Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Tag: Bighorn Sheep

Photography Workshop Highlights, 09-14-22

Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. This week features a few images that highlight what we saw during a three-day photography workshop, this time with Scott a talented photographer from Houston. His enthusiasm inspired me. I think I inspired him.

Our last day was spent in the mountains. If you follow me or have taken a photography workshop with me you might recall this place, Comanche Point in the Valle Vidal, (Valley of Life). It’s looking a lot like fall up there. It won’t be long till the aspens turn color. In fact, it’s already begun.

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM
Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM

We spent a couple of hours at our first stop in Ojo Caliente, working at this location and looking for an interesting composition. This is what I came up with on this trip. I look forward to seeing Scott’s interpretation. Here’s one from a visit last year.

Santa Cruz church, Ojo Caliente, NM
Church of Santa Cruz, Ojo Caliente, NM

The Rio Grande Gorge is home to many bighorn sheep. Every now and again a ram will pop up when you least expect it, and strike up a pose where you would want it. In this case up high against a blue New Mexico sky.

Bighorn Ram, Rio Grande Gorge, NM
Bighorn sheep ram, in The Orilla Verde RA, Rio Grande Gorge, NM

Close up Bighorn sheep Ram, Rio Grande Gorge, on a photography workshop in northern New Mexico.
Close up of bighorn sheep ram, in The Orilla Verde RA, Rio Grande Gorge, NM

Restoration, repairing, and mudding are underway at the San José de Las Trampas church on the high road to Taos. The doorway arch has been replicated to an early look. The big doors were closed for weather sealing which allowed me to shoot a new angle. Usually, the doors are staked open which often provides a nice framing element.

At first glance, the scaffolding looked interesting and I had an idea to make a documentary image. Then the sun came out from behind a cloud and added shadows to the scene. Fortuitous.

Restoration at the Las Trampas church on the high road to Taos
Restoration mudding at San José de las Trampas, NM

The partially closed doors created a different look at one of the belfries.

Las Trampas church on the high road to Taos
Through the big doors at the Las Trampas Church.

Closing this week’s post is the harvest moon, shot from the deck as it rose over our mountains.

Harvest Moon rise, San Cristobal, NM
Harvest Moon rising, San Cristobal, NM

As always, thanks for looking. G

Bighorn Sheep, Rio Grande Gorge, New Mexico

Bighorn Sheep in the Rio Grande Gorge west of Taos, New Mexico. Sometimes they disappear far away into the canyon because they can. My photographer clients ask me, “where do they go?” to which I reply, “anywhere they want.” This one and a few others showed up just where we want them, on a rock! Thanks for looking. G

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Bighorn Sheep Rams, Drinking, Gorge Rim Road

Bighorn Sheep Rams drinking from a recent rain puddle on the Rio Grande Gorge west rim road. We all need water. These guys, two of the eight rams I saw, crossed the road in front of me and drank from the muddy puddle. I’ve added a couple of close ups below. As always, thanks for looking. G

Bighorn Sheep Rams, Drinking, Gorge Rim Road

Kneeling Bighorn Sheep Ram

Bighorn Sheep Ram, drinking water

Bighorn Sheep Ram, Orilla Verde, New Mexico

Bighorn sheep ram in the Orilla Verde, Pilar, New Mexico. “Is this the best I got? You bet, for now.” And an afterthought, “do I have something in my teeth?” Looking good dude, looking good! Thanks for looking. G

Bighorn sheep ram, Orilla Verde, Pilar, New Mexico

Bighorn Sheep Ram, Orilla Verde, NM

Bighorn sheep. A young ram is ensconced up to his ears in the sage in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. I got up close and personal with this young fellow on a drive through the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, New Mexico. I hope everyone is getting out in the fresh air when you can. Stay healthy. Thanks for looking. G

Bighorn Sheep Ram, Orilla Verde, NM

Red River Canyon, Bighorn Ram

Red River Canyon, Bighorn Sheep Ram. Took a drive today. We wanted to get out and make a leisurely trip with no motivation or goal except to enjoy the day. As is often the case, when there is no agenda other than to get out in nature, things happen and the day presents itself in all its glory. In Red River Canyon, shortly after we left home, I was able to get up close and personal with this handsome fellow. He seemed unperturbed by my presence. I was able to look into his eyes and see the details in his horns without my camera. The word primordial comes to mind. The elements came together and before we knew it we were heading home having experienced our own backyard with the creatures and locations that make it unique. Thanks for looking. G

Red River Canyon, Bighorn Sheep Ram.

Young Bighorn Sheep Ram

Young Bighorn sheep ram. “I am outta here!” I saw him heading my way and barely had time to get a shot off. This image is documentary evidence of the carefree nature and agility of these creatures. And, as seen in the image I posted a couple of days ago, certain sure-footedness. Heading back to the gorge tomorrow to see what we find. Thanks for looking. G

Young Bighorn sheep ram.

Bighorn Sheep, Orilla Verde Recreation Area

Bighorn Sheep, in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. What a fantastic afternoon the the National Monument following a herd of bighorn rams. The double sun stars are created by a rocky protrusion, splitting the sun in two. The bighorn sheep are posing on the ledges that they use to traverse the cliff faces. I was able to line up all the elements to accent the precarious terrain they inhabit. Thanks for looking. G

Bighorn Sheep, Orilla Verde Recreation Area

Bachelor Rams, Taos Mountain

Bachelor Rams, on the west rim with the Taos mountains as a backdrop. That’s Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak) on the right, with much needed rain falling directly on the peak. The Bighorn Sheep, all rams, are a band roaming the west rim of the Rio Grande Gorge. If you would like to join me on a photo tour/workshop we will visit all the usual locations and see if we can spot them. The second image shows how close we got to them grazing along the roadside. They seem to enjoy the lush plants that get runoff from the rains on the highway. Thanks for looking. G

Bachelor Rams, Taos Mountain

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Bighorn Ram, A Young One

Bighorn Ram, a young one! Handsome and immaculately turned out. His horns look like they haven’t yet seen any rutting or any entanglement with larger, more experienced, rams. He was on his own, on a rock in the Orilla Verde area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, chewing his cud. Doing what bighorn sheep tend to do, he ignored us and moseyed on his leisurely way. Thanks for looking. G

Bighorn Ram, A Young One