Fine Art Images from the American Southwest
505-501-4880
San Francisco de Asis Church, Ranchos de Taos, NM. Discovered in a rapidly evaporating puddle, following afternoon rain storms this week on a photo workshop around northern New Mexico, and as always a great opportunity to discover new views and angles. Thanks for looking. G
San Francisco de Asis. Good morning from the Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos. Arguably the most photographed church in the US.
“It was four in the morning on May 6th, 1988. Exhausted and sorely needing rest after 16 solid hours of driving east, away from the hectic business and car culture of the LA basin, my friend Frank pulled off the road. At a turnout on the east side of NM 68 a few miles south of Taos, he parked the pickup with a 5×8 trailer in tow. Facing north, 10 feet off the roadway, we slept sitting up.
A few winks later, at six o’clock sharp, a semi tractor-trailer roared by, engine brake blaring on the downgrade. We awoke in sync. The sun shot through the windshield like a bullet, an arousing reminder that we were, finally and after all, in New Mexico.
Before me I could see the whole Taos valley, with streams and fields fanning out toward me like a deck of cards. “Pick a card” the scene seemed to say. “Don’t show me … keep it to yourself.” The metaphorical card I chose at that juncture in time continues to confirm that my sudden wake-up call was the beginning of my new life..”
Excerpted from my book, Rio Grande del Norte: An Intimate Portrait.
San Luis Valley, northern New Mexico, and southern Colorado
Time will be spent on location in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, photographing abandoned homesteads, towns, and thriving farming communities. These are enhanced by views of the Rio Grande and the impressive Sangre de Cristo mountain range of the southern Rocky Mountains. We will seek out bald and golden eagles, a wide variety of hawks, great-horned owls, coyotes, wild horses, and elk. In spring and fall, we will have the opportunity to photograph sandhill cranes and geese on their migratory flyway through the San Luis Valley.
High Road to Taos
Locations include Native and Hispanic villages on the High Road to Taos, Penasco, Las Trampas, and Truchas. Drive home along the High Road to photograph the light in “Milagro Beanfield” country and the valley of Llano de San Juan. Read More
Abiquiu and the Rio Chama Valley
We will spend a day in the haunting yet enchanting landscape of Georgia O’Keefe country in Abiquiu, exploring rock and earth formations in and around the Rio Chama Valley. Read More
Sites of Taos
Spend part of the day photographing the sites of Taos. Old trucks, abandoned long ago, in fields with Taos Mountain as a backdrop. Picturesque villages, tipis, and the occasional rainbow. Acequias, ancient water courses bringing life to the fields and farms in the Taos valley for centuries. At the end of the day capturing the early evening light at the world-famous St Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos, immortalized in paintings by Georgia O’Keefe and the photography of Ansel Adams. Read More
Rio Grande Gorge and beyond
A short drive from Taos, the Rio Grande winds its way through Orilla Verde National Recreation Area, home to beaver, otter, blue heron, and bighorn sheep. Surrounded by majestic volcanic cliffs and overlooks, on a short hike off the beaten track, we will photograph petroglyphs, riparian habitat, and views of the Rio Grande Canyon. This photo tour is also spectacular in wintertime when the Rio Grande Gorge is at its most peaceful and wildlife more abundant. Read More
Day 1: High Road to Taos
Locations include Native and Hispanic villages on the High Road to Taos, Penasco, Las Trampas, and Truchas. Drive home along the High Road to photograph the light in “Milagro Beanfield” country and the valley of Llano de San Juan.
Day 2: Abiquiu, and the Chama River Valley
We will spend a day in the haunting yet enchanting landscape of Georgia O’Keefe country in Abiquiu, exploring rock and earth formations in and around the Rio Chama Valley.
Day 3: Sites of Taos
Spend part of the day photographing the sites of Taos. Old trucks, abandoned long ago, in fields with Taos Mountain as a backdrop. Picturesque villages, tipis, and the occasional rainbow. Acequias, ancient water courses bringing life to the fields and farms in the Taos valley for centuries. At the end of the day capturing the early evening light at the world-famous St Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos, immortalized in paintings by Georgia O’Keefe and the photography of Ansel Adams.
The Rio Grande Gorge and beyond
A short drive from Taos, the Rio Grande winds its way through Orilla Verde National Recreation Area, home to beaver, otter, blue heron, and big horn sheep. Surrounded by majestic volcanic cliffs and overlooks, on a short hike off the beaten track, we will photograph petroglyphs, riparian habitat, and views of the Rio Grande Canyon. This photo tour is also spectacular in wintertime when the Rio Grande Gorge is at its most peaceful and wildlife more abundant.
Cost: $1450 per person
Call 505-501-4880 to reserve a date that suits you for your own personal photo tour.
“We had the opportunity to do three days of photo touring with Geraint. What a treat! We were able to do three different tours, all of which were outstanding. The High Road to Taos, Georgia O’Keeffe Country, and the Rio Grande Gorge area were all a visual delight. The added plus was that the Cottonwoods had changed to their fall colors, a golden yellow. Magnificent!! Geraint’s intimate knowledge of knowing the time of day for the best natural light on the preferred shot was a real added plus. He was able to incorporate historic architecture, western weathered buildings and churches, old country stores, and a whole lot more into our day. It was a photographer’s delight! If you are an avid photographer you will really enjoy Geraint’s tips and instructions. When we began our time with him he was our guide, at the conclusion of our time we parted friends.”
–Bill and Gretchen Northrup – Columbus, Ohio
Truchas, Trampas, Ranchos De Taos, NM. High Road photography convoy tour continued form my post a few days ago. It was a little too much editing to do all in one go. There is no order of importance or favorite, I posted these and the previous images in the order we discovered then. Enjoy! And thank you for joining me virtually here on my website. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, some scenes of winter weather, two new book covers, and snow. It’s been a cold week, but it’s warming up again. The heaters are cleaned and running, and the sun is shining. I hope it’s beautiful where you are.
Last week we took a drive during the snowfall here. Little did we know that the 12 to 15 inches we received in San Cristobal amounted to about an inch in downtown Taos as you can see from the image of the little chapel on La Loma Plaza in Taos. We have been fortunate to get hit by lots of moisture this year in our village north of Taos.
St Clare’s statue was huddled under a cloak of snow before it slid off.
Sunflower seed pods wearing snow cap crowns.
The following are two of my images used on the covers of recently published books. I’m honored to share these publications with you.
Lise Goett’s book of poetry, “The Radiant”
The second cover is from J.M. Mitchell’s Novel “Migrations of Butterflies and Lies”, Check it out here on Amazon
And the cover…
You can also purchase a copy of J.M. Mitchell’s book “Migrations of Butterflies and Lies.” at Barnes and Noble.
If you are writing a book and would like to use an image of mine on the cover or inside, please get in touch. All proceeds go to a local Taos non-profit for kids.
And finally an autumn leaf on a winter pond.
As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week in Ranchos de Taos on a Sites of Taos photo tour/workshop.
This week is not a lengthy post as I’m busily printing for two shows in September, which is coming up fast.
It was beautiful weather for a half-day photo tour in Ranchos de Taos at the Saint Francis Church and always a great first stop on a Sites of Taos tour.
I shot these on an iPhone, to be able to share compositions, settings, etc. on a larger screen than a camera.
And a return visit at the end of the tour with a different-looking sky.
Or maybe black and white.
There are many more angles and views of this iconic building. Ansel Adams photographed it, Georgia O’Keeffe painted it and another photographer, my client, added images to his portfolio. Here’s mine from the rear.
As always, thanks for looking. I’m heading back to the studio. I hope you have a great week. G
