Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Tag: Bluff

Less is More, More or Less. 04-23-2025

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM This week, saying less is more, more or less.

The old saying “less is more” came to mind when I spotted this van at the trailhead covered in stickers. It was so overwhelming, I certainly didn’t take the time to read more than a few of them. To each their own.

Less is more, van stickers
More is less! Van stickers in Taos.

While browsing my archive, I came across the photos above, followed by this one from Cow Canyon Trading Post in Bluff, Utah. Here’s my shot from 2004 of the Buick Super Eight.
Can less say more? I think so.

Less is more
Buick Eight.

And below, a magpie nest that had fallen from a juniper tree on our property. Its exposed structure reveals the intricate work and craftsmanship involved in building a home for a young magpie family—a perfect example, I think, of using only what’s essential.

Magpie nest, inside out less is more.
Magpie nest, inside out, with the roof blown off.

As a side note, I left the nest untouched for a year, in case the magpies wanted to reuse the twigs for their next brood. They did return, but built a new nest from scratch, so I repurposed the old twigs to create the Dancing Magpie Ladder series in this featured post.

As always, Thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

Less Is More

“Less is more” is more than just a design principle—it’s a philosophy, a mindset, and often, a path to clarity. Coined by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the phrase suggests that simplicity and restraint can lead to greater impact, beauty, and meaning.

In a world saturated with noise, distractions, and excess, the idea of less invites us to strip away what is unnecessary. Whether in art, architecture, writing, photography, or everyday life, reducing clutter, both physical and mental, can reveal the essence of what truly matters.

Minimalism doesn’t mean emptiness; it shows intentionality. It’s the white space in a painting that gives form to the figure, the pause in a piece of music that deepens emotion, or the lone word on a page that hits harder than a paragraph. In photography, for example, a single subject placed in a wide, empty frame can tell a more powerful story than a busy scene ever could.

“Less is more” is a reminder to trust simplicity: to allow space for interpretation, for breath, for depth; to do less, but do it better; to own less, but feel more; to speak less, but say what truly counts.

In the end, less is not a loss. It’s a refinement, a distillation of what’s essential. And often, it’s where we find the most beauty.

Bluff, Buick, Cow Canyon Trading Post, Utah

Bluff, Utah, Buick Super Eight at the Cow Canyon Trading Post. I’ll be heading out there again soon on a nine day photo trek. I feel sure this old Buick and twin rocks will still be there, I’ll lay odds on the Buick, but those rocks…? Bluff is great place to visit and stay, or stop for lunch on the road to Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat and Monument Valley Tribal Park.  Stay tuned for photos. Thanks for looking. G

Buick Super Eight in Bluff, Utah.

Rust On Rust, Dodge Truck, Utah

Rust on rust, on more rust, on a Dodge truck in Bluff, Utah. I’ve made many trips to Bluff over the years. This rusting old Dodge truck has already outlived me. If my memory serves me right, it was there in 1986 on my first visit. This was in May, 2019 and it’s holding up well. Thanks for looking. G

Rust On Rust On Dodge Truck, Utah

Dodge Truck, Bluff, Utah

Dodge truck, “Job Rated” near Twin Rocks in Bluff, Utah. The rain can make the colors pop and they did on this old Dodge. Date anyone? On a photo tour around the Four Corners. It’s been a trip! Thanks for looking. G

Dodge Truck, Bluff, Utah

1949 Buick Super Eight Bluff, Utah

1949 Buick Super Eight in Bluff, Utah. Nice and wet this morning in Bluff. The rain made the colors, and in this case, the toned image pop. I first photographed this old “three hole” in 1985. It’s fairing nicely. The windows are still intact and the chrome is glowing. Onward to Moab, Arches and Mesa Verde. Thanks for looking. G

1949 Buick Super Eight Bluff, Utah