home yesterday with a quick stop for this moment. Looking West, looking East and as always thank you for looking. G

Three Peaks, Tres Orejas — Storm breaking over Tres Orejas (Three Peaks).

A line of light in the shadow of Taos Mountain

Light on El Salto, Taos NM — Light breaking and some snow on El Salto, Taos NM

Raptor and a Sears Kit Home

Geraint April 21, 2021 4 Comments

The old charm of New Mexico in two images presented with an old look of a scratched and worn film base. The first is a hawk launching over an old homestead near La Jara, Colorado. The second, an iconic Sears kit home in Estancia, NM. I’m on photo tours this week so I’ll keep it short. If you’d like to join me on a trip, visit my photo tour/workshop page. I’ll look forward to seeing you here.

Homestead and raptor — A raptor launches over a homestead near La Jara, Colorado.

Sears kit home, Estancia, New Mexico — A Sears kit home in the town of Estancia, New Mexico

Thanks for looking. G

The Valley, The Desert

Geraint April 14, 2021 22 Comments

The valleys are beginning to show signs of green. The desert has water running through it. The light illuminates the many forms and geology of the area.

San Luis Valley tree and clouds — Cloud formations with a complimentary tree.

Ghost Ranch, New Mexico — As they say, “a river runs through it” in Ghost Ranch, NM

Arroyo Blanco formations — Many intriguing rock formations in Arroyo Blanco, Abiquiu, New Mexico

I’m never at a loss for places to explore in this area. Thanks for looking. Stay well. G

Blanca Peak Massif, Colorado

Geraint April 7, 2021 9 Comments

Road trip to Alamosa for covid shots. No matter the reason for the trip, there’s always something to see. On this occasion a very large storm cell moving through the Central San Luis Valley carrying spitting kernels of snow. Standing up in the bed of the truck was stinging but exhilarating, to say the least. It didn’t stop me. We stopped into other locations as well for the black and white below. There are 14,000 ft peaks in this range behind those clouds.

Blanca Peak Massif, highway 160 Colorado — Storm cell, Blanca Peak Massif, and Highway 160, Colorado.

Storm cell San Luis Valley, Colorado — Storm cell over Blanca Peak, San Luis Valley, Colorado.

Following are a few pictures from one of the five photo tours/workshops during the last month. I’m booking tours/workshops from June through the rest of the year and beyond. Let me know if you want to join me on the road in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

Rust Paint Patina — Rust, Paint, Patina on a farm tractor in Jaroso, Colorado.

Combination mail boxes, Jaroso — Combination mail boxes with Eagle in the Jaroso, post office, Colorado.

Garcia Colorado photo tour/workshop — Working the ruins in Garcia, Colorado on a photo tour/workshop.

Thanks for looking. Stay healthy. See you next week. G

Full Moon Rise, Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Geraint March 31, 2021 10 Comments

The full moon rising last Saturday over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado. Commonly known as the “Worm Moon” it’s also known by these names in other cultures. Crow Moon, Sap Moon, Moon of Winds, Fish Moon. Here’s a link to the names of full moons in many other cultures. I’m rather partial to “Crow moon”. The crows in our field get busy at this time of year and show up every morning before sunrise. This is a photo of a crow with the full moon back in early December. Despite the names bestowed on a full moon, it’s a most wondrous site to behold rising over fresh snow-covered peaks of the “Sangres”. This was shot and cropped from a very large panoramic image on a photo tour/workshop. Join me in this area for a trip to see sights like this.

Full worm moon rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado. — The full “worm moon” rising last Saturday over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado

Here’s the panorama of the whole scene. If you have room for a large print, the detail in both is amazing. Prints will be available soon.

The full moon rising last Saturday over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado — Large panorama of the full moon rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado

As always, thank you for looking. G

Taos Mountain Clouds

Geraint March 24, 2021 6 Comments

One photo this week of Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak) in black and white. I had a longer post planned but the hosting company server crashed this morning, until an hour ago. They emailed and were very gracious and apologized and let me know things were up and running. So, I hope you enjoy this image from this last week, this week.

Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak) Taos New Mexico. — A view of Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak) across El Prado (the Meadows) with late afternoon light and cattle.

San Luis Valley Snow Day Out

Geraint March 17, 2021 32 Comments

Last Sunday snow was forecast, so we headed out into the San Luis Valley, Colorado for a half-day in what was supposed to be blizzard conditions. I’ve been in far worst blizzards. The snow held off for some time, however, after the initial delightful powdery stuff, the snow was thick and wet. Wet snow just didn’t cut it. Of course, we made a day of it and took lunch and cups of tea. When we got home I warmed up with a large whiskey.

This area is one of my most favorite places to visit for personal work or on a photo tour/workshop. On this trip, I was looking to photograph familiar locations in more minimalist compositions. As a side note, my friend and author John Nichols told me he derived inspiration for his book “The Milagro Beanfield War” in this area.