Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Down, at the Saint Francis Church. Up, with Red-tailed Hawks

I was on a photo tour last week demonstrating with a photography client the benefits of looking down and how it can often pay off with a rewarding image. In this case, looking down in a puddle on the flagstones, we captured a really nice reflection of the iconic San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos. Of course, it helped that one of the parishioners was hosing down the walkway, and I’ve shot this type of scene, many times.

Saint Francis church Ranchos de Taos

Yesterday, I went up north for a short drive scouting some locations for an upcoming workshop happening for the next three days. I drove on a back road I’m very familiar with and found a male and female Red-tailed Hawk with their juvenile fledgling. The male was off on a power line pole to the east, the female and the chick were on a pole further west with a half-eaten rabbit. In the second image, you can see the nictitating membrane in the eyes of the mama and the young one as they both blinked simultaneously. This membrane allows birds to blink and clean the eyeball while still being able to see what is afoot. Here is a link to the nictitating membrane or “third eyelid”.

Red-tailed hawks, San Luis Valley
Red-tailed hawks, adult and juvenile in the San Luis Valley, Colorado

Red-tailed hawks, San Luis Valley
Red-tailed hawks, adult and juvenile in the San Luis Valley showing the Nictitating membrane.

As always, thank you for looking. G

11 thoughts on “Down, at the Saint Francis Church. Up, with Red-tailed Hawks”

    • Thank you, Linda. I appreciate your compliments. I’m glad you learned something new. I knew about them when I was a kid but only discovered the name of them later on in life. G

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