Iconic Ute Mountain, The Plateau, New Mexico. 03-09-2023

Geraint March 8, 2023 24 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal. This week some views of Ute Mountain.

“Ute Mountain is a free-standing, Dacitic, extinct Pliocene volcanic cone”. That’s a mouthful. Besides being one of my revered peaks, it is also set in one of my favorite areas, the Taos Plateau Volcanic Field and the San Luis Valley. The mountain also lies within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

The images below encompass a span of almost twenty years.

On the home front, I feel the surgery on my foot will make my photo treks much more enjoyable for years to come.

Ute Mountain clouds — A localized weather pattern over Ute Mountain.

Road to Ute mountain — Road to the mountain.

Old sheep corral with Ute Mountain — Old sheep corral out on the plateau.

Ute Mountain on the Taos Plateau — A view from Guadalupe Mountain across the Taos Plateau.

Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Do you recognize the peak back there?

The image below is the one that initiated my fascination with this iconic landmark. Often, I will take a drive north, a pilgrimage of sorts, to visit the mountain. Click here if you want to see more images.

Near Costilla NM — Near Costilla, New Mexico.

Lastly, a couple of shots from closer to home.

Moon rise, San Cristobal — The moon rise this week from the deck in San Cristobal, NM.

And a view across the plateau and beyond to Cerro Pedernal (not a volcano but very much resembles one), “flint peak” near Abiquiu, NM. Immortalized by the artist Georgia O’Keeffe it can be seen from a vantage point behind our home. In the photo, Cerro Pedernal is probably 65-70 miles as the crow flies. The views out west extend a hundred miles or more on clear days. The vistas open like nowhere else, and the skies go on forever.

As always thank you for looking and visiting. And thank you for all the continued well wishes, comments, and compliments.

If you want the name of a wonderful foot and ankle specialist I can give you a recommendation! G

A bit of this and that!

Geraint February 9, 2022 29 Comments

This waterfall ran for a week fourteen years ago. I shot a number of images on February 14, 2008. I went back with a friend the next day after the sun came out. We had fun scrambling over the rocks. It was unusual that the temps reached 60º F that day. The snow melted and I was told by a BLM ranger that a small dam had broken above the falls. He said that the previous time he saw it flowing anywhere near to this force was twenty-six years earlier. It was a sight to behold. (Click to enlarge images).

Seasonal Waterfall, Orilla Verde, Valentines Day, 2008

I delved into the archives for this one. The tree held on for quite a while. It’s gone now. Of course, Cerro Pedernal is still looming large over the surrounding landscape. I shot this from the Rio Chama river road to the Desert Monastery.

Cerro Pedernal tree — Cerro Pedernal from the Rio Chama river road.

Sitting in the same folder as the image above was this image from long ago. I think I recall the plant in a pot my daughter had on a windowsill.

It snowed a couple of times in the last month, so I got out and looked for an appropriate location. This building is in Costilla, New Mexico on the Colorado State Line.

Snow-capped Yarrow plant in the garden. All the yarrow lost their caps in the warm weather over the last couple of days. It was a pretty sight while it lasted.

Snow topped Yarrow — Snow-capped Yarrow plant in the garden.

One of my favorite portraits shot on Kodachrome 64, scanned and converted to black and white. I shot this on Christmas day at Taos Pueblo during the Matachines dance in the late 1980s.

I have a lot of fun making these blog posts. I hope you enjoy them. Thank you for all the comments and compliments. I really appreciate it. As always, thank you for looking. G

Cerro Pedernal, Storm Clouds, Rio Chama, New Mexico

Geraint July 24, 2020 4 Comments

Cerro Pedernal, with storm clouds, from the Rio Chama road, New Mexico. This view is from over my shoulder in yesterdays image. I like to remind my photographer friends to always look behind, up and down from the obvious view in front. Many of my best images are from some of the more spontaneous moments I come across. Spotting them on the fly, heading down the road, and finding more than I originally planned. Join me, some time, when this current situation changes and I’ll show you some of New Mexico prime locations. Thanks for looking. G

Update For The Times, Ladder To The Moon

Geraint November 16, 2019 2 Comments

Update for the times, “Ladder To The Moon” inspired by the Georgia O’Keeffe painting. I hope you don’t mind. I figured change happens along with a few decades of deterioration in the New Mexico desert. Thanks for looking. G

Ladder To The Moon, Ode To Georgia O’Keeffe

Geraint November 15, 2019 2 Comments

“Ladder to the Moon” ode to Georgia O’Keeffe for her birthday today. Born: Georgia Totto O’Keeffe, Nov 15, 1887, Town of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, U.S. Died: Mar 6, 1986, Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. She would be 122. It seems like she is ever present in these parts still. I composited this from three images. Thanks for looking. G

Cabin, Ghost Ranch, Cerro Pedernal

Geraint August 26, 2019 5 Comments

Cabin, Ghost Ranch, Cerro Pedernal. The cabin at Ghost Ranch, (Curly’s Cabin) from the movie “City Slickers” where the door is almost always open and the porch is a cool relief from summer temps. Thanks for looking. G

Moon Set South West Of Taos

Geraint April 19, 2019 4 Comments

Moon set south west of Taos this morning. We left before dawn for Santa Fe. Although we had to get up earlier than usual we were accompanied by the very large setting moon. It appeared stranded, poised to enter the “belt of Venus” the earths shadow cast on the sky, (the blue band) and Cerro Pedernal. Cerro Pedernal is the flat top mountain in distance, familiar landmark in Abiquiu, Georgia O’Keeffe country. We were flanked by the moon for twenty more miles before it vanished in the ether. It was a beautiful start to the day. Thanks for looking. G

Jemez Mountains, Cerro Pedernal Sunset

Geraint November 29, 2018 2 Comments

Jemez Mountains and Cerro Pedernal sunset from Taos, New Mexico. Heading into the grocery store delayed for a few moments. Taking the time to watch this view to the south west of the of the sunset and Jemez Mountains/Caldera and Cerro Pedernal near Abiquiu, NM. A very nice appetizer to dinner this evening. Thanks for looking. G

Cerro Pedernal Sunset, Crescent Moon, Venus

Geraint August 23, 2018 6 Comments

Cerro Pedernal sunset, Crescent Moon, Venus, across the Taos Volcanic Plateau. One from the archive many moons ago! When I lived on the south side of Taos I would drive up the hill behind our home where this view was a constant reminder of the beauty and one of many reasons I live here. The kids would sometimes join me while I was photographing, they would read their books, do a little homework or simply luxuriate, basking in the scene alongside me. Many memories represented in this image. Thanks for looking. G

Under The Rocks At Abiquiu Lake

Geraint July 30, 2018 5 Comments

Under the rocks Abiquiu Lake with Cerro Pedernal as the backdrop. It’s a wonderful shady spot under these rocks with the breeze coming off the lake to cool the 100 degree temperatures down. No need to rush off yet! In all the times I’ve visited here, I’ve always enjoyed the view out across the lake to Georgia O’Keeffe’s mountain, so I’d not seen the hand glyphs overhead, in the top left corner, until this visit. I’ve searched for the origin of the hands online but haven’t come up with anything yet. I’ve added an image below. They look like wet palm prints from the kids jumping off the rocks into the lake below me, but they are permanent in the rock. If I find out more I’ll add it to this blog. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Cerro Pedernal