Red-tailed Hawk, in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. We made a beautiful drive today that started out in blizzard conditions at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. It got worse on the west rim road until we descended into the canyon at the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. At the river we simultaneously scared up a Blue heron and some Mallards, not on purpose of course, but this Red-tailed Hawk lingered on a rocky perch high above the river for a few observation shots and then this happened. It was a good day. Thanks for looking. G
Canyon of the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande flows in a north south direction from Colorado, through New Mexico, Texas and Mexico where it finally reaches the Gulf of Mexico. Six hundred feet or so below the rim the river passes through what is known as the “box”, a steep sided canyon on the Taos Plateau, seen here from the Highway 64 high bridge. “Our Canyon” now part of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument continues to amaze me and visitors alike. The views are very vast and one gets the sense of a place where earth meets sky and separation is intangible. “Our river” keeps on rolling. As it heads south the river gathers more stories to tell. It nourishes and replenishes the landscape, wildlife and people of the desert southwest. Thanks for looking. G
The Rio Grande in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Looking upstream from the Taos Junction Bridge to Sunset Rapid and the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Rio Pueblo. This location is a favorite of mine. The river makes for a really nice leading line. Thanks for looking. G
Here are some links to a few more images in this location at different times of year.
Bighorn Sheep in the Rio Grande Gorge. Bighorn juveniles testing their mettle on the rocks in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Thanks for looking. G
Taos Junction on the Rio Grande. Another beautiful day again today in northern New Mexico. This image made from the Taos Junction Bridge in the Orilla Verde RA in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, is one of my favorite locations. This location always continues inspire me when I pull over and park by the river. Fall is in full swing here in northern New Mexico. Drop in if you can, we’ll be glad to show you around and share this great part of the American southwest with you. Thanks for looking. G
Fog lifting from the Rio Grande Gorge. The Rio Grande Rift, is an extraordinary feature of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, in northern New Mexico.
Greetings from San Cristobal. This week some views of Ute Mountain.
“Ute Mountain is a free-standing, Dacitic, extinct Pliocene volcanic cone”. That’s a mouthful. Besides being one of my revered peaks, it is also set in one of my favorite areas, the Taos Plateau Volcanic Field and the San Luis Valley. The mountain also lies within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
The images below encompass a span of almost twenty years.
On the home front, I feel the surgery on my foot will make my photo treks much more enjoyable for years to come.
A localized weather pattern over Ute Mountain.
Road to the mountain.
Old sheep corral out on the plateau.
A view from Guadalupe Mountain across the Taos Plateau.
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Do you recognize the peak back there?
The image below is the one that initiated my fascination with this iconic landmark. Often, I will take a drive north, a pilgrimage of sorts, to visit the mountain. Click here if you want to see more images.
Near Costilla, New Mexico.
Lastly, a couple of shots from closer to home.
The moon rise this week from the deck in San Cristobal, NM.
And a view across the plateau and beyond to Cerro Pedernal (not a volcano but very much resembles one), “flint peak” near Abiquiu, NM. Immortalized by the artist Georgia O’Keeffe it can be seen from a vantage point behind our home. In the photo, Cerro Pedernal is probably 65-70 miles as the crow flies. The views out west extend a hundred miles or more on clear days. The vistas open like nowhere else, and the skies go on forever.
Cerro Pedernal shot from Taos, NM.
As always thank you for looking and visiting. And thank you for all the continued well wishes, comments, and compliments.
If you want the name of a wonderful foot and ankle specialist I can give you a recommendation! G
Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak) has many moods. I’ve had the honor and the great pleasure of being a witness to some of the best of the mountain’s moments. Moments that thrill us all in this place we call home.
Take a look at the many moods of Taos Mountain. Click to enlarge.
Taos Valley with sunset on .the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
The Wright Contemporary – Taos
Join me this Friday December 2, 2022 – Opening at The Wright Contemporary Gallery.
“Photography in B&W”
Cerro Shadows, Cerro NM – 6.5″ x 6.5″ framed, one of ten images in the show.
December 2, 2022–January 15, 2022
Opening Friday 5-7pm at Wright Contemporary Taos, I’ll be participating in a group show titled “Photography in B&W”
I’m booking dates from now through the end of next year for private one to one photo tours and workshops. Join me here in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado and beyond. I look for to showing you around this corner of our beautiful planet.
Photographers on location in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Gift certificates can be applied to photo tour/workshops, prints, and editing tuition.
Greetings from San Cristobal. Happy Thanksgiving. I’ll start with a repost of these turkeys wandering in the old sunflowers at the Bosque del Apache NWR a couple of years ago. Seems appropriate for this week.
Back in the Bosque del Apache for the evening ‘fly in’. It is a great opportunity to capture silhouettes against the warm light of the setting sunset.
Evening fly in, Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico.
At home in San Cristobal is the old cottonwood tree where the ravens and magpies congregate. On this evening there is only one of each. Often times there’s a milieu and fights over branches. I like to think these two get along or perhaps the space between them is the adjudicator.
Raven and Magpie in the old cottonwood, San Cristobal, NM.
As always thanks for looking. Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your turkeys. 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.
Lone tree, Wild Rivers Recreation Area, NM
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.
Lone tree, Wild Rivers Recreation Area, NM
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.
Lone tree, Wild Rivers Recreation Area, NM
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.
Taos Mountain from San Cristobal
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.
Mountain storm and pond, Taos NM
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”.
Sandhill Cranes, “Pas de Deux”, Monte Vista NWR, Colorado
Geology in the desert around Abiquiu.
Plaza Blanca Rocks
And the Lone Tree, the “Welcome Tree” at the Taos overlook.
Lone Tree, the “Welcome Tree” Taos Overlook.
Ok… one last image of a young Sandhill Crane at the Monte Vista NWR coming in for a landing.
Sandhill Crane.
As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G
