Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Tag: Adobe

Morning Moon, Evening Moon with Venus, Saint Francis Church, Shapes and Shadows, Aspen Buds, Taos Mountain.

I was up before dawn waiting for the waning moon to rise over the Sangre de Cristo (Rocky) Mountains east of our house. I spotted the two little stars first. If you expand the image you’ll see them. I’m sorry I didn’t look up their names. You’ll also see the “earthshine” on the moon.

Crescent Moon, and stars and mountain
Good morning waning moon, stars, and mountain, San Cristobal.

Two days later the waxing moon was setting over the plateau to the west of us accompanied by the crescent Venus. Venus is at its brightest right now. Soon she will set in the glare of the sun. Not to worry, she’ll be back in the eastern sky and will be joined by the moon before dawn. If you expand the image you’ll see that Venus is also in the crescent phase.

Crescent Moon, Venus
Good night waxing moon with Venus and clouds.

A couple of days ago I had a little time to pass waiting for an appointment so I made a quick circle around the San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos. I spotted the shadow of the bell and made this image.

Saint Francis Church
The iconic Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos, NM.

I also caught this little scene from the west as the sunset warmed up the adobe and lit up the tower cross.

Saint Francis Church
Saint Francis Church belfry tower.

I’ve made a similar photo of this scene before. It was almost a year ago. In this version I like the three simple arch shapes tying it together. Here are the other images from last January.

Shapes and shadows, Dixon, NM
Shapes and shadows in the Village of Dixon, NM.

The weather here has been quite warm over the last couple of months and these buds on the aspen tree were tempted to bust out. They’re changing their mind this week as temperatures are destined to drop into the minus digits.

Aspen buds busting out, San Cristobal
Aspen buds itching to bust forth.

I ran up to the hardware store in Questa this evening. It took me a little longer than planned, but I did take my camera and couldn’t resist pulling over to make an image of the light on the cottonwoods before the storm. The forecast is for snow in the next couple of days. I will wait and see!

Cottonwoods Highwaay 522, Questa, NM
Cottonwoods, Highway 522, Questa, NM

One oldie but goodie from 2008. I came across this image last week going through my files looking for images of Taos Mountain. I thought it worth sharing again. Prints are available.

Taos Mountain Sunset
Taos Mountain Cottonwoods, El Prado, NM

As always, have a great week, and thanks for looking. G

On The Road Again.

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

Taos Pueblo, Snow, Flashback, November 2019

Taos Pueblo, snow, flashback, November 2019. Thought I’d share this from last year when we were able to visit the Pueblo. This year isn’t happening. Thanks for looking and let’s put every one of our family’s safety first. G

Taos Pueblo, snow, flashback, November 2019.

High Road To Taos, Las Trampas Church, Sky

High Road to Taos, Las Trampas Church, and sky. I spent some time yesterday processing a few more images from that day on the High Road last week. The fast-moving clouds were cooperating to the degree that, during a long exposure, they caused this zoom effect of the movement of the clouds over the front and rear of the church. I could have created the same effect in Photoshop® but as I said the clouds were cooperating so two minutes of exposure on each of the images gave me a nice in-camera image. Less time spent on the computer is a good thing. Thanks for looking. G

High Road to Taos, Las Trampas Church

High Road to Taos, Las Trampas Church, and sky.

Truchas, Trampas, Ranchos De Taos, NM

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

Truchas Mission Church
Tin roof with crosses, Truchas Mission Church on the High Road to Taos.

 

Gated door filigree Truchas
Gated door with metal work filigree, Truchas Mission Church.

 

Wooden cross, Morada, Truchas
Wooden cross with Penitente Morada, Truchas, NM

 

Window, Truchas Morada
Window at the Penitente Morada, Truchas.

 

Woodpile House roof Truchas
Wood pile as big as a house up to the roof in Truchas, NM

 

Steer on a Deer skulls, Truchas
Steer skull on a deer skull, on a ladder in Truchas, on the High Road to Taos.

 

Las Trampas church adobe wall
Las Trampas Church belfry seen peeking over the adobe entrance wall.

 

Las Trampas church
San Jose Church seen over the wooden gate in Las Trampas on the High Road to Taos.

 

Big doors Ranchos de Taos
Big doors on the St Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos.

 

El Rito, Mansion, Sloping Veranda

El Rito, NM “the Mansion”, with sloping veranda.  I love this old adobe and particularly the veranda and climbing vine. Is the vine utilizing the veranda to climb or does the vine keep everything together from ultimately collapsing. The exposed adobe and woodwork is classic. Click here for another photo and be sure to read the comments. Thanks for looking. G

El Rito, the Mansion, with sloping veranda.

Adobe Shed, Cloud, Llano de San Juan, NM

Adobe shed and cloud in Llano de San Juan, NM. Along the High Road to Taos and many other areas of New Mexico, there are many of these random buildings. The new doors signify, perhaps, a restoration project. Next door to this building is the former Llano Post Office, zip code, 87543. That’s another post on another day. Thanks for looking. G

Adobe shed and cloud in Llano de San Juan, NM.

Adobe Studio, Ladder, Cloud

Adobe studio, ladder, with slight cloud iridescence, just as I found it yesterday during a photo shoot at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site in Taos, New Mexico. If you’re in Taos this summer stop in for a visit. The abundance of history at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site here in northern NM will astound you. Thanks for looking and stay tuned for more images to come in the not too distant future. G

Adobe studio, ladder, cloud.

Horno, Ladder, Snow, Red Chiles, Adobe

Horno (oven), ladder, snow, red chiles, adobe. A little corner, and a familiar spot at the Taos Pueblo. The adobe adds some warmth to the cold day. Windblown snow clings to the scene like frosting on a cake. Thanks for looking. G

Horno (oven), ladder, snow, red chiles, adobe

Taos Pueblo, Taos Mountain, Snow

Taos Pueblo, Taos Mountain, Snow. A beautiful day at the Taos Pueblo today. The light was pristine, illuminating the adobe, multi story, buildings of the North House. The ever present Taos Mountain emerges from the clouds. I hope your day was a good one. Standing in the plaza at Taos Pueblo made mine quite awesome and peaceful. Thanks for looking. G

Taos Pueblo, Taos Mountain, Snow