Greetings from San Cristobal, NM
Yesterday evening I made my monthly trip out to photograph the almost (98%) full snow moon. For all intents and purposes, the difference was barely noticeable unless you squint your eyes. Sometimes it’s a marked difference, but as you can see in the second photo imperceptible this month.
I prefer to photograph the moon in the evening before it is full because the sun is still up illuminating the landscape as the moon rises behind our mountains. This gives a nice balance of light on the moon and mountains. Here are some more moon images which happen to be available as fine art prints. If you click on the link you will get the idea.
I began this particular evening west of Taos near the Rio Grande Gorge bridge. I saw the moon appear behind a southerly ridge and made a few hazy images. As I quickly headed back east toward the mountains the moon began to vanish again below the ridgeline. I turned north and was able to place the moon directly behind this peak and watch it rise again. The lighting now was crisp and clear, and the mountains were gently illuminated. Naturally, I know this approach as I’ve done it so many times before. TPE (The Photographers Ephemeris) phone app helped me pinpoint where precisely the moon would appear and at what time. I use the app as a backup. Sometimes I’m slightly off. But not this time. The app confirmed it.
The image below is from a few years back after a wind storm broke the trunk of an already weakened tree, weakened by the creation of a stabilization dam on the Rio Costilla in the Valle Vidal. Despite its demise, I think it made for a nice image.
Below is an image of one of my favorite abandoned homesteads in the San Luis Valley. I’ve met the owners of some of the empty buildings who have made me feel welcome. There are other homesteads sitting out there open to all the elements. I keep visiting this place and suspect just like the impermanence of many other things in this world, it will be gone soon. For now, it continues to live a long life giving great pleasure, at least to me and a few of my adventurous photography clients.
Here’s to a great week ahead with the potential for snow here in northern New Mexico. Enjoy your week where you are. And, as always, thank you for looking. G
19 thoughts on “Snow Moon Rising, Fallen Tree, That Old Homestead.”
excellent post, many thanks
Thank you so much, Bob. G
thanks
Thank you, Ron. G
Those abandon spaces you capture serve upon viewing to revive our Souls. Thank- you.
SueCee- New York
Thank you, SueCee. That’s a nice thought and visual. G
Sweet. Thank you.
Thank you, Larry. Chat soon. G
TPE is a great tool. It’s fun to find beautiful foregrounds and plan for the rises and sets of sun and moon.
It really is. Thanks, Gary. I need to fan out and find some locations that change my view of things. Best to you. G
Nice!!! Thank you
Thank you, Emily. I hope you are well and staying warm. G
Such a perfect shot of the moon and what great timing! I saw the same scene a little later the same evening when the moon was higher in the sky and thought “wouldn’t it be great to capture the moon as it rose over the peak.” As it turned out the next night was cloudy and the moon was not visible. I am interested in one of your prints since this is just what I imagined I would have seen.
Thank you so much, Mary. I like that we can all look at the same moon, planets, and stars and experience them in many individual ways. I will post a link on my site for you to purchase this image as a print. Stay well. G
Hi Mary. Here is the link and with many other options of this view. G
https://geraintsmith.com/product/vallecito-moonrise-3/
This week’s photography gives me such a yearning to be there! Knowing that you and others are watching the same moon from 3 hours south, and preserving timeless moments.
Thank you so much, Bever. I’m glad to hear you were out there watching where you are. Timeless moments indeed. G
As always, I enjoy your post, from photos to description of objects & scenes. It’s a learning experience.
Thank you!
Thank you, Brenda. I really appreciate your comments and compliments on my work and blog. Best wishes. G