Tag: Mountains

Summer Solstice. 06-18-2025.

Geraint June 18, 2025 10 Comments

Hello from San Cristobal, New Mexico! This weekend marks the summer solstice, occurring on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 8:42 p.m. MDT. Over the years, I have made it a tradition to spend both the summer and winter solstices out with my camera, often capturing images at the precise moment of the solstice. While it’s not always eventful, the occasions when I do capture something are particularly memorable and enjoyable.

Below, I’ve shared some images from previous years where I managed to capture moments during the summer solstice that were especially meaningful to me. One of my favorites was taken in Plaza Blanca, NM. It was also a relief to find some shade in an alcove where I set up for the shot. Enjoy!

Summer Solstice Plaza Blanca — Summer Solstice, Plaza Blanca, NM.

I hope you’ll enjoy the following moments and can get out on Friday for the Summer Solstice, and catch the moment.

Pond plant reflections. — Pond plant reflections, Taos.

Muskrat eating at the Shuree Ponds, Valle Vidal, NM.

A visit to Valle Vidal is sure to be filled with delightful experiences.

Fajada Butte sun star, Chaco Canyon, NM.

And lastly the print of the week, a solstice moment taken in Taos NM,

Print of the week, Taos Mountain Trees — Taos Mountain Trees.

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

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal. 06-11-2025.

Geraint June 11, 2025 No Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Comanche Point in the Valle Vidal, Valley of Life. I spent a couple of days on a photo tour workshop with two talented photographers in the high country of northern New Mexico.

Here are a few views of Comanche Point at the confluence of the Rio Costilla and Comanche Creek. This area is always gratifying with stunning light and beauty.

Rio Costilla at Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM.

Rio Costilla, Valle Vidal, Valley of Life — Rio Costilla, Valle Vidal, “Valley of Life”.

On the return trip, two hours later, the clouds in the pictures produced rain and sleet. The temperatures dropped from 76ºF down to 46ºF. I was happy to have a down vest.

The Valle Vidal is a favorite location and never disappoints, always yielding great photo opportunities.

Here are some images from previous trips. Join me on a photo trek in this area, you will be amazed.

Yellow Rumped Warbler — Yellow-Rumped Warbler.

And the road that leads to this area is no less spectacular .

Here’s a video of a Muskrat at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal from a few years ago.

This week’s “print of the week” is from another valley, “Valley of the Gods”, Utah.

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

Landscapes And More. 06-04-2025

Geraint June 4, 2025 2 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM! This week, I’m excited to showcase landscapes and more in current and upcoming publications. Don’t miss my print of the week feature, highlighting a captivating image for your collection. I also had the honor of participating in a podcast Q&A on Landscape Photography with esteemed experts Bill Shapiro and Dr. Grant Scott, offering valuable insights and inspiration.

This week, my work appears in the current edition of Enchanted Outpost magazine. You may remember when I was the featured artist in their premier edition.

Thanks to all at Enchanted Outpost.

Blanca Peak, Colorado Landscapes — Blanca Peak, a favorite of Colorado Landscapes.

The Taos News, our esteemed and multi-award-winning small-town newspaper, has featured the following three images in its summer guide.

Ute Mountain Road — Road to Ute Mountain.

Shooting stars, wildflowers Taos Ski Valley — Shooting stars, wildflowers in Taos Ski Valley.

A ladder at the Picuris Pueblo Church restoration.

And in the upcoming New Mexico Treasures 2026 desktop calendar, the following four images are featured. The calendar is due out in July and sells out quickly.

Rainbow, San Cristobal — Rainbow, Columbine Hondo Wilderness from San Cristobal, NM.

Crescent moon and Venus over the San Cristobal Chapel — Crescent Moon and Venus over the San Cristobal Chapel.

Snow melt, Weeping Walls, Taos — Snow melt, “Weeping Walls, Taos”.

Rio Grande Gorge bridge in fog — Fog lifting at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.

Podcast Q&A on Landscape Photography with esteemed experts Bill Shapiro and Dr. Grant Scott.

Lastly, the print of the week, El Prado Cottonwood Light, is one of my favorite landscapes.

Print of the week, El Prado Cottonwoods — El Prado Cottonwoods.

As always, thank you for looking. I’m honored and grateful for every opportunity to share my work that shines a light on this place I call home. Have a great week. G

Dawson, New Mexico. 05-21-2025

Geraint May 21, 2025 8 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a photo tour with Scott to Abiquiu, Cimarron, and Dawson, NM, and all points in between.

We began the weekend at the Saint Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos and caught the moon setting over its buttress. From there, we went to Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch and had fun finding compositions around the lake and red rock formations. We spent the day out there and returned with some unique landscape images. It’s always a good day in Abiquiu, NM.

Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos — San Francisco de Asis.

The second day was spent between the Enchanted Circle drive through the Moreno Valley, the Palisades to Cimarron, and Dawson Cemetery, returning through Red River to photograph Bighorn Sheep. The whole day paid off in desired but unexpected images. I think Scott got these elk crossing the Vermejo River.

Elk on the Dawson Ranch Road — Elk on the Ranch Road.

Memorial weekend is coming up, I hope everyone has a good start to summer. Here’s a favorite shot from the biker rally held this weekend every year. You may remember it.

Memorial day in Taos NM — Memorial Day in Taos, NM.

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

Williams Lake, Wheeler Traverse. 05-14-2025

Geraint May 13, 2025 2 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, I’m sharing a wide panorama from Williams Lake, a panorama shot on my iPhone. It’s a short post, but a sweeping view. I’m going back up to the lake sometime next week and follow up with another perspective.

The Wheeler Traverse extends from Wheeler Peak on the left of the frame to the peak on the extreme right and beyond down to the Taos Ski Valley. I did the traverse in 1989, again in 1990, and maybe again this year. Click on the image to expand.

Williams Lake and Wheeler Peak, New Mexico, are located high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Taos, New Mexico. Williams Lake and Wheeler Peak form one of the most iconic alpine destinations in the state. Their rugged beauty, pristine wilderness, and accessibility from Taos Ski Valley make them favorites for hikers and backpackers.

Wheeler Peak, elevation 13,161 feet (4,011 m), is the highest point in New Mexico. From Williams Lake, a steep, rocky spur trail continues another 2 miles and gains 2,000 feet to the summit. The views are sweeping: to the north, you see the Rio Grande Gorge; to the east, the Moreno Valley and Eagle Nest Lake; and to the west, the layered mesas of northern New Mexico. Bighorn sheep, marmots, pika, golden eagles, and the occasional black bear frequent the alpine tundra.

If you’re fit and would enjoy a guided hike to the lake for a photography tour, please message me through my contact form.

Print of the week. Click on the image to see more details.

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

Blanca Peak, Monte Vista. 02-19-2025

Geraint February 18, 2025 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM, and beyond. This week, a road shot of Blanca Peak, the whole massif in color and black and white, followed by a shot of the sandhill cranes, soon to arrive at the Monte Vista NWR, flying over a herd of elk as they make their way north.

I’m rather partial to the black and white.

Blanca Massif, Colorado, Black and White — Blanca Massif, Colorado, Black, and White.

The cranes return every year in mid-March to the Monte Vista NWR. Let’s go!

Sandhill cranes and elk at the Monte Vista NWR, Colorado.

And just for good measure a flock of Sandhill Cranes with a backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo (Rocky Mountains).

Sandhill cranes, Rocky mountains — Sandhill Cranes, Rocky Mountains.

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

Out The Window This Week. 01-15-2025

Geraint January 15, 2025 6 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week “out the window”, the dining room, kitchen, and car window.

It’s cold outside, and because the view is there, and the indoor warmth kept me from venturing out, I thought, why not post the picture out the window, opportunity?

The first shot is from the kitchen window. When I open the window pane initially, a cold rush of air follows but I’m fast, and boom it’s done. This is our direct view when doing the dishes.

Columbine Hondo Wilderness, Out the window — Columbine Hondo Wilderness, out the kitchen window.

Then there’s the waxing moon rising out of the dining room window. Some months, it rises directly over the peak seen in the previous image. The full moon puts on quite a show from our vantage point in San Cristobal. The upside is that it’s like daylight in the house, so no nightlights are needed. The downside is that sleep can be elusive on such a night when it slaps you in the face shining through the transom windows and skylights.

On a drive to town two days ago I had to pull over fast for this shot of Lucero Peak, peaking through the clouds anchored by the cottonwood trees in the meadows, (El Prado). I shot it out the car window. I had time to pull over and wind down the window before it was gone. So fleeting like most things in life. You have to grab the opportunities when they arise.

Lucero Peak, El Prado, NM out the window of the car — Lucero Peak, El Prado, NM

And back home that evening out the dining room window as the sunset on my neighbor’s tree, with the mountains of the Columbine Hondo Wilderness in the clouds.

Out the window, my neighbors tree at sunset — Out the window, my neighbor’s tree at sunset.

Here are the phases of the moon calendar I use. Sometimes I need to refer to it but mostly it’s on my phone occupying space on my screen along with some night sky apps.

As always. Thanks for looking and all the kind words, comments, and compliments. Our family is healthy and warm. I wish the same for all. G

Taos Pueblo, Las Trampas, Mountains. 12-25-2024

Geraint December 25, 2024 16 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, New Mexico. This week, three scenes: one each from Taos Pueblo, Las Trampas Church, and the wintery peaks of Truchas and the Pecos Wilderness.

I shot this image of Taos Pueblo many years ago. I think it was shot on Kodachrome 64 and scanned. I like it for the feeling and remember how cold it was when I look at it now.

Taos Pueblo winter — Taos Pueblo in winter finery and drifting snow.

Christmas on the High Road at La Iglesia de San José de Gracia de Las Trampas with a nearly, not quite full moon rising.

And lastly, the snow-covered Truchas Peaks. A view from south of Taos on an evening hike many moons ago.

As always, Thank you for looking. I hope everyone has a good holiday season. Thank you for your constant and continued support, and I’ll see you next year. G

El Salto, The Rocks. 12-18-2024

Geraint December 17, 2024 10 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, the El Salto rocks are a familiar view for those familiar with Taos and El Prado (the meadows), where most, if not all, of these shots were taken.

This is another location I’ve photographed many times in different weather and seasons. You could call it my version of Monet’s “Haystacks.” I’ve done a similar series on the Arroyo Hondo Cottonwood and Willows. I hope you enjoy this view of El Salto (the Jump or Leap).