Tag: Mountains

Winter Weather, Snow, Book Covers. 11-13-24

Geraint November 13, 2024 5 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, some scenes of winter weather, two new book covers, and snow. It’s been a cold week, but it’s warming up again. The heaters are cleaned and running, and the sun is shining. I hope it’s beautiful where you are.

Winter weather, Ranchos de Taos pond — Winter weather, Ranchos Valley.

Last week we took a drive during the snowfall here. Little did we know that the 12 to 15 inches we received in San Cristobal amounted to about an inch in downtown Taos as you can see from the image of the little chapel on La Loma Plaza in Taos. We have been fortunate to get hit by lots of moisture this year in our village north of Taos.

St Clare’s statue was huddled under a cloak of snow before it slid off.

Saint Clare, Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos — Saint Clare’s statue at the Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos.

Sunflower seed pods wearing snow cap crowns.

Sunflower pods in winter weather — Sunflower seed pods.

The following are two of my images used on the covers of recently published books. I’m honored to share these publications with you.

Ranchitos road Taos, mirror image — Ranchitos Road, Taos, mirror image.

Lise Goett’s book of poetry, “The Radiant”

Lisa Goett's book cover "The Radiant" — Lise Goett’s book cover “The Radiant”

The second cover is from J.M. Mitchell’s Novel “Migrations of Butterflies and Lies”, Check it out here on Amazon

Ghost Ranch NM — J.M. Mitchell’s Novel “Migrations of Butterflies and Lies”

And the cover…

J.M. Mitchell's book cover Migrations of Butterflies and Lies — Book Cover.

You can also purchase a copy of J.M. Mitchell’s book “Migrations of Butterflies and Lies.” at Barnes and Noble.

If you are writing a book and would like to use an image of mine on the cover or inside, please get in touch. All proceeds go to a local Taos non-profit for kids.

And finally an autumn leaf on a winter pond.

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

Red Barn, Awesome Comet, Snow. 10-30-2024.

Geraint October 30, 2024 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, the red barn and its neighbors, Comet Atlas, the Arroyo Hondo cottonwood tree, and an image from October 27, 2020, with the piles of snow we have unfortunately not received this year.

The red barn is deteriorating before my eyes. The siding might as well fall off while I’m standing there looking, and it’s also starting to twist from the prevailing winds.

Red barn with anthill and Ute Mountain San Luis Valley Colorado — Red barn with anthill and Ute Mountain, San Luis Valley Colorado.

If we ever get snow again the scene will look like this.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) shot on an iPhone 13 Pro Max on October 13, 2024. I couldn’t resist the ease of what the iPhone can accomplish these days. The comet image is a little soft however, night mode on the phone is very good for handheld shots. It’s even better on a tripod.

Arroyo Hondo cottonwood, October29, 2024 — Arroyo Hondo Cottonwood, October 29, 2024.

The same scene on November 1, 2018.

This scene below is on our deck on October 27, 2020.

Snow cover on the deck, San Cristobal, October 27 2020 — Snow cover San Cristobal, October 27, 2020

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week where you are. G

Powerful Bighorn Sheep, A Petroglyph, And More. 10-23-2024

Geraint October 23, 2024 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Bighorn sheep in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area, along with some random mages from the last few weeks. Autumn colors have been stunning this year, and I’ve been busy on photo tours with great photographers/clients. Now it’s time to settle in, light the fires, and enjoy the remaining colors and exceptional light around us.

These bighorn sheep in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area were head-butting each other. When I pulled up they stopped. The dogs had never seen anything like it.

*Bighorn Sheep, Wild and Scenic Rivers Recreation Area, NM.*

Avanyu. A water serpent petroglyph along the Rio Grande south of Taos.

The fall colors keep on giving in the woods near Hopewell Lake where I spent seven days this month.

That cottonwood tree in last weekend’s storm in Arroyo Hondo!

I was surprised to see these hardy plants thriving in the colder temperatures. It was the only group of this plant, that I spotted on my two-mile walk with the dogs.

*Blanket Flower, Wild and Scenic Rivers Recreation Area.*

I took a short drive on the night that nearly everyone in the northern hemisphere could see the aurora borealis. This was the view I had from the foothills behind our house. I used an iPhone and stitched six images together. The next evening I was prepared with a camera and tripod but the northern lights weren’t visible.

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

On The Taos Plateau, 10-09-2024

Geraint October 9, 2024 10 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week on the Taos Plateau, a last shot today on an exhilerating photo tour with Scott Purdy. Sorry for the delay in posting… I spaced out what day it was.

I’m thinking of all my friends in Florida as I look at this cloud, and send love.

San Antonio Mountain corral — San Antonio Mountain with the old corral.

The old corral west of Taos on the western edge of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

Old corral, Taos Plateau — Old sheep corral on the Taos Plateau.

I think it’s a sheep herders corral. It looks like it would never pen in a herd of cattle.

Thanks for looking. I apologize again for the limited post. I really did forget what day it was. G

Ute Mountain, Taos Mountain, Mountain Biking. 09-25-2024

Geraint September 25, 2024 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Ute Mountain and the Rio Grande in the Wild and Scenic Rivers area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Taos Mountain is preparing for winter and mountain biking in the Taos Ski Valley.

I love it when we visit this location, I feel sure you know it, and the shadows from the fast-moving clouds pass over the landscape creating numerous composition possibilities. I hope my clients get some images they want to share.

Ute Mountain Rio Grande Wild Rivers — Ute Mountain and the Rio Grande.

This picture of Taos Mountain has been popping up recently. One of these days I’ll print one for myself and hang it on our living room wall. It will warm up the room as we settle into the colder seasons.

Taos Mountain, Pueblo Peak, sunset — Taos Mountain, Pueblo Peak, Sunset.

I watched this guy head down a trail at the terrain park in Taos Ski Valley. I composited nine images to get the shot. It looks like he was out on a Sunday ride, not a mountain biking course. There’s a nice trail to hike nearby.

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

New Mexico Treasures 2025 Calendar. 09-04-2024

Geraint September 3, 2024 10 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, (Taos), NM. This week, New Mexico Treasures 2025 Engagement Calendar. Again, I’m pleased to have my work in this long-running cultural calendar published by the State of New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department and produced by the Museum of New Mexico Press, which reprinted and distributed my book, Rio Grande del Norte: An Intimate Portrait.

You can order your calendar from this link: New Mexico Treasures 2025 Calendar

This year I’m honored to have the wrap-around cover photo.

New Mexico Treasures 2025 Calendar Cover — New Mexico Treasures 2025 Calendar.

Bald eagle, winter on the Rio Grande — Bald eagle, winter in the Rio Grande Gorge.

Bald eagle, winter in the Rio Grande Gorge.

Taos Mountain mists clearing storm — Taos Mountain mists and clearing storm.

You can purchase a copy of my book here or through the Museum of New Mexico Press.

As always, thank you for looking, your friendship and support. Have a great week. G

Super Blue Moonrise, San Cristobal, NM. 08-21-2024

Geraint August 20, 2024 11 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, (Taos), NM. This week the super blue moonrise over our foothills, not-so-blue but super all the same. Everything but the moon was blue. I liked the whispy cloud that was later obliterated by the bright moon.

Earlier in the week, one of the largest (Western Tiger) Swallowtail Butterflies I’ve seen, landed on the coneflowers, (Ecahinacea) in the garden. About the size of a dessert plate, he was battered and torn up with bits missing. Here’s one in a more pristine condition.

Swallowtail butterfly — Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.

As always, thanks for looking, and all the kind words of friendship and support. Have a great week. Stay cool if you can. G

Sunset Moonrise, Taos Mountain.08-07-2024.

Geraint August 6, 2024 4 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week an almost forgotten sunset moonrise over Taos Mountain from the garden wall. We have many viewpoints around the property depending on the moon’s trajectory. You may recall the many pictures I’ve posted from the deck or driveway. The sky was a firey color in mid-July. The moon crept out from behind the layer of clouds like a timid soul moving through the blushing universe.

Sunset Moonrise from San Cristobal, NM — Sunset Moonrise with Taos Mountain from San Cristobal, NM.

A little later the crows gather in the old cottonwood tree with their backs toward the prevailing night wind. Sometimes there’s one and usually more, sometimes two ravens, rarely more.

Crow in the cottonwood tree, San Cristobal, NM — Crow in the cottonwood tree.

Here’s a shot from a few years ago.

As always, thank you for looking and for all the comments and compliments. I hope you have a good week. G

Rio Grande Gorge, Summer Gorgeousness. 07-31-2024

Geraint July 30, 2024 17 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal (Taos), NM. This week the Rio Grande Gorge in its summer finery and gorgeousness.

My hard drives frequently spin as I search for images to print or supply to art directors and clients. This week was no exception. I came up with a few select photos depicting the gorge that divides the plateau between east and west, with views from the rim and canyon, and the expansive vistas that capture the imagination and stir the soul.

If you miss this view below then you are probably asleep and should wake up or you’re driving at night.

Highway 68 and the gorge view — Highway 68 and the Gorge view.

If you prefer to take a detour off the main route you will see the following two locations.

Orilla Verde Rec Area — The Rio Grande in Orilla Verde Recreation Area.

As you ascend a steep dirt road you will encounter this grand view looking south. Remember to engage the parking break.

Gorgeous Sky over the Rio Grande Gorge — Gorgeous Sky.

A short distance on the climb out of the canyon is the Vista Verde Trail. It will take you on a very pleasant hike through lava boulder fields and rocks adorned with indigenous petroglyph art.

… to a bench with an overlook of the Rio Grande.

River View — River view from a nice resting spot.

The west rim trail takes you in a northerly direction on mostly level ground for about 10 miles. You’ll feel the cool breeze as it glances off the canyon walls and catch fabulous 360º sunsets.

Driving the 10 miles, if preferred, will bring you to the high bridge where US Highway 64 crosses the Rio Grande Gorge.

Walking across the bridge looking to the north or south you’ll get wonderful views of the river. Looking east toward the mountains is pretty nice too!

Summer light on the gorge bridge. Straight as an arrow to the mountains.

On the same evening from the bridge, this happened.

Lightning sky over the gorge — Lightning over the gorge.

On another occasion a rainbow over the chasm.

Rainbow and storm, over the gorge — Rainbow and storm over the gorge.

There have been many times I’ve traversed the bridge. It shakes a lot especially when semi-trucks cross it hauling full loads of gravel. Don’t let it prevent you from crossing it yourself, but don’t bother with a tripod. I didn’t.

Lastly, one of my favorite and most popular images was taken on a summer evening from the high bridge in 2009. A horizontal crop is on the cover of my book.

Summer Light, on the Rio Grande Gorge — Summer evening from the high bridge.

I hope you enjoyed the mini travelog this week. Join me on a photo tour/workshop and I’ll show you around these locations.

Last week I made it to the summit of Gold Hill on my two new feet. 9.8 miles round trip and 3263 elevation gain to 12703′ at the summit. My knees were complaining but I wasn’t. We’ll do Wheeler Peak the highest point in NM (13163′) in a couple of weeks for something a little easier.

As always, thank you for looking. I hope you have a good week. G

High Road To Taos, Black And White. 07-24-2024.

Geraint July 23, 2024 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal (Taos), NM. This week on the High Road to Taos in black and white.

This week I had the pleasure of taking my friend Larry on a photo tour on the High Road. Conditions proved to be very conducive for black and white photography. Larry was using a Canon R5 with a 24-105mm lens and I used my Sony a6400 with an 18-135mm lens along with my iPhone.

Larry got some great pictures while I enjoyed a day out in his company, sharing new locations he hadn’t seen on previous trips. He also added a Pygmy Nuthatch to his “life list” of birds, which we spotted in Amole Canyon.

Las Trampas on the high road to Taos — Church at Las Trampas on the High Road to Taos.

The light in northern New Mexico is outstanding and ominous at times.

Shrine near Vadito — Shrine near Placitas.

Placitas chapel belfry — Chapel belfry, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Placitas.

Below is the church in Llano de San Juan. It has one of the nicest belfries around, with the big bell exposed and not cloistered behind chicken wire or lattice to keep the pigeons out.

church belfry clouds llano de san juan 1985 — Church belfry in Llano de San Juan, NM.

Grave marker in Las Trampas, photographed by Ansel Adams in the 1940s.

Sadly, the house across the plaza from the church caught fire a few years ago. I shot it anyway.

Burnt out house in Las Trampas — Burnt house in Las Trampas.

And the hippie bus with a tree growing from its nose.

Om Shanty bus — “Om Shanti” bus near Truchas, NM.

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