Natures Nicho, in Georgia O’Keeffe’s “White Place” Plaza Blanca, near Abiquiu, New Mexico. At this point in the morning the temperature was still quite bearable, it was cool in the shade and delightful in this eroded space I like to call “nature’s nicho”. Thanks for looking. G
Slot Canyon, in Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu, New Mexico. This morning in the slot canyon at Plaza Blanca, with the sun bouncing off the white ground and formations, filling in the underside of overhanging rocks with golden light. Thanks for looking. G
White Place, Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu NM. A quick iphone image from a day in Abiquiu and Plaza Blanca (Georgia O’Keeffe’s “White Place”) today. Thanks for looking. G
Plaza Blanca window in Abiquiu, New Mexico. As the erosion occurs the window opening grows larger continually revealing more of the landscape beyond. Eventually the window will be gone, none of the formations will be the same. In the southwest nothing lasts very long except for the beauty, it remains! G
On a trip to Abiquiu, New Mexico we stopped in to Plaza Blanca, “The White Place” made famous by Georgia O’Keefe and featured in many movies over the recent decades. Thanks for looking. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. Happy Summer Solstice from here to where you are. I post the image below every summer solstice since I shot it, on June 20, 2018. I like it! This year it is scheduled to appear in the New Mexico Treasures Calendar, 2024.
Here’s a summer solstice “moment” in black and white, shot in Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu, NM
If you want to see what Plaza Blaca looks like on the outside, here’s a shot of rock and cloud formations.
Here’s another moment I shot in Plaza Blanca on June 22, 2022.
There’s no place like Chaco Canyon to experience the passing moments of the seasons. Here I am sitting under a picnic ramada with a view of the sacred rock formation, Fajada Butte.
The solar eclipse is coming up later in the year. I’m planning on a trip to Chaco Canyon with the rest of the state. We’ll see what happens with those plans.
As always, thank you for looking. It’s a privilege to share my photography with you. G
Greetings from a rain-soaked solstice and the first day of summer in Saan Cristobal, NM
A hike in Plaza Blanca is a great place to witness a solstice moment. This image is from a photo tour in 2018. The solstice this year found me asleep in bed. The clouds covered the sun, moon, and this week’s planetary alignments yesterday morning. I slept well all the same.
There is a 12,000 feet peak in those clouds. Those two ravens know it. It’s great to know that the mountain peaks are shrouded in rain, clouds, mist, and not the choking fire smoke we experienced over the last two months. Today it has been raining for five hours straight. It feels a lot like Wales, where I grew up. Although in Wales, it would have been raining for three weeks straight.
Lastly, I wanted to add two bonus images from the High Raod to Taos. I often photograph throughout the day, well past the magic hours. The shadows in this image aren’t there any earlier. I find lots of subjects deserving almost any time of day.
In this image of the big doors at the mission church San José de Gracia de Las Trampas, I lay on my back and took two photos. I stitched them together to create this different composition. Visiting places as often as I do, I like to inspire myself to find new and different angles. That’s the beauty of being able to make return trips to become familiar with the locations.
If you are inclined to travel this summer, join me here in northern New Mexico for a private one-on-one photography tour/workshop. I’ll look forward to seeing you.
As always thank you for looking. Enjoy the weather where you are. I’m going for a walk in the rain. G
The Wild Rivers Recreation Area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is a gem of a place that I like to visit throughout the year. This time I visited some of my favorite lone trees. I do like a solitary tree. A lone tree for me is like finding a friendly soul where one least expects it. These three trees are all still standing and were strong enough to withstand the high winds last December that flattened hillsides of trees in other areas. The thin layer of clouds gave an illuminated glow to the landscape like a big softbox light.
This old piñon pine is hanging in there and I anticipate a few more pictures until it succumbs to the elements. Its impending demise will also, no doubt, entice me to make images for years to come.
Pretty much the same predicament for this tree as for the other two. The dead needles clinging to the limbs of this tree gave a nice warmth to the scene. The overcast lighting and water on the needles saturated the colors. I could see the reds from a distance and moved in closer to get this shot.
You guessed it… Taos Mountain from the deck in San Cristobal, and a last glimmer of light on the mountain before the sun disappeared for the night.
I found the image below in the archives while searching for the crane image to print. I’d previously published this storm cloud in black and white. It impressed me in color so here it is.
Three new fine art prints went out of the studio this week. If a print interessts you click on the picture to go the pertinent purchase page. This first image of the Sandhill Cranes against the Rocky Mountains, I titled “Pas de Deux”.
Geology in the desert around Abiquiu.
And the Lone Tree, the “Welcome Tree” at the Taos overlook.
Ok… one last image of a young Sandhill Crane at the Monte Vista NWR coming in for a landing.
As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G