San Luis Valley Homestead #24

Geraint March 5, 2018 No Comments

San Luis Valley Homestead #24 in the abandoned buildings and homesteads series. I love the sense of serenity I find in this place amongst all the ghosts. I’ve been working on this project for the last six years. Quite a number of the buildings are no longer standing. Some are in a state of continuing decline, and there is no trace of others. I’ll continue to share images in this project here on my website. Thanks for looking. G

High Road To Taos Homestead

Geraint February 13, 2018 No Comments

High road to Taos homestead. Sometimes it’s just about something tickling the funny bone, like this house for example. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Are windows the eyes to the heart of the home? This house appears to be peeking out through a mask back at us! Thanks for looking. G

Stone House, San Luis Valley, Colorado

Geraint January 12, 2018 No Comments

Stone house in the San Luis Valley, Colorado. I spent some time here last week, down below the house, at the fence line exploring distant views of the stone house on the ridge line. Returning uphill to the car I found this juxtaposition, the barbwire boundary of the property nicely completing the scene. As always, when I’m out in this country, I can’t help but think of the former residents as I wander among ghosts from the past. I feel a deep respect as I walk lightly around the property and ponder for a moment, in reverence, the lives of those who’ve walked this way before me. Thanks for looking. G

The Mansion, El Rito, New Mexico

Geraint December 8, 2017 13 Comments

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

Homestead Meadow, New Mexico

Geraint September 15, 2017 2 Comments

Homestead meadow, on the road to Mora, New Mexico. This trip around the block turned into exclamations of “ahh”, “oh my”, “did you see that?” one after another.
“Around the block” might literally be a trip around the neighborhood. It may take an hour or two! On the other hand it may be a day trip or a trip lasting a number of days. No matter it’s length, it is a trip which brings us back home all the richer for the adventure and places we’ve explored, the people we met and locations we experienced. This day was just that. We savored each moment and returned home fulfilled and content. Thanks for looking. G

San Acacio, Colorado

Geraint September 3, 2017 2 Comments

San Acacio, Colorado homestead. I’ve made many images of this building and have been watching it’s demise through the years. This image below is from 2007. I first made it in color but I like the black and white in this instance. And this image is from August 2016. Last month the winds had taken even more of a toll on the structure. Some time in the next week I’ll be back up there again. I’ll let you know how it’s holding up or if it isn’t, either way! Thanks for looking. G

White House Ruin

Geraint June 10, 2017 No Comments

White house ruin in the San Luis Valley, Colorado. Please indulge me with another posting from southern Colorado. This area intrigues me and draws me back often. This is one in a series of abandoned homesteads in Colorado and northern New Mexico. Thanks for looking. G

[wp_cart:White House Ruin 2974:price:[Available Sizes|8.5×11 inches $95,95|13×19 inches $155,155|17×22 inches $235,235|24×36 inches $475,475]:end]

Abandoned Potato Bunker

Geraint June 5, 2017 4 Comments

Potato bunker storage in the San Luis valley Colorado. It’s about the shadows and highlights and even with the open rafters the exposed air was moist and cool in the midday sun at this underground bunker. This image was made directly west, behind the homestead in the June 3, image. Finding evidence of the odd few pieces of living room furniture, potential lairs of snakes and other sundry reptiles, allowed us a glimpse into a latter day environment that served more than one generation and perhaps gave shelter to more than one species. Thanks for looking. G

Little White House On The Plains

Geraint June 3, 2017 4 Comments

Little White House in the San Luis Valley, Colorado. Could be the plains, looks like the plains but alas is in one of the most fertile valleys where potatoes are the mainstay crop. The San Luis Valley, Colorado.

What struck me the most about this scene was the walk way leading to the front door. One recurring observation I have, regarding a lot of the abandoned towns and buildings in this area, is how thriving things must have been in the day when folks occupied every last dwelling. And another thought … Approaching this home … I wondered who resided here and how many people had walked up this path to the front door, long before me, and were greeted openly by the occupants.

This day we were greeted by a family of ravens who inhabited an abandoned outbuilding nearby. The new guardians served up a bombardment of unwelcome squawks and screeches, no doubt their way of letting us know visitors were not wanted. Things change. Thanks for looking. G

[wp_cart:Little White House on the Plains 4444:price:[Available Sizes|8.5×11 inches $95,95|13×19 inches $155,155|17×22 inches $235,235|24×36 inches $475,475]:end]

Estancia Homestead, New Mexico

Geraint April 22, 2017 2 Comments

Estancia Homestead … on the road … on a six day photo workshop around the four corners area and our last day southeast of Albuquerque touring around Estancia and the Salinas Missions National Monuments in New Mexico

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Homesteads