Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Tag: Colorado

First Snow, Winter Flashbacks. 11-22-2023

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM, and a Happy Thanksgiving. This week we had the first snow on our local peaks and in the valley.

Not too much snow. It’s a late start to winter where we are this year. I see from our weather forecast that temps will drop next week. It’s all good for me as I’m in a foot brace again on my right foot this time, and with my leg elevated, I still have a lovely view out the windows and from the deck.

This was the scene from the kitchen window this week after the clouds lifted, leaving a few stragglers behind to fill in the little valleys.

First Snow San Cristobal
First Snow, San Cristobal.

With my right leg elevated, I’m revisiting the archives again. Pretty much a repeat of last February, when my left leg was elevated. This time next year I look forward to hiking up and down the hills in the first photo.

Early snow, Taos
First snow, Taos, 2011.
Great Blue Heron and Mallards, Rio Grande, Pilar
Great Blue Heron and Mallards, Rio Grande, Pilar, NM.
Red-winged Blackbirds
Red-winged Blackbirds, Arroyo Hondo, NM.
Horse, Ranchos de Taos
A horse taking shelter in Ranchos de Taos.
Vintage truck in the snow, Taos
Vintage truck in the snow, Overland Ranch, Taos.

Lastly, a picture I came across, edited on my iPhone, from last year.

Church window and adobes, Colorado
Church window and adobes, Colorado.

As always, thank you for looking. Happy Thanksgiving. G

A Golden Eagle. A Leaf. A cloud. 11-15-2023.

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a Golden Eagle in flight. A lone cottonwood leaf and an unusual cloud formation over the San Cristobal Valley.

Golden Eagle in flight, southern Colorado.
Golden Eagle in flight, southern Colorado.

There’s a little wetlands in Taos I often take a walk there. This cottonwood leaf, bigger than my hand, was asking to be photographed. I was happy to oblige.

Cottonwood Leaf and a sun star
Cottonwood leaf and a sun star

The cloud below screamed out for a picture. It first appeared much like any other lenticular cloud forming, but quickly grew a tail. Moments after, just like that, it became one with all the other particles.

Cloud formation, lenticular
Lenticular cloud formation.

I was sure it was going to become a Bottlenose Dolphin… almost!

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week and if I miss you next week, Happy Thanksgiving. G

Black And White. 11-08-2023

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week more black and white images. I had some time over the last few days to wallow in the hard drives, throw a virtual dart at the folders, and see what showed up.

I wanted to convert this color image to black and white after I posted it in color a few weeks ago. Over the years, I have created a large collection of images from the San Luis Valley. I’ll add this one to the black-and-white folder. You can download a PDF file I made on the San Luis Valley here.

Red barn, Colorado in black and white
Red Barn, San Luis Valley, Colorado.

The tree is long gone but the flat top peak, Cerro Pedernal, stands like a beacon and can be seen from multiple locations around northern, NM.

Cerro Pedernal and tree Rio Chama road, NM
Cerro Pedernal and tree Rio Chama road, NM.

Many places in the southwest US are deteriorating and ultimately wind up going back to earth. How quickly they reach their demise, depends on the materials they are made of. Adobe, wood, and tin seem to get there quicker than the plastic one sees everywhere these days. I shot the image below in November 2017.

Adobe building ruin, Villanueva, NM
Adobe ruin, Villanueva, NM.

Wandering through the files from a trip to Britain in 2013 with Pami, I came across this image shot on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, on the Northumbria Coast of northeast England. I’m guessing this boat, which wasn’t sea-worthy back then, has probably been overturned and is now used as a storage shed.

Lindisfarne, Holy Island, Northumbria, England
Lindisfarne, Holy Island, Northumbria, England.

An overturned fishing boat was reclaimed and made into a storage shed.

Overturned fishing boat, Lindisfarne, England
Beach shed and Lindisfarne Castle, England.

I always shoot a scene in color but sometimes a scene cries out for black and white. Sometimes the day and lighting inspire me to shoot for a later conversion.

I shot the picture below in color and converted it to black and white. It was taken on the Thames Embankment in November 2013.

Gulls over Westminster, London, UK
Someone was feeding the gulls.

As always thank you for all the kind words comments and compliments. Have a great week. G.

Solar Eclipse, Aspens, Autumn Continues. 10-18-2023.

Greetings from San Cristobal in northern New Mexico. This week, the solar eclipse from the deck. Our perspective at this latitude gave us 80% coverage. We could have gone to Albuquerque for totality but decided to put our feet up, play with the dog, shoot a few pictures, and save on a tank of gas. The photos below were shot using a tripod with a Sony camera and lens. I purchased a couple of pairs of eclipse glasses that worked very well. They’ll come in handy for the total eclipse next April. I hope you saw the solar eclipse where you are.

Solar eclipse, October 14, 2023, San Cristobal, NM
Solar eclipse, October 14, 2023, San Cristobal, NM.

In the image below, I opened up the exposure to get the clouds that were surrounding the event. There is some refraction from the use of two neutral density filters but you get the idea.

October 14, 2023 solar eclipse. San Cristobal, NM
October 14, 2023, solar eclipse. San Cristobal, NM.

The aspen groves continued to delight with colors at their peak in many areas. There is still a lot more peaking to come. I’ll be on a five-day photo tour during the coming week. It’s safe to say I’ll probably post more images.

Aspens sun star, New Mexico
Aspens and a sun star, Hopewell Lake, New Mexico.
Aspens near Hopewell Lake, NM
Off the beaten path near Hopewell Lake, NM.

No trip in the area is complete without a stop at the Red Barn. It was a beautiful sunny day in the San Luis Valley, however, the barn looked a little forlorn later in the day under the brooding sky. I plan to keep documenting it until…

Red Barn, San Luis Valley, Colorado
Red Barn, San Luis Valley, Colorado.

On the climb up the Cumbres Pass, the road crosses over the state line from New Mexico into Colorado. The picture below looked much more appealing in black and white during the midday sun. The type of clouds in the picture looked like this all day long. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway also crosses the pass. If we are lucky, we sometimes meet the train there.

Black and white near the Cumbres Pass, New Mexico
Black and white near the Cumbres Pass, New Mexico.

We visit the location below numerous times throughout the year. Fall is my favorite.

Aspen grove and sky, Colorado
Aspen grove and sky, Colorado.

As always thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

Crested Butte, High Country Colorado, 10-04-2023

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week some images from a trip to Crested Butte in the high country of Colorado.

Last week, I mentioned a trip around the block, so this week we made a trip to the area around Crested Butte, in Colorado. We went for the fall color and also wanted to take a trip with our sweet girl, Coco, our labradoodle. It was a wonderful road trip, and we observed our 13-year-old in the back seat, always in the rearview mirror, and, more importantly, enjoying the great outdoors. She was a delight to travel with, and we’ll look forward to doing it again soon.

Click on images to enlarge.

Kebler Pass, Aspens, near Crested Butte, Colorado
Aspens, Kebler Pass, Colorado.

Here’s another view of the scene above, shot in 2012.

Ohio Creek Road and Pass, Colorado
Ohio Creek Road and Pass, Colorado.
Doodle family road trip, Colorado.
Doodle family road trip, Colorado.

Just before we left on our trip to Crested Butte, we heard, along with the world, that someone had cut down the famous sycamore tree at Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland. It is a sad state of affairs, and sickening that one or two people could upset so many people by killing the famous long-lived tree, over 300 years old, featured in movies, documentaries, and millions of personal photos. When I came across the tree in the pictures below, I wanted to make an homage to lone trees everywhere. I shot it from three different viewpoints and it does appear to be growing up from the center of the rock formation.

Lone Tree at Lone Tree Gulch, Colorado.
Lone Tree at Lone Tree Gulch, Colorado.
Lone Tree at Lone Tree Gulch, Colorado.
Lone Tree at Lone Tree Gulch, Colorado.
Lone Tree at Lone Tree Gulch, Colorado.
Lone Tree at Lone Tree Gulch, Colorado.

After returning from Crested Butte, I wanted more of the autumn colors, so my son Dylan and I hiked up the “Italianos Trail” from the Rio Hondo Canyon. As you know, I had foot surgery earlier this year so I wanted to check out my hiking abilities. I used hiking poles for the first time, and things went very well.
We stopped en route to take some pictures. I only brought my iPhone along, but you know what they say, “The best camera is the one you have with you”.

Here are a couple of images of the Italianos Creek.

Italianos Creek and trail
Italianos Creek and trail, NM.
Close up of Italianos Creek and trail
Close-up of Italianos Creek.

As always, Thank you for looking. I really appreciate all the comments and compliments. G

Ohio Creek Road, Colorado
Ohio Creek Road, Colorado.
Paradise Divide, Colorado
Paradise Divide, Colorado.

Autumn, Out and About, Around the Block. 09-27-2023

Greetings from San Cristobal, New Mexico. Autumn! It’s time to get out and make trips around the block.

The phrase “around the block” refers to day-long road trips we frequently take. A journey that will ultimately bring us back to where we started, and perhaps, because of the sights we’ve seen, we have been reminded of the home that is within us, wherever we go.

This week a few pictures from past trips around the long block in Colorado and a reminder of the upcoming autumn colors that are gradually manifesting here in northern New Mexico. My October schedule for private workshops and tours is almost full. I have a few days still open if you are going to be in the area and want to sign up.

Autumn, road in Colorado
On the road in Colorado, 2012.

Aspen reflections in the car windshield
Aspen reflections in the car windshield Ohio Creek Pass, Colorado.

A pond in the high country near Grand Mesa, Colorado
A pond in the high country near Grand Mesa, Colorado.

Aspens in northern New Mexico
Aspens in Garcia Park, northern New Mexico.

Aspen leaf, NM
Aspen leaf, NM

Maybe I’ll see you out and about or going… “around the block”.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G.

Summer Sunset, Salida Colorado, And More. 09-13-2023.

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week I’ve included a late summer sunset with a rainbow in a super storm cloud.

Summer is almost over and autumn is upon us. The aspens and cottonwoods will shroud the landscape in a cape of gold, glowing against the blue skies in the pristine mountain light. At this time of year, the night skies are crystal clear. The moon, constellations, galaxies, and Milky Way light up the night sky like few other places on Earth. New Mexico will soon be a magic carpet ride into the throes of winter. It’s not too late to sign up for a fall photo tour.

The summer storm cloud picture below followed a week after my last post on the rainbows. Many pictures of this massive cloud were floating around on social media. Naturally, we are so fortunate where we live, that we only have to step outside into the garden for a spectacular view.

Rainbow storm cloud sunset San Cristobal, NM
Rainbow storm cloud sunset San Cristobal, NM

Last weekend Pami and I drove to Salida, Colorado to the fiber arts festival. Pami did some shopping for alpaca yarns and I took a few images walking down the side streets and dark alleys!

Kayaks, Salida Colorado
Kayaks, Salida, Colorado.

Just over my shoulder was an artist painting a picture of these kayaks. This was his working palette.

Painters Palette, Salida, Colorado
Painters Palette, Salida, Colorado.

Alley in Salida, Colorado
A dark alley in Salida, Colorado.
Honor roll wall, Salida, CO
Honor Roll Wall, Salida, CO.
Alley, Salida CO
Brickwork with peeling paint, an alley in Salida CO.

Looking down, watching where I put my feet, was all I needed to see that “Love is all you need”… and water and food and housing…!

Love is all you need!
“Love is all you need!”

It poured with rain over the last three days. It isn’t over yet. I had errands to run in Taos so I stopped by the Saint Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos to add another image to my reflection collection. As I’ve said before, “I can’t resist a puddle!”.

Reflections, Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos
Reflection at the Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos.

I went to a friend’s open studio last weekend and also got caught up on gallery visits, it’s been a while. I liked the vase of flowers and took a quick cellphone shot. After tinkering on a cell phone app I came up with this. Here’s another image I did using the “Formulas” app on my phone.

Vase of flowers in a Taos Studio
Vase of flowers in a Taos studio.

I got a number of print orders this week. I shipped this image of the Cliff Palace ruin in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado to Florida. I printed one for myself to hang in my office. If you would like a print for your wall, message me here!

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde, Colorado
Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde, Colorado.

I saw the scene below today on my drive home from town. This guy was trucking along the highway so I thought I’d catch a shot of him as he passed the flashing road work sign that has been there for three/four years. Road work? No problem!

Summer Road work rider
Road work? No problem!

Summer is coming to an end and colors are turning on the tips of cottonwoods and aspens. I still have dates available for private photo tours and workshops. Last year was outstanding. Let me know if you are planning a trip to the area and would like a personalized guided trip.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

On The Road, New Mexico, And Colorado. 08-09-2023

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week on the road in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. I spent a couple of days photo trekking last week discovering new sights and sites with longtime friend, and fellow trekker Ron. There are always new images waiting for us in familiar locations.

If you are planning to visit New Mexico this fall, check out my photo tour/workshops. Lets get started.

On the road at Saint Francis church
Saint Francis Church with hollyhocks.
Saint Francis  church door
Door number seven, Saint Francis Church door, Ranchos de Taos.
Building, Cerro NM
Building in Cerro, NM.
Plant growing out of a building on the road in Dixon NM
Plant growing out of a building crack, Dixon NM
Street markings
Street parking markings.
Woodpile, on the road in Truchas, NM
Woodpile and corrugated steel roof, Truchas, NM.
Building with TV antenna, Truchas, NM
Building with TV antenna, Truchas, NM.
Penitente Morada, Truchas, NM
Penitente Morada, Truchas, NM.
Trailer, Colorado
Trailer, southern Colorado.
Chevrolet 1946 Fleetline, Garcia Colorado
Chevrolet 1946 Fleetline, Garcia Colorado.

As always, thank you for looking. G

Rio Grande Gorge, Black, White, And Color. 02-08-2023

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week the Rio Grande Gorge, from its beginning to where it cuts deep into the canyon of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

If you look closely, you can see the cliffs of the Rio Grande gorge uplifting left of center. I refer to this spot as where the river meets the rift. From this point, the river travels south, never leaving the Rio Grande Gorge. At the deepest point, the river is over eight hundred feet below the canyon rim.

The Rio Grande where the gorge begins, Colorado
The Rio Grande where the gorge begins, Colorado.

Below is a view of Ute Mountain with the Rio Grande as it makes its way through the Wild and Scenic Rivers Recreation Area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. The sky and darkness in the canyon, with only the river and Ute Mountain, highlighted, made for a dramatic image. Click here for another view.

Ute Mountain with the Rio Grande gorge in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area
Ute Mountain with the Rio Grande Gorge.

Heading home on a photo tour with Scott last week, I couldn’t resist another picture of the red barn in the San Luis Valley. The barn, accompanied by a brooding sky, called for a black-and-white photo. I know the barn won’t be standing for much longer. It’s already losing its siding and beginning to corkscrew. With the high winds making direct hits and randomly carting off planks of wood across plains, more and more light gets through the building. In the background are a large field of potato plants and a center-pivot irrigation machine.

Red Barn, San Luis Valley, Colorado
Red Barn, San Luis Valley, Colorado.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

Taos Pueblo Visit. On A Street Corner. 07-19-2023

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a brief visit to the Taos Pueblo, the heart and soul of Taos, New Mexico, followed by two pieces from the “Intersections” series.

Standing the shade of the ramada/drying racks with a coolish breeze was pleasant, watching the as my guest took photos.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Taos Pueblo ramada shade
Taos Pueblo in the shade under the ramada.

Taos Pueblo Mission Church of San Geronimo. The building had just received a new coat of adobe mud. Here is a look at the Pueblo North House in snow, BC (before covid).

Taos Pueblo Mission church of San Geronimo
Taos Pueblo Mission church of (St. Jerome), San Geronimo.

Below are two of the latest images from my ongoing, “Intersections” series. These vistas are vanishing fast. Every time I come across a unique location I make a panoramic image depicting its current status. In the first image, about a mile from our home, our little “Valley Store” on the corner of Camino del Medio and Flora Dr. is closed now. There is one consolation, the trailer is not for sale or rent, so it may be around for quite some time. Eventually, who knows what will happen? I think it is the uncertain future of the old places that intrigues me most. I think it’s important to document such scenes and only wish I’d begun sooner.

San Cristobal Valley Store.
Valley Store, San Cristobal.

Capilla de San Acacio, Road 15 and Road 12, near San Luis, Colorado. The resident greeter wandered up to say hello. If you look closely you can see him heading towards me in the first frame on the left and the last but one frame directly in front of me. It wasn’t much of a greeting. He walked around behind me, gave me the once over, and left the scene.

Old San Acacio, Colorado
Old San Acacio, Colorado.

As always, thank you for looking. G