Tag: Full Moon

High Road to Taos, New Mexico, June 15, 2022

Geraint June 15, 2022 24 Comments

Yesterday I went on a trip with friends on the High Road to Taos. It was a lovely relaxing day with no schedule or plans except to have fun and make images.

We began our day trip in Ranchos de Taos and photographed the iconic Saint Francis Church. It’s easy to lose track of time when photo opportunities abound. When we final regrouped, we headed south, winding our way through the Rio Grande Gorge to Dixon, picking up the High Road in Peñasco, traveling on to Las Trampas, Truchas, then back to Dixon for a late lunch at the Dixon Cooperative Market and Cafe.

Saint Francis Church on the High Road to Taos — Saint Francis Church, San Francisco de Asis.

South through the Rio Grande Gorge brought us to the town of Dixon, where we found these two benches waiting for us in more ways than one.

Bench back, Dixon, NM — Bench back detail, Dixon, NM.

After an hour of wandering around Dixon, we headed to the Picuris Pueblo, (still closed to the public) and on to the church of San Jose de Gracia de Las Trampas in Las Trampas, the ‘place of traps.’

San Jose de Gracia de Loas Trampas — The church of San Jose de Gracia de Las Trampas, NM.

Truchas is a twenty-minute drive south on the High Road to Taos and abounds with fascinating and quirky visuals. Truchas was the setting for the movie of the John Nichols, book Milagro Beanfield War, filmed on location in the mid-1980s and directed by Robert Redford. Below is the Truchas Mission Church, Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Rosario.

Truchas Mission Church on the High Road to Taos — Truchas Mission Church, Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Rosario.

The following few images are also located in Truchas, a short walk from the mission church.

Hobby Horse in the cool shade of a portal on the High Road to Taos.

Ford F100, Truchas — Ford F100 in Truchas, NM.

Mobile Home, with antenna, Truchas NM — Mobile home, with tv antenna, Truchas, NM.

Before we began our trip, we visited Floras Valley Store in San Cristobal, where my friends came to meet me. I just had to show this sight to them.

We ended a fun day and said our farewells back in San Cristobal. I closed my day watching the “Strawberry Moon” rising over Taos Mountain.

Full "Strawberry Moon" with Taos Mountain — Full “Strawberry Moon” with Taos Mountain, NM.

As always, thank you for looking. G

Zapata Ice Falls, Sandhill Cranes, Full Worm Moon.

Geraint March 23, 2022 19 Comments

Greetings from a blustery day in San Cristobal.

Last weekend saw us at the Zapata Falls campground for what turned out to be a frigidly cold night on the mountain. Fortunately, the visit to the falls made up for it. I’ve not visited the falls before, it was well worth it, and I can recommend it. Join me next winter, and I’ll take you there. Be sure to bring your crampons or your own Husky! My good friend John did just that.

Zapata falls way in — Zapata Ice Falls, Colorado, the way in!

Zapata ice falls, Colorado — Zapata Ice Falls, Colorado.

Geraint, Zapata falls, Colorado — Yours truly at Zapata Falls, photo by my friend, John Williams.

Kiki at Zapata falls, Colorado — Kiki (Johns huskey) at Zapata falls, Colorado.

Zapata falls, the way out. — The way out. Easy does it at Zapata falls, Colorado.

Fifty miles to the west of the falls is the Monte Vista NWR, where the Sandhill Cranes were present in the thousands. I hope to post a video next week. I have to say that the Sandhill Cranes, coming in for a landing, look like amateur flyers, and all flaps down!

Sandhill Cranes, Monte Vista NWR, Colorado — Sandhill Cranes, over the Rocky Mountains, Monte Vista NWR, Colorado.

The sunset views from the Zapata Falls campground and parking area are incredible, as you can see in the photo below. The peaks from left to right are Challenger Point, Kit Carson Mountain, Columbia Point, Crestone Peak, and Crestone Needle. The dune field in the foreground is in continuous flux. If you feel like climbing the dunes, you will gain approximately 750 feet elevation. One step forward, two steps back, but you’ll get there! And running down is a lot of fun!

Rocky Mountains, Great Sand Dunes NP, Colorado — Sunset on the Rocky Mountains and Great Sand Dunes NP, Colorado.

The Full “Worm Moon,” the “Sap Moon,” or “Crow Moon,” didn’t disappoint. The clouds thinned out in time, and the moon illuminated the night, keeping us awake, beaming through the windows as it traversed the night sky.

Full "worm moon" rising — Full “Worm Moon” rising over Vallecito Mountain, Taos, NM.

As always, thank you for looking. G

Snow Moon Rising, Fallen Tree, That Old Homestead.

Geraint February 16, 2022 19 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM

Yesterday evening I made my monthly trip out to photograph the almost (98%) full snow moon. For all intents and purposes, the difference was barely noticeable unless you squint your eyes. Sometimes it’s a marked difference, but as you can see in the second photo imperceptible this month.

I prefer to photograph the moon in the evening before it is full because the sun is still up illuminating the landscape as the moon rises behind our mountains. This gives a nice balance of light on the moon and mountains. Here are some more moon images which happen to be available as fine art prints. If you click on the link you will get the idea.

Snow Moon Rising, Vallecito Mountain — “Snow Moon” rising, Vallecito Mountain

I began this particular evening west of Taos near the Rio Grande Gorge bridge. I saw the moon appear behind a southerly ridge and made a few hazy images. As I quickly headed back east toward the mountains the moon began to vanish again below the ridgeline. I turned north and was able to place the moon directly behind this peak and watch it rise again. The lighting now was crisp and clear, and the mountains were gently illuminated. Naturally, I know this approach as I’ve done it so many times before. TPE (The Photographers Ephemeris) phone app helped me pinpoint where precisely the moon would appear and at what time. I use the app as a backup. Sometimes I’m slightly off. But not this time. The app confirmed it.

The image below is from a few years back after a wind storm broke the trunk of an already weakened tree, weakened by the creation of a stabilization dam on the Rio Costilla in the Valle Vidal. Despite its demise, I think it made for a nice image.

Below is an image of one of my favorite abandoned homesteads in the San Luis Valley. I’ve met the owners of some of the empty buildings who have made me feel welcome. There are other homesteads sitting out there open to all the elements. I keep visiting this place and suspect just like the impermanence of many other things in this world, it will be gone soon. For now, it continues to live a long life giving great pleasure, at least to me and a few of my adventurous photography clients.

Old homestead, San Luis Valley — That favorite old homestead, San Luis Valley

Here’s to a great week ahead with the potential for snow here in northern New Mexico. Enjoy your week where you are. And, as always, thank you for looking. G

North Clear Creek Falls, By Day, By Night, and in Black and White

Geraint August 25, 2021 13 Comments

Last weekend I spent three days visiting the North Clear Creek Falls in Colorado. I’d gone by the falls many times and for some reason or other, not stopped in to see them. Always on the way to somewhere else, I would scoot right past them. Well, I finally made up for it with my friend, John. We camped for two nights very nearby, intending to do a full moon shoot. Willing to accept the potential for cloudy skies and rain, we headed out, determined to have a good time camping and catching up. It did rain in the early morning hours, but we’d already got the shots.
This is from Wikipedia, and this is from 9News. Be sure to read the part about the Black Swift!

North Clear Creek Falls by Moonlight — North Clear Creek Falls, Colorado under full moon light.

North Clear Creek Falls Black and White — North Clear Creek Falls, Colorado in black and white.

Full Moon Rise, Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Geraint March 31, 2021 10 Comments

The full moon rising last Saturday over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado. Commonly known as the “Worm Moon” it’s also known by these names in other cultures. Crow Moon, Sap Moon, Moon of Winds, Fish Moon. Here’s a link to the names of full moons in many other cultures. I’m rather partial to “Crow moon”. The crows in our field get busy at this time of year and show up every morning before sunrise. This is a photo of a crow with the full moon back in early December. Despite the names bestowed on a full moon, it’s a most wondrous site to behold rising over fresh snow-covered peaks of the “Sangres”. This was shot and cropped from a very large panoramic image on a photo tour/workshop. Join me in this area for a trip to see sights like this.

Full worm moon rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado. — The full “worm moon” rising last Saturday over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado

Here’s the panorama of the whole scene. If you have room for a large print, the detail in both is amazing. Prints will be available soon.

The full moon rising last Saturday over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado — Large panorama of the full moon rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado

As always, thank you for looking. G

Wolf Moon Rising, Setting, Northern New Mexico.

Geraint February 3, 2021 8 Comments

Last week was the full Wolf Moon. It has many other names such as “Canada Goose Moon”, “Greetings Moon”, and a favorite alternative of mine, “Frost Exploding Moon”.
In this case, I’ll stick to calling it wolf moon as it is known around these parts. You can read more here.
On the night before the actual full moon, I met up with my friend John and set up, with plenty of time to spare, in order to be ready. When the moon rose behind the Northern New Mexico, Vallecito Mountain the light was still a little pale and not so dramatic, so we headed east and closer to the mountains to catch it rising over the exact same peak. On the night before the actual full moon, the landscape is bathed in the light of the setting sun as the moon, discernibly full rises in the scene making for a well-balanced exposure. We made some nice images that evening.

Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain, Northern New Mexico.

The Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain with the area known as Des Montes. — The Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain with the community of Des Montes.

I wasn’t done with the Wolf Moon yet so the following morning I got up early and drove about thirty minutes north near the Colorado State Line to watch it set around Ute Mountain and across the plateau.

Ute Mountain, a tree, with the Wolf Moon setting. — Ute Mountain tree with the Wolf Moon setting, Northern New Mexico.

Ute Mountain, Wolf Moon and across the plateau to San Antonio Mountain. — Ute Mountain, Wolf Moon, and across the plateau to San Antonio Mountain.

Road to Ute Mountain with the Wolf Moon setting.

Wolf Moon across the plateau with Sunshine Valley community. — Wolf Moon across the plateau with the Sunshine Valley community.

Here’s a link to the full Wolf Moon eclipse on January 21, 2019.

As always thank you for looking in. Geraint.

American Crow, Cottonwood Tree, Full Beaver Moon

Geraint December 3, 2020 8 Comments

American Crow in the cottonwood tree with the full “Beaver Moon” setting. The wider shot and a cropped close up. I love early mornings in the country. Thanks for looking. G

Full Moon, San Cristobal Valley, NM

Geraint July 5, 2020 4 Comments

Full Moon, San Cristobal Valley, NM last night, waiting for the exact moment the moon is full and the subsequent eclipse. This image was at 10:44pm when the moon was precisely full. I didn’t see any difference at all that indicated an eclipse, but tonight I’m going to watch for the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn around 10:30pm. If you have binoculars you should be able to spot Jupiter’s moons, though Saturn’s rings maybe a little more elusive to see. Thanks for looking. G

Full Moon Setting Over The Coyote Fence

Geraint February 9, 2020 1 Comment

Full moon setting over the coyote fence, Arroyo Hondo, NM. I drove out this morning for, perhaps, a dramatic shot of the moon setting across the plateau. I settled on a few images of this iconic coyote style fence on the hill, north of Arroyo Hondo, with the moon beyond. Thanks for looking. G

Southern Rocky Mountains Super Moon Rise

Geraint February 2, 2019 2 Comments

Southern Rocky Mountains winter solstice super moon rise. I didn’t post this image at the time since the winter solstice full wolf moon eclipse was a more pertinent image for the photo of the day. Prior to the lunar eclipse that evening, this is how the moon looked, as it rose in the east, over the snow capped peaks of the Sangre de Cristo range, of the southern Rocky Mountains. Thanks for looking. G