High Country, Clay Bells, and Duran, New Mexico.

Geraint September 8, 2021 8 Comments

Highway 64 passes through a most beautiful area of northern New Mexico. The road stretches from the Outer Banks, NC, and ends at Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, depending on your direction of travel. In the photo below, the highway passes through the coniferous forests and aspen groves near Hopewell Lake. Join me on a photo tour, and I’ll take you here in wide-open spaces in the high country.

Highway 64, New Mexico — Highway 64, near Hopewell Lake, NM

This ornament, hanging by our front door, broke recently, so I saved a few of the clay bells and photographed them. There’s always time for a quick still life in the studio.

The last image is one from the road in Duran, New Mexico, of the “Wm. Hindi Store, General Merchandise” where a tourist is always welcome… still. Back in 2009 and 2010, I was on the road frequently on assignment for NMSU documenting their agricultural extension campuses. It was a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed the people and places I got to shoot. One trip took me to Corona, NM. I passed through Duran where I found this location. I still wonder about these once-thriving communities.

William Hindi Store, Duran, NM — Wm. Hindi Store, General Merchandise, Duran, NM

As always. Thank you for looking, your comments and compliments. Have a great week! G

Snow, Cattle Guard, Osprey, Elk, RV, Road G, Chile Trompe l’oeil

Geraint May 5, 2021 18 Comments

Some shots around the extended neighborhood these last couple of weeks. Still a lot of snow in the high country and a brightly colored cattle guard glowing like Kodachrome® yellow. An Osprey with a half-eaten fish on a fence post in the Chama Valley followed by an elk skull and antlers with a backdrop of San Antonio Mountain and great sky over the Volcanic Plateau. A few days ago we cruised north into the San Luis Valley and found an RV standing alone under a brooding sky and the Road G intersection with Road 7 looking north towards Blanca Peak and south to Ute Mountain. Last but not least on a photo tour/workshop two weeks ago, Chile Trompe l’oeil in Costilla and El Rito, NM. Thanks for checking in and looking and for all the great comments, emails, and compliments. G

High Country Snow fence — High country snow and fence near Hopewell Lake, NM.

Cattle Guard, Kodachrome Yellow — Cattle Guard, thoughts of Kodachrome come to mind.

Osprey Chama NM — Osprey on a fence post with half eaten fish in Chama, NM.

Elk head antlers — Elk head, antlers with San Antonio Mountain in the Taos Volcanic Plateau.

Road G San Luis Valley looking north — Road G in the San Luis Valley looking north to Blanca Peak.

Road G San Luis Valley Ute Mountain — Road G in the San Luis Valley looking south to Ute Mountain.

Blue door with chile Trompe l'oeil in Costilla, NM — Blue door with red chile ristras Trompe l’oeil in Costilla, NM.

Painted Chiles — Painted chiles on El Farolito Restaurant in El Rito, NM

Carson National Forest Road 437, Garcia Park, NM

Geraint September 24, 2020 No Comments

Carson National Forest, FR 437, to Garcia Park, New Mexico today. This meadow was going off and creating a golden reflecting light source for the whole area around. It was a special drive on our annual visit to see the colors up high at 9800 + feet above sea level. If you have the opportunity to get out up into the mountains this week, I would highly recommend it. P.S. Look up in the sky tonight for the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn in close proximity. Thanks for looking. G

Bountiful, Road Trip, Colorado

Geraint August 11, 2020 4 Comments

Bountiful, road trip on Highway 285, Colorado. There’s lots to see in the San Luis Valley, one of the most bountiful agricultural areas in the country. Bountiful, on the north/south route has large grain silos holding barley for the Coors beer company. This is the sign between the highway and railroad tracks. I found the weathering rather interesting and worthy of a picture. Thanks for looking. G

Highway 285, Ojo Caliente, New Mexico

Geraint April 26, 2020 4 Comments

Highway 285, Ojo Caliente, New Mexico. Road trips are the norm here and there’s plenty of empty roads out west in “normal” times. This trip was no different. Probably a few cars at the most. How many is a few? …five! It wasn’t too difficult to get a shot with no cars on the highway on this beautiful day with a clear sky and view. Thanks for looking. G

Road Divides, You Choose Which You Take

Geraint April 25, 2020 6 Comments

Road divides, you choose which you take. One more from the series I created with nothing else to do although, it’s so gorgeous here right now, the high desert light is pristine and the skies are crystal clear. With that, Pami and I worked outside on this perfect spring day. Thanks for looking. G

Leaf, Fall Color, Highway 38, New Mexico

Geraint October 22, 2019 No Comments

Leaf, fall color, Highway 38, on the “Enchanted Circle, Scenic Byway” in northern New Mexico. This leaf was lying in the middle of the road, so I picked it up and took a picture. Fall is where you find it. Thanks for looking. G

Highway 17, Colorado

Geraint July 28, 2019 2 Comments

Highway 17, Colorado, where the clouds are shared with New Mexico as the road traverses the mountain passes at the Colorado, New Mexico state line. The aspens are looking superb this year as we anticipate another colorful fall. Join me on a fall tour. I have some dates open. Thanks for looking. G

Elk Cows, In The High Country

Geraint June 3, 2019 No Comments

Elk Cows, in the high country of New Mexico. In the Valle Vidal (Valley of Lifeagain today. We spent the afternoon and evening photographing the high alpine light. Because we stayed out past dinner time, we were fortunate to see so many elk. One bull with two cows emerged from the trees and crossed the road. They stared at us momentarily, then took off into a hillside of pines. Not long after, as twilight descended over the valley, we spotted a dozen cow elks, a number of them pregnant, grazing on the fresh shoots of grass along the creek. These three ladies came down the hillside, herded the others and ushered them into the trees. It was a beautiful drive home. Thanks for looking. G

Highway 163, Monument Valley, Arizona

Geraint May 14, 2019 2 Comments

Highway 163, Monument Valley, Arizona. “Run Forrest Run”… in circles. I spoke to a Navajo artisan, at his roadside stand, as to why people aren’t stopping in anymore. His answer “F*****g Forrest Gump. Everyone stops at mile marker 13 where Forrest Gump stopped running in the movie and they take a selfie.” Go figure. We watched a large group of bikers blocking the highway for multiple selfies, only to hop on their bikes moments later and head east. Another tourist ran in place while his partner made a video. A third, we observed, leapt up in the air, legs and arms spread as if announcing … I’m here I made it. WTH! A short distance west I stopped and made images of these donuts in the highway. I can’t imagine the motivation for these. I bought a little piece from a Navajo vendor. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

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