Greetings from San Cristobal. This week, my favorite cottonwood tree in all the state, and random black and whites on the road in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.
I think the colors on this cottonwood peaked this morning. I never tire of seeing it whenever I commute to or from Taos, in all seasons.
Arroyo Hondo, NM.
It’s that time of year when shadows return and traverse the adobe walls of the Saint Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos.
The church of San Jose de Gracia in Las Trampas is one of my favorite stops on the High Road to Taos. I’ve made many trips there over the years. Last week I watched a number tourists pull over, wind down their windows and take a glance or a quick cellphone photo and immediately drive off. Sometimes I wonder what it’s like being a tourist snap-glancing their way around the planet?
Adobe, Las Trampas Church, on the High Road to Taos.
In the following image I cut out any distractions. Unlike this image where the moon completed the shot.
On the High Road to Taos, NM.
A few days ago I was on the road in another favorite location, on the state line in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.
Abandoned adobe, Costilla, NM.
Click on the image to expand.
Abandoned homestead and potatoe bunker, Colorado.
As always thank you for looking and all the comments and compliments. G
Greetings from San Cristobal in northern New Mexico. This week, the solar eclipse from the deck. Our perspective at this latitude gave us 80% coverage. We could have gone to Albuquerque for totality but decided to put our feet up, play with the dog, shoot a few pictures, and save on a tank of gas. The photos below were shot using a tripod with a Sony camera and lens. I purchased a couple of pairs of eclipse glasses that worked very well. They’ll come in handy for the total eclipse next April. I hope you saw the solar eclipse where you are.
Solar eclipse, October 14, 2023, San Cristobal, NM.
In the image below, I opened up the exposure to get the clouds that were surrounding the event. There is some refraction from the use of two neutral density filters but you get the idea.
October 14, 2023, solar eclipse. San Cristobal, NM.
The aspen groves continued to delight with colors at their peak in many areas. There is still a lot more peaking to come. I’ll be on a five-day photo tour during the coming week. It’s safe to say I’ll probably post more images.
Aspens and a sun star, Hopewell Lake, New Mexico.
Off the beaten path near Hopewell Lake, NM.
No trip in the area is complete without a stop at the Red Barn. It was a beautiful sunny day in the San Luis Valley, however, the barn looked a little forlorn later in the day under the brooding sky. I plan to keep documenting it until…
Red Barn, San Luis Valley, Colorado.
On the climb up the Cumbres Pass, the road crosses over the state line from New Mexico into Colorado. The picture below looked much more appealing in black and white during the midday sun. The type of clouds in the picture looked like this all day long. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway also crosses the pass. If we are lucky, we sometimes meet the train there.
Black and white near the Cumbres Pass, New Mexico.
We visit the location below numerous times throughout the year. Fall is my favorite.
Aspen grove and sky, Colorado.
As always thank you for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally. I look into the past for a glimpse at the upcoming future events on October 27, 28, and 29, 2023. Also, a little fall color from a few days ago scouting locations for this month’s photo tour/workshops.
If you are in Taos later this month, I hope to see you out and about. The Taos Mountain Balloon Rally is small, sometimes around 50/60 balloons. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is hugely attended with hundreds of colorful balloons in mass ascensions each morning. What we have here in Taos is fewer crowds and the proximity to Taos Mountain.
The images below of the balloons were shot in 2005/2006. Enjoy.
Balloon with snow-capped peaks.
Balloons over mountains in Taos, NM.
Two Balloons.
“The Moon’s a Balloon.”
Balloon in the Rio Grande Gorge.
Balloominaria (balloon luminaria) reflections.
In Red River, NM, Aspen Valley.
Aspens, Bobcat Pass, NM.
Please feel free to share my website with your friends and family.
As always, thank you for looking, and have a great week where you are. G.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week some images from a trip to Crested Butte in the high country of Colorado.
Last week, I mentioned a trip around the block, so this week we made a trip to the area around Crested Butte, in Colorado. We went for the fall color and also wanted to take a trip with our sweet girl, Coco, our labradoodle. It was a wonderful road trip, and we observed our 13-year-old in the back seat, always in the rearview mirror, and, more importantly, enjoying the great outdoors. She was a delight to travel with, and we’ll look forward to doing it again soon.
Just before we left on our trip to Crested Butte, we heard, along with the world, that someone had cut down the famous sycamore tree at Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland. It is a sad state of affairs, and sickening that one or two people could upset so many people by killing the famous long-lived tree, over 300 years old, featured in movies, documentaries, and millions of personal photos. When I came across the tree in the pictures below, I wanted to make an homage to lone trees everywhere. I shot it from three different viewpoints and it does appear to be growing up from the center of the rock formation.
Lone Tree at Lone Tree Gulch, Colorado.
Lone Tree at Lone Tree Gulch, Colorado.
Lone Tree at Lone Tree Gulch, Colorado.
After returning from Crested Butte, I wanted more of the autumn colors, so my son Dylan and I hiked up the “Italianos Trail” from the Rio Hondo Canyon. As you know, I had foot surgery earlier this year so I wanted to check out my hiking abilities. I used hiking poles for the first time, and things went very well. We stopped en route to take some pictures. I only brought my iPhone along, but you know what they say, “The best camera is the one you have with you”.
Here are a couple of images of the Italianos Creek.
Italianos Creek and trail, NM.
Close-up of Italianos Creek.
As always, Thank you for looking. I really appreciate all the comments and compliments. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, New Mexico. Autumn! It’s time to get out and make trips around the block.
The phrase “around the block” refers to day-long road trips we frequently take. A journey that will ultimately bring us back to where we started, and perhaps, because of the sights we’ve seen, we have been reminded of the home that is within us, wherever we go.
This week a few pictures from past trips around the long block in Colorado and a reminder of the upcoming autumn colors that are gradually manifesting here in northern New Mexico. My October schedule for private workshops and tours is almost full. I have a few days still open if you are going to be in the area and want to sign up.
On the road in Colorado, 2012.
Aspen reflections in the car windshield Ohio Creek Pass, Colorado.
A pond in the high country near Grand Mesa, Colorado.
Greetings from San Cristobal, New Mexico. This week, the grandeur of Taos Mountain. The light, the storm, and the mountain’s ever-present beauty drew me here. It is why I stayed and continue to marvel at its grandeur. Whenever I commute to Taos, about 15 miles south, there is always something stunning to see that inspires me to stop and take a picture. Maybe even a nasty hail storm, although wild and scary to drive through, has its natural beauty.
Storm across the meadow to Taos Mountain, (Pueblo Peak).
A few minutes after stopping to take the image below, I arrived home to the roads covered in fingernail-size hail. Nothing like the golf ball hail other places receive but plenty big enough to strafe the trees and plants.
Moisture is a good thing despite the ferocious way it arrives.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week I’ve included a late summer sunset with a rainbow in a super storm cloud.
Summer is almost over and autumn is upon us. The aspens and cottonwoods will shroud the landscape in a cape of gold, glowing against the blue skies in the pristine mountain light. At this time of year, the night skies are crystal clear. The moon, constellations, galaxies, and Milky Way light up the night sky like few other places on Earth. New Mexico will soon be a magic carpet ride into the throes of winter. It’s not too late to sign up for a fall photo tour.
The summer storm cloud picture below followed a week after my last post on the rainbows. Many pictures of this massive cloud were floating around on social media. Naturally, we are so fortunate where we live, that we only have to step outside into the garden for a spectacular view.
Rainbow storm cloud sunset San Cristobal, NM
Last weekend Pami and I drove to Salida, Colorado to the fiber arts festival. Pami did some shopping for alpaca yarns and I took a few images walking down the side streets and dark alleys!
Kayaks, Salida, Colorado.
Just over my shoulder was an artist painting a picture of these kayaks. This was his working palette.
Painters Palette, Salida, Colorado.
A dark alley in Salida, Colorado.
Honor Roll Wall, Salida, CO.
Brickwork with peeling paint, an alley in Salida CO.
Looking down, watching where I put my feet, was all I needed to see that “Love is all you need”… and water and food and housing…!
“Love is all you need!”
It poured with rain over the last three days. It isn’t over yet. I had errands to run in Taos so I stopped by the Saint Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos to add another image to my reflection collection. As I’ve said before, “I can’t resist a puddle!”.
Reflection at the Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos.
I went to a friend’s open studio last weekend and also got caught up on gallery visits, it’s been a while. I liked the vase of flowers and took a quick cellphone shot. After tinkering on a cell phone app I came up with this. Here’s another image I did using the “Formulas” app on my phone.
Vase of flowers in a Taos studio.
I got a number of print orders this week. I shipped this image of the Cliff Palace ruin in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado to Florida. I printed one for myself to hang in my office. If you would like a print for your wall, message me here!
Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde, Colorado.
I saw the scene below today on my drive home from town. This guy was trucking along the highway so I thought I’d catch a shot of him as he passed the flashing road work sign that has been there for three/four years. Road work? No problem!
Road work? No problem!
Summer is coming to an end and colors are turning on the tips of cottonwoods and aspens. I still have dates available for private photo tours and workshops. Last year was outstanding. Let me know if you are planning a trip to the area and would like a personalized guided trip.
As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week the Super, Blue Moon Rise from the deck at home in San Cristobal. I said I would share the moon rise if the skies were clear. They cooperated fully, with the thin veil of clouds adding an air of mystery.
I’ll begin with the first glow I saw about five minutes before the moon appeared. It gave me time to adjust my settings and anticipate the next few shots.
Super Blue Moon Rise San Cristobal, NM
The full moon’s appearance over the foothills.
Moon and trees on the ridge.
Super, Blue moon rise, in all its glory.
Of course, every moon rise is a sight to see. I am always excited as the moon clears the mountains where we live. Also, there is nothing like having a bright moon that you can drive with your headlights off and see the driveway ahead and the whole valley beyond lit up. The upside is that it’s like daylight in the house, so no nightlights are needed. The downside, sleep may be elusive on such a night.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, super rainbows and a supermoon moonrise, around the Taos Valley. The Blue, Supermoon is this evening. If it looks spectacular and we are not clouded over I will post a shot next week.
The rainbows began with the monsoon rains that we finally experienced in abundance in the San Cristobal Valley. I think our neighbors in other parts of the county were jealous. I posted numerous images of rainbows from our field and over the foothills on social media. I didn’t have to go very far, but you know that already. However, last Saturday, the big monsoon rains arrived for all of Taos County. I could see the skies beginning to clear to the south, so I headed in that direction, towards Taos and got set up for a shot with Taos Mountain and hopefully a spectacular rainbow.
Below are images of what kept my attention, with dozens of people who were stopped and precariously parked along the highway through El Prado (the meadows).
Double rainbow in El Prado, NM.
Supernumerary or rainbow bands are “extra bands, usually pale pink or green in color, often seen on the inside of the primary rainbow. They result from interference of light rays which emerge from water droplets in the same direction”. I hope that makes sense. I don’t know the science of it, but I like the results that occur. Here’s another shot from last July when I found out about these bands.
With the upcoming supermoon and a blue moon tonight, I took a client on a photo tour for a few hours around sunset yesterday. We were looking for something particular, but I knew we’d have time to scout a few locations. My ideal shot would be the moon rising over the Saint Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos. I’ve done it before, so I had that idea in mind with perhaps a different angle.
When the moon initially peaked over the ridge south of Ranchos de Taos, it looked nice, though the sky was a little hazy and not so blue (is it ever blue?) like this one when it occurred in March 2018. We took a few shots of the moon and the sunset and then headed to my planned location at the iconic church.
Supermoon rising over the Talpa ridge.
Supermoon rising over the Talpa ridge.
Last but not least the not-quite-full supermoon rises at the Saint Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos.
Supermoon rising at the Saint Francis church.
As always thank you for looking. I hope you’ll join me for the next Blue Supermoon in 2037. I’ll see you here! Have a good week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, I’m revisiting the Bosque del Apache in the quiet off-season before the bulk of the birds and the crowds of tourists and photographers arrive. I have the place pretty much to myself.
Here are some quieter moments in the Bosque del Apache, beginning with Hammer Hank, one of the resident Great Blue Herons with this prime location for skewering fish that make it into the irrigation channel. You’ve got to love these opportunistic fishers.
Great Blue Heron, “Hammer Hank”
The marshes are flooded awaiting the arrival of thousands of birds. If you get a chance to go there, you won’t be disappointed.
Little nooks and crannies provide hiding places and make for mysterious-looking portals to the underworld of the march banks.
Portal in the grasses.
Tumbleweeds are the ubiquitous and unofficial plant of New Mexico and the Southwest. Locally, they are known as mesa street sweepers. I have seen them with numerous pieces of styrofoam, cups, and plastic grocery bags attached.
Tumbleweed.
The marshes are often very calm, offering pristine reflections in the early morning light.
Marsh reflections.
I titled this “Cornbird” although I suspect it is a Pine Siskin. I caught it on the hop from one corn row to the next.
“Cornbird” in the cornfields.
Below is one of many sluice/headgates in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge that divert water from the Rio Grande to the marshes.
Sluice or headgate.
And for those who like color, there’s plenty of that too.
Dawn in the National Wildlife Refuge.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s trip.
As always, thanks for looking, commenting, and all the wonderful compliments. G
