San Cristobal Valley Chapel, NM
San Cristobal Valley sunset on the community Chapel of San Cristóbal, New Mexico. Always the golden light after the storm. Always, and thanks be for, the ubiquitous single wide mobile home, with a lopsided swamp cooler, abandoned in an adjacent field. Thanks for looking. G
Homestead #53 San Luis Valley
Homestead #53 San Luis Valley, southern Colorado. Over the last few weeks we’ve spent many days in the San Luis Valley. I hope you will indulge me my fascination with the landscape, history and architecture of the valley. The area is sparsely populated with many abandoned homesteads. We don’t often meet people out there. Those who do take the time to stop and say hello, asking “is everything ok?’ are more likely a asking a question wrapped in guarded curiosity. Always, everyone we pass driving along, give us a friendly wave, a nod of the head and sometimes a smile. We are welcome for sure, but in return we are gentle with the china and wipe our feet before entering the proverbial home. Thanks for looking. G
Sunshine Valley Homestead
Sunshine Valley, and an abandoned homestead in northern New Mexico. There is an inscription in the door step threshold on the east side, facing the moon rise and the mountains, dated 1946. It’s good to know that someone living here, at one time or another, saw the moon rising over the Sangre de Cristos. I wonder if they marveled at it like I do or were they too busy to notice. Thanks for looking. G
Morning Clouds San Cristobal, NM
Morning clouds rising over an old adobe home, cottonwoods and the national forest, in the San Cristobal Valley, NM. I went out to watch the moon set across the plateau. I decided to drive up into the foothills for a better view and found this scene in the valley. The moon had vanished into the clouds on the western horizon. This was the payoff. Thanks for looking. G
Morning Clouds, San Cristobal, NM – 2096
GMC Truck Overland Ranch, Taos, NM
GMC truck on a cold and frosty fall morning at the Overland Ranch in Taos, NM. The sun busts over the Sangre de Cristo foothills filling the cab of this truck and cottonwood trees with light. The frost on the hood melted away before my eyes and the ghost of the steering wheel beckoned me to take a drive. Thanks for looking. G
Santo Tomas Church, Ojo Sarco, NM
Santo Tomas Church in the Ojo Sarco Valley, northern New Mexico. Making images of the dilapidated building across the dirt road from this church. We got some welcome relief from the midday sun, under the portal roof, though open to the elements. We enjoyed the weathered, decrepit boards and the spaces between them created by time. Including them in a composition with the church of Santo Tomas seemed logical and adequately portrayed our experience. Thanks for looking. G
Bailing Wire Door Latch
Bailing wire door latch, a simple “security” system just off the High Road to Taos. It speaks so much to the wishes of the owner as a warning to keep out. Works for me, I wouldn’t untwist it. Thanks for looking. G
Diner, Tres Piedras, New Mexico
The old Diner at the junction of US 64 and US 285 Tres Piedras, NM. Looking through the windows of the old diner takes me back many years when one could get a really good green chile cheese burger here. The routes, US 64 from the Outer Banks, in North Carolina and US 285 from Sanderson Texas still intersect here. Alas… no one is getting a burger anymore much less a coffee. That said, the Chili Line Depot, a little ways up the road on US 285, will welcome your with home cooking and “pie”. Hey, thanks for looking. G
Harold’s House, Jaroso, Colorado
Harold’s House, Jaroso, in the San Luis Valley, Colorado. The first time I saw this house there was a matching tree to the right of the building where the stump is now. There was a large Great Horned Owl flew out of it and through the scene. I didn’t spot it until I reviewed the images later. It was sitting in the tree the whole time that I was making images. Goes to show, you never know who, pardon the pun, maybe watching. Thanks for watching. G
“A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?” ~Unknown
“Ruins Of America Trading Post” Colorado
Ruins of America Trading Post, near Dove Creek. Colorado. A dollar for this photo, thanks Ron, and signs declaring, “Welcome come on in…” “Pull” ” Push” “Closed” and in the image below on the door is their motto. I’m not knocking it! It’s a fine motto. Even though the place was closed I think the chair and brooms were a nice homey touch. Oh… they also have maps and information, books, salvage, antiques, coffee and of course, BEANS! Thanks for looking, and understanding. G
Trading Post motto… “May our motto always be that our customers enter in anticipation and leave without regrets”
Dryland Beans, Ruins of America Trading Post sign. I always thought, the numerous times I’ve passed this place, that it was the “beans” that ruined America.
Wooden Hearts, Walsenburg, Colorado
Wooden Hearts, Walsenburg, Colorado. They were all around town this time last year. Little surprise love hearts around the corner, a fun way to add a little color and brighten a boarded up building. Thanks for looking. G
Patinas And Rust Galore In New Mexico
Patinas and rust galore in New Mexico. Peer in to any abandoned building, drive down any back road and you will find scenes like this one. The payoff, from rural flight, is an opportunity to document the past that often gives me a glimpse into the lives of those gone before. Thanks for looking. G
Abandoned Ruin Alive With Lilacs
Abandoned ruin alive with lilacs in the village of San Cristobal, NM. It’s a good year for lilacs. We can use more lilacs. This abandoned homestead couldn’t agree more. It’s the Lilac Festival in Taos, coming up May 18 -20. Thanks for looking. G
Patina Painting
Patina painting. Many fading coats of paint tell their own story. So many stories, which one to tell. I’ll go with this one today. Thanks for looking. G
GMC Truck Cab Shadows
GMC truck cab shadows, in El Prado New Mexico. Over the years, these trucks have provided loads of photo ops for many photographers and there’s always a new angle if one looks for it. Sadly their demise has been advanced by the proliferation of bombardments of rocks. Still… it will make for plenty more photo ops. The hornets are guaranteed a home for many years more. Thanks for looking. G
Spring Photo Tours/Workshops
Spring Photo Tours/Workshops. I just completed more than a dozen trips with photographers, sharing with them the locations I know and love. It has been a great pleasure working with so many photographers with varied, personal visions, on composition and lighting, in landscapes, nature, architecture and an occasional portrait. Below are images of a few of my guests.
Southern Colorado Photo Tour
Abiquiu and Rio Chama Photo Tour
Three Day Grand Tour/Sites of Taos
Three Day Grand Tour/Sites of Taos with Rainbows over the Taos Valley
On the road in Ocate New Mexico, during the Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
On the road in (literally) in Abiquiu, New Mexico, during the Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
At the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
At the old trucks in El Prado. Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
Group photo at the old trucks in El Prado. Spring 2018 Photo Workshop.
Next, I am hitting the road on a photo road trip with two photographers to Eastern Arizona, SE Utah, and the four corners area of New Mexico.
If you would like to sign up for dates from now through summer and fall please visit my photo tour page and drop me a line: geraint@geraintsmith.com or call: 505-501-4880. And… please remember it’s never too early to sign up for winter and next years dates when you may be thinking of visiting. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you in New Mexico and southern Colorado.
Thank you to all my new photographer friends who have joined me on a photo tour/workshop. Geraint