Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

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Red Bridge Over The Rio Grande

Red Bridge. A car crosses the Taos Junction bridge over the Rio Grande, it’s tail lights illuminate the girders with the Milky Way overhead. Here is the Bridge in White illuminated by the headlights of a vehicle. Both in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, Pilar, New Mexico, and under the starry skies of the Milky Way.

red bridge, milky way, rio grande, taos new mexico

Rio Grande Gorge, Summer Gorgeousness. 07-31-2024

Greetings from San Cristobal (Taos), NM. This week the Rio Grande Gorge in its summer finery and gorgeousness.

My hard drives frequently spin as I search for images to print or supply to art directors and clients. This week was no exception. I came up with a few select photos depicting the gorge that divides the plateau between east and west, with views from the rim and canyon, and the expansive vistas that capture the imagination and stir the soul.

If you miss this view below then you are probably asleep and should wake up or you’re driving at night.

Highway 68 and the gorge view
Highway 68 and the Gorge view.

If you prefer to take a detour off the main route you will see the following two locations.

Orilla Verde Rec Area
The Rio Grande in Orilla Verde Recreation Area.

As you ascend a steep dirt road you will encounter this grand view looking south. Remember to engage the parking break.

Gorgeous Sky over the Rio Grande Gorge
Gorgeous Sky.

A short distance on the climb out of the canyon is the Vista Verde Trail. It will take you on a very pleasant hike through lava boulder fields and rocks adorned with indigenous petroglyph art.

Vista Verde Trail
Vista Verde Trail.

… to a bench with an overlook of the Rio Grande.

River View
River view from a nice resting spot.

The west rim trail takes you in a northerly direction on mostly level ground for about 10 miles. You’ll feel the cool breeze as it glances off the canyon walls and catch fabulous 360º sunsets.

West Rim Trail
West Rim Trail.

Driving the 10 miles, if preferred, will bring you to the high bridge where US Highway 64 crosses the Rio Grande Gorge.

Walking across the bridge looking to the north or south you’ll get wonderful views of the river. Looking east toward the mountains is pretty nice too!

Summer light on the gorge bridge
Summer light on the gorge bridge. Straight as an arrow to the mountains.

On the same evening from the bridge, this happened.

Lightning sky over the gorge
Lightning over the gorge.

On another occasion a rainbow over the chasm.

Rainbow and storm, over the gorge
Rainbow and storm over the gorge.

There have been many times I’ve traversed the bridge. It shakes a lot especially when semi-trucks cross it hauling full loads of gravel. Don’t let it prevent you from crossing it yourself, but don’t bother with a tripod. I didn’t.

Lastly, one of my favorite and most popular images was taken on a summer evening from the high bridge in 2009. A horizontal crop is on the cover of my book.

Summer Light, on the Rio Grande Gorge
Summer evening from the high bridge.

I hope you enjoyed the mini travelog this week. Join me on a photo tour/workshop and I’ll show you around these locations.

Last week I made it to the summit of Gold Hill on my two new feet. 9.8 miles round trip and 3263 elevation gain to 12703′ at the summit. My knees were complaining but I wasn’t. We’ll do Wheeler Peak the highest point in NM (13163′) in a couple of weeks for something a little easier.

Gold Hill Summit

As always, thank you for looking. I hope you have a good week. G

Happy Saint David’s Day in Wales. 03-01-23

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM.

It’s March 1st, and in Wales, it is the day they celebrate Saint David’s Day. The wearing of daffodils and leeks. On the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales is a town that boasts the longest place name. In the photo below, you’ll see what stringing a bunch of English words together looks like in Welsh. Yes, I can pronounce it in Welsh, so if you see me out and about, ask me. In Wales, we always had half day off school on Saint David’s Day. Worthy of celebration. Today I’m walking on both feet, watching the clouds drift by the picture window, and hoping the clouds clear for a view of the Jupiter and Venus conjunction this evening. Be sure to check it out in the western sky at twilight.

Saint David's Day, the Longest place name in Wales. 03-01-23 in Wales. Llanfair, gogogoch, Angelsey Wales
Celebrating Saint David’s Day in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

I’m still burrowing in the hard drives and came across the images below, taken around this time of year. They are random, and while I enjoy looking back, I’m looking forward to posting a current photo next week.

Rio Grande, lobatos bridge view south downstream
The Rio Grande, looking downstream from the Lobatos Bridge.

The Conejos River was almost overflowing and partially frozen as it drifted under the old rail bridge near Conejos, Colorado.

Conejos river and rail bridge, Colorado
The Conejos River and rail bridge, Conejos, Colorado.

This Conoco Gas station in Garcia, Colorado, has been closed for many years. Situated on the CO/NM State Line, it was probably a happening place in its heyday. If you are inspired to visit New Mexico this year, I frequent this area on my San Luis Valley photography tour/workshop.

Conoco gas station, Garcia, Colorado
Conoco gas station, Garcia, Colorado.

These buildings are no longer standing and are five years gone already. I remember the day I shot it in San Acacio on my first trip there many years ago. It is a palpable picture for me. I can almost taste the moisture in the air and in my frozen nostrils.

Old House San Acacio, Colorado
Old House and outbuilding, San Acacio, Colorado.

A few miles south of San Acacio is another favorite location, the red barn, this time in black and white with a raptor in flight. Since I shot this image, the hawks now nest in the surrounding cottonwoods, and a great-horned owl has moved into the barn.

Red Barn, Hawk, San Luis valley
My favorite barn, San Luis Valley.

I originally shot this scene in color. Since then, I’ve processed it in black and white, and on a recent trip, I noticed that the overhang has flaked off. So glad I wasn’t under it when it came crashing down. To my knowledge, I haven’t heard if anyone was hurt when it fell.

Piedra Lumbre in black and white
Piedra Lumbre in black and white, Ghost Ranch NM.

Here’s my entry in the Taos artist banner submission, which was accepted, and will hang on a lamp post in the “Taos Is Art” campaign this summer. I hope the banner hangs in a prominent location and is not hidden behind two hanging flower baskets this time. Lyle Wright the model is seen in an 1870’s era Navajo serape. I shot the image for an ongoing ad campaign for Tres Estrellas Design, Taos.

Lyle Wright, Taos Artist Banner entry
Lyle Wright, Taos artist banner submission.

As always, thanks for looking, and a sincere thank you for all the well wishes. Your good thoughts are working. G