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

On The Road Again.

Geraint March 10, 2021 16 Comments

Starting with the Valles Caldera National Preserve this week, Pami and I made a Saturday drive around the block… way around the block. We headed to the Caldera, Jemez Springs, the Gilman Tunnels, Cuba, Abiquiu, and home, a 334-mile block. I also added a couple of images from later in the week from Arroyo Seco, NM.

The Valles Caldera is a supervolcano and will be familiar to you if you’ve watched the series “Longmire.” Walt Longmire’s cabin is located here, the caldera doubles for Wyoming. On this day we listened to the melted ice waters gently lapping in the East Fork of the Jemez River and watched a couple of coyotes hunting way off in the distance other than this it was relatively quiet.

Valles Caldera, National Preserve, New Mexico — The East Fork of the Jemez River in the Valles Caldera.

The Gilman Tunnels were great to visit and the hike through the canyon but there were plenty of us people clogging up the views of the tunnels. If you are familiar with the latest “Lone Ranger” movie with Johnny Depp, then you have seen the tunnels.

Rio Guadalupe canyon — Sun setting over the vertical rock walls of the Rio Guadalupe Canyon at the Gilman Tunnels.

Here’s a cell phone snap of the tunnels. Yep there are tunnels. The real beauty is the canyon.

Gilman tunnels, Jemez NM — Gilman Tunnels, NM.

Not much to say about this abandoned car along the Rio Puerco in Cuba, New Mexico, except that Pami spotted it as we drove by on the overpass. She insisted I should turn around, that I would like it, and I did!

Abandoned car in Cuba New Mexico — Abandoned car along the Rio Puerco in Cuba, New Mexico.

Holy Trinity Church in Arroyo Seco, NM has some nice sculptural adobe details that make for nice accents catching the late afternoon light.

Holy Trinity Church, Arroyo Seco NM — Late after noon light at the Holy Trinity Church in Arroyo Seco NM

Always prepared to look past the obvious I spotted this detail of an exquisite little ornament placed there by a visitor.

Cross and ornament, Holy Trinity Church — Devotional ornament at the Holy Trinity Church, Arroyo Seco, NM.

Last but not least. Nearly all images on my website are available as prints. I’m particularly proud of this black and white print of White House Ruin made in Canyon de Chelly a couple of years ago. It is available on my website now, click on the image below to select a size option.

Black and white print of White House Ruin made in Canyon de Chelly — White House Ruin made in Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

As always thank you for looking.

Geraint

Sunset Viewing Sofa, West Rim Road, Taos

Geraint November 14, 2020 2 Comments

Sunset viewing sofa, West Rim Road, Taos. Yeah… really, it was deposited and abandoned, probably recycled in some other happy family’s home by now. The things one sees in the most unexpected places, I just had to stop and make an image. Thanks for looking. G

Pink Adobe, Costilla, New Mexico

Geraint January 1, 2020 4 Comments

Pink Adobe, Costilla, New Mexico on a bright and crisp winter morning. The windows and doors have been boarded up. Things change, though I must admit, I do like the choice of color used on the window panel. Thanks for looking. G

Little House On The Plains

Geraint June 2, 2019 No Comments

Little house on the plains, Capulin, NM. This little house out there in the field, befriended by a few ravens, sits alone under a brooding sky. At the time I was on our annual photo trek with my good friend Ron. We descended the plateau and spotted this place. The light was eerily beautiful although foreboding. It hailed heavily after I made this image. When the hail storm passed, a rainbow followed arcing over the Capulin Volcano. Stay tuned and thanks for looking. G

Patterns Of Decay

Geraint March 25, 2019 2 Comments

Patterns of decay. Slowly creeping down the wall like two dimensional stalactites. Here there and everywhere as abandoned buildings deteriorate beautifully back to the earth. Thanks for looking. G

White House From The Potato Bunker

Geraint March 17, 2019 4 Comments

White house from the potato bunker. The old homestead ruin from inside the abandoned potato bunker. The shadows are incredible, every which way one looks. This was yesterday. Today the shadows were stark and heavy, the sun only cracking through from the eastern side. One of these days I’m going to meet some one who knows the history of this place and the white house, former home. Until then we’ll wander among the shadows, the bird nests, and the light that illuminates the nooks and crannies, deciphering what we can from the past. Thanks for looking. G

Potato Bunker, San Luis Valley

Geraint March 13, 2019 2 Comments

Potato Bunker, San Luis Valley. Fascinated with these abandoned utilities from a bygone era, I keep returning to spend time amongst the ghosts that inhabit it. A place where the ghosts are stirred only by the wind, an occasional barn owl, the coyote that lives in the den in the corner, and all wrapped up in moments of sheer silence. Cattle tend to frequent other ruins in the area where the roofs are intact. In this place, at some point in time, someone moved in some easy chairs, a sofa and school chairs. The valley is full of rustic remnants from the past, like this one, many collapsing in on themselves. If this is the kind of subject matter that interests you, join me on a photo tour/workshop. These old buildings also happen to be set in some of the most beautiful landscape in the region. Thanks for looking. G

Happy Valentines Day

Geraint February 13, 2019 No Comments

Happy Valentines Day. Heart on the old gas station in Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico. I was thinking about subject matter for an art project. When I drove by this building, I got an appropriate photo of the day and a few other shots for my art project. Seven years with my love. Have a great Valentines day with your loved ones. Thanks for looking. G

Plywood Art Everywhere

Geraint January 30, 2019 6 Comments

Plywood art on boarded up buildings everywhere. I am always able to find the positive in something such as the many old abandoned buildings covered in sheets of plywood, in towns deserted by more than half of the original population. Stay warm and thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Abandoned