Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Tag: El Rito

Random Selections. 04-01-2026

Hello from San Cristobal, NM. I hope everyone had a great week. It’s raining here today. We are very happy about that. This week, more random selections from the archives, including the San Luis Valley, El Rito (west), and northern New Mexico.

I hope you enjoy!

Random selections from bygone days.

Random selections, A stone house, fence, San Luis Valley, Colorado
Stone house and fence, San Luis Valley, Colorado.

Near the house in the photo above, is owl nest on a platform of sticks in a potato bunker. Initially, I thought it might be a magpie or hawk nest, but then an owl flew directly over my head from another part of the building and out through the entrance. Over the years, I’ve seen more owls in different bunkers, alas no pictures, yet.

Owl nest potato bunker, Colorado
Owl nest in a potato bunker, Colorado.

On a different trip these two juvenile great horned owls were seen in a tree close bye to the bunker..

Juvenile great horned owls
Juvenile great horned owls.

In the San Luis Valley of Colorado, potato storage bunkers/cellars play a crucial role in preserving the region’s abundant potato harvests. These bunkers are specially designed facilities that maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels to extend the shelf life of potatoes, preventing spoilage and sprouting. The valley’s high altitude and arid climate make it an ideal location for potato farming, and the storage bunkers ensure that the produce can be stored for months, allowing farmers to supply fresh potatoes year-round. These structures are often partially underground, leveraging the earth’s natural insulation properties to maintain a stable environment, which is essential for maintaining the quality and nutritional value of the potatoes.

Railway depot in Romeo, Colorado.

Romeo, Colorado
Romeo, Colorado.

A faded flag emblem on the side of a carriage at the Alamosa, railyards. Maybe I’ll make a post on images from the railyards soon.

Faded flag emblem, Alamosa, railyards.
Faded flag emblem, Alamosa, railyards.

A favorite image and print from a location near the Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve in Colorado.

White House doves, San Luis Valley CO.
White house and doves, San Luis Valley CO.

The El Rito Mansion, on a Spring photo tour/workshop. Since this photo was taken, I’ve been in touch with the family and relatives who grew up here.

Random selection, El Rito Mansion, NM
El Rito NM.

At the end of a good day of shooting, the soft twilight, on the Rio Grande Gorge, and Ute Mountain, NM. A hand held image shot in near darkness and lightened in Photoshop® to bring out the lavendar hues and highlight on the river.

Random selections. At dusk, the Rio Grande, Ute Mountain, NM
Rio Grande Gorge, Ute Mountain, NM.

New growth on a pine tree in Arroyo Seco, NM. The new growth on the branches are a lighter green than the rest of the tree. Edited as a black and white image, this is what I came up with.

Random Pine tree
Pine tree, Arroyo Seco, NM.

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

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.

Fire On The Mountain Sunset

Fire on the mountain. The last rays of sunlight on the Sangre de Cristo mountains set them on fire this evening. The thirty mile drive took us a little longer than usual. I mean, we just had to stop and join the mountains saying good night to the sun. Thanks for looking. G

Fire On The Mountain

Christmas Decorations Year Round

Christmas decorations year round in El Rito, New Mexico. They’re a little more faded now, but I thought they added a nice touch, surrounding the doorway to this boarded up building. The main room has an intact, pressed tin ceiling and a solitary bare light bulb hanging there. All in all, this old dance hall (according to a local) has some potential for the right developer. Another local we met, proposed that we open a grocery store in the village, to which we politely declined. Anyway, as always, thanks for looking. G

Christmas decorations year round in El Rito, New Mexico.

The Mansion, El Rito, New Mexico

The Mansion, El Rito, New Mexico. This old home in El Rito, west of Taos on the road to Abiquiu, NM last week, beckoned across the meadow. The exposed adobe bricks in the wall warmed in the 60 degree sunshine. The vine cascading along the balcony caught my eye through the vine weaving it’s way along the boundary fence. What tales this place might tell. While were were stopped making images, a local pulled up, and with great enthusiasm, inquired as to what we knew about history of this place. I referred her to a local who shared with me some weeks ago that it was known as the “mansion” and that’s all I know to this point. Although now I’m intrigued enough and inspired toward further investigation. Thanks for looking. G


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The Mansion, El Rito New Mexico

“The Mansion” in El Rito New Mexico. Well… that is what a longtime resident of El Rito told us it was commonly known as. We took him at his word. Thanks for looking. G

The Mansion El Rito

Road Through A Fog Bow

The road through the fog bow, El Rito, north, New Mexico. Early one morning on the drive to Denver I just had to pull over and watch the fog recede and the sun begin to breathe it’s breath on the landscape. What I call a fog bow developed and added an extra element to the scene. Thanks for checking in. G

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