Greetings from San Cristobal, on this beautiful Spring day. The light in the late afternoon is remarkable. The clouds roll through, and spring storms envelop the valleys and the mountain peaks in waves. The sun gets through where it will, spotlighting the new growth.
Click on pictures to enlarge.
A Spring day in the San Cristobal Valley.
The acequias, irrigation ditches that divert water across northern New Mexico are flowing full in the spring runoff. This time last year, New Mexico’s largest wildfire was underway, ultimately destroying 350,000+ acres. We are very grateful for the moisture this year.
Water in an acequia, irrigation ditch in El Prado, NM.
Flashback to North Wales, where I lived and worked at an Outdoor Pursuit Center on the west coast in 1974-75.
The Ogwen Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in North Wales. During that year, I spent many days rock climbing in the area with the guides and instructors I worked with. The Idwal slabs in the upper left of the picture are one of the most popular places to climb in Wales. I shot this picture on a return visit to Wales in 2013.
Ogwen Valley, North Wales.
A year in Wales may sound like a long time to visit and see all the sites. I had never traversed the Crib Goch Ridge seen in the picture below while living there. On a visit there in 1982, it was time to add the route to the list of the places I climbed and hiked. It was a marvelous experience, one I’ll remember for life. It’s not a very difficult hike, but I did take along enough gear and clothing prepared should I have to spend the night out there. Weather in this part of Wales, with the storms coming off the Atlantic and Irish Seas, can change rapidly, turning a warm, early summer day into a winter day.
Crib Goch, Snowdonia National Park, North Wales, 1982
As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G.
Greetings from San Cristobal. This week, a trip down memory lane, a visual flashback of images from my first few trips and early years in New Mexico.
Looking back it’s hard to visualize almost 40 years since I took the first photograph below in November 1984. The images are in no particular order and captioned with the place and year.
Traveling down memory lane has inspired me to start scanning what will ultimately be a few thousand transparencies. All images are scans of Kodachrome 64 slide film. I hope you enjoy the visit.
John greeting visitors to Taos Pueblo, Thanksgiving, 1984
I’ve photographed the church of San José de Gracia in Las Trampas more times than I can count. Below is my very first shot during my first time visiting New Mexico. I have other shots from the trip but I like this one because of the dog sitting casually, minding its own business. Nowadays tourists are the ones getting in my shots.
Las Trampas church dog on the High Road to Taos, 1984
The sign at the Taos Inn is still welcoming visitors to Taos. No more curios that I know of. Some local characters may pass for curios.
Taos Inn neon sign, 1985
I’d appreciate someone letting me know what vehicles these are. I’m pretty certain the car on the right is a Ford. Currently, the Ford and Adobe are still there.
Old Cars, and adobe, Galisteo, 1986
Traveling during August in New Mexico 1985 many small scale purveyors of local havests, their roadside stands festooned with the red and the green chiles were in abundance and a treat to photograph.
I shot the image below shortly after Dennis Hopper finished filming a murder scene in this old adobe building in the movie Backtrack with Jodie Foster. The adobe home was demolished this year.
Saint Francis through an open adobe window, 1989
Flashback to the Ranchos de Taos Plaza when the Magic Sky Gallery (coral colored building) was open with a boardwalk and planters.
Magic Sky Gallery, Ranchos de Taos, 1988
Ranchos Plaza, view through the window of a vintage truck, 1991
Ranchitos Road adobe, building, and artist studio, 1988
Currently, the Stewart House” formerly a BandB buildings are no longer visible from this location, as many homes now occupy the foreground. Vallecito Peak in the background has become a favorite subject for my work. Change, is the only constant, along with death and taxes.
“Stewart House” Highway 150, with Vallecito Peak 1987
Plenty of snow my first winter in New Mexico. That’s my 1958 Volkswagen Beetle buried there in front of the house.
Talpa, dude Ranch compound 1989
Here’s a picture of my friend and artist, Harry Vedoe when we skied from Talpa and way beyond into the hills. Later in the day we had a wonderful run down and soak in the Ponce de Leon hot springs before heading home. In the winter of February 1989, we had a lot of snow. We were able to cross-country ski out the door on many occasions.
Flashback to cross-country skiing, Talpa, 1989
This tree has been featured in my work for many years. After thriving for many years it has finally succumbed to neglect and lack of moisture. It’s still standing, for now.
Lone Tree, at the overlook Taos, 1993
Santa Fe 4 Sale license plate, 1986
Pasqual’s Santa Fe, reading the menu, 1984
A drive to Sandia Crest revealed a trail worthy of an afternoon stroll in the fresh snowfall, with views to the west of Albuquerque.
Sandia Crest, Albuquerque, 1987
The bison below escaped from the herd at Taos Pueblo. I happened to be driving along and took some shots before it was caught and returned to the Pueblo.
An escaped Bison trucking alongside US 64 Taos, 1994
As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from the San Cristobal Valley, NM. This week a series of images of some of the little birds that frequent our area of the planet, more precisely, our valley.
I hope you enjoy the following gallery of little birds.
Eastern Bluebird, a little bird that frequents our valley.
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.
Pine Siskin.
A Cassin’s Finch so I was told. It could be a glorious house finch.
Cassin’s Finch.
White Breasted Nuthatch.
Brewer’s Blackbird.
Northern Flicker.
Brown-headed Cowbird.
For the last few years, we’ve had a solitary Canyon Towhee in our garden. This shot was taken in a canyon, no less.
Canyon Towhee.
American Robins.
Woodhouse’s or Western Scrub-Jay?
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, I think!
This is a Pinyon Jay, that I’m sure of. They have arrived in large flocks in the valley over the last two years, groups of a hundred to a few thousand.
Pinyon Jay.
Song Sparrow.
Spotted Towhee.
Townsend’s Solitaire.
Rock Wren.
Mountain Chickadee.
Western Tanager.
Bullocks Oriole with Hummingbirds.
The Red-winged Blackbirds nest in the cattails. Right about now there is a frenzy of activity and nest-building. The males are kept on their guard protecting the nesting spot.
Red-winged Blackbird.
The Magpie is every dog’s nemesis. They taunt our dogs and of course, our dogs take the bait.
Magpie
This Evening Grosbeak was stunned following a window strike. I put it on the fence to recover. It did. Ten minutes later, it flew up into the crabapple tree.
Evening Grosbeak.
Western Meadowlark.
This Northern Pygmy Owl would fit into a teacup and is smaller than most of the birds above.
Northern Pygmy Owl.
Not one of the truly little birds but not large either. It’s about the size of an American Crow.
Greater Roadrunner.
American Crow.
Finally one of the rare visitors to the valley. I only spotted one Lewis’s Woodpecker this last year. Two years ago there were three at one time in the Ash tree.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Little birds rock the valley, my heart and soul.
Happy Spring.
As always, thank you for looking, and for all the comments, compliments, and well wishes. G
Greetings from San Cristobal in the beautiful mountains of northern New Mexico.
I threw virtual darts at the archives this week, and the following images popped up. Northern New Mexico has continued to excite me for forty years. Here’s to many more.
The first two shots were taken during drives around the extended neighborhood, with the first on an evening photo shoot with friends from Kansas City.
Reflections in a large snow melt puddle, Arroyo Seco, New Mexico.
Nearby is a more expansive view across the meadow to the mountains with winter colors.
Des Montes and the mountains of Taos.
I did a one-day shoot for AAA New Mexico Journeys Magazine eight years ago in Bandelier National Monument. The Alcove House pictured was accessible with an exciting climb up numerous, 30′ ladders. It was well worth the ascent with a backpack and tripod.
Alcove House, Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico.
The Quarai Ruins at the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument yielded this image on my third visit to the site. I created this image with three shots stitched vertically, in effect, a vertical panorama. This location isn’t technically northern New Mexico, more like central NM but I like it.
Quarai Ruins, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.
Refrain from stacking stones in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. I heard the Park Service tore it down shortly after I shot it. I know it wasn’t there on my next visit.
Cairn, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM.
I enjoy a nice glass of wine when reading a book. Reading “House of Rain”, in the landscape it depicts was a perfect pairing. Thanks to Craig Childs for the many virtual adventures.
Reading “House of Rain” by Craig Childs, and drinking wine.
One of the first panoramic shots I made of our mountains has been hanging in the waiting room at our local hospital ever since.
Taos Mountains sunset shot from across the plateau.
Below is the full moon shot in the Rio Grande Gorge. I love that I can stand on top of the highest point (Wheeler Peak) in New Mexico in the morning and spend the evening deep in the Rio Grande Gorge, watching the full moon grace the ridge cradled by a bare piñon tree.
Moonrise over the Rio Grande Gorge in Pilar, New Mexico.
As I become more mobile I’m looking forward to working with a number of new and repeat photographer/clients. Join me this spring, summer, and fall on a photo trek around some of the best photo locations northern New Mexico has to offer.
On location in…
As always, thank you for looking. Enjoy your week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal. This week some views of Ute Mountain.
“Ute Mountain is a free-standing, Dacitic, extinct Pliocene volcanic cone”. That’s a mouthful. Besides being one of my revered peaks, it is also set in one of my favorite areas, the Taos Plateau Volcanic Field and the San Luis Valley. The mountain also lies within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
The images below encompass a span of almost twenty years.
On the home front, I feel the surgery on my foot will make my photo treks much more enjoyable for years to come.
A localized weather pattern over Ute Mountain.
Road to the mountain.
Old sheep corral out on the plateau.
A view from Guadalupe Mountain across the Taos Plateau.
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Do you recognize the peak back there?
The image below is the one that initiated my fascination with this iconic landmark. Often, I will take a drive north, a pilgrimage of sorts, to visit the mountain. Click here if you want to see more images.
Near Costilla, New Mexico.
Lastly, a couple of shots from closer to home.
The moon rise this week from the deck in San Cristobal, NM.
And a view across the plateau and beyond to Cerro Pedernal (not a volcano but very much resembles one), “flint peak” near Abiquiu, NM. Immortalized by the artist Georgia O’Keeffe it can be seen from a vantage point behind our home. In the photo, Cerro Pedernal is probably 65-70 miles as the crow flies. The views out west extend a hundred miles or more on clear days. The vistas open like nowhere else, and the skies go on forever.
Cerro Pedernal shot from Taos, NM.
As always thank you for looking and visiting. And thank you for all the continued well wishes, comments, and compliments.
If you want the name of a wonderful foot and ankle specialist I can give you a recommendation! G
Greetings from San Cristobal. This week the Snow Moon is rising over the mountains of Taos.
In the first image, I watched the moon rise behind the peak of Vallecito Mountain. It’s a favorite location of mine, as you may have seen from past posts. The sun was setting as the moon rose. The light on the landscape was balanced nicely, with the moon perfectly exposed.
Snow moon rising over Vallecito Mountain.
Fifteen minutes later the sun had set leaving the mountain and sky with a soft lighted glow.
After sunset, the moon rises higher over Vallecito Mountain.
Three miles south and much closer to Pueblo Peak (Taos Mountain) I was able to catch the moon in a good poistion.
Pueblo peak, Taos mountain Snow Moon rise.
Generally speaking, on an outing to photograph the moon rise, I begin looking for a view point further west and then drive east, getting closer to the mountains, stopping to make more images as the moon emegeres from behind the different parks. If you want to join me on a full-moon photography adventure, please get in touch, it will be a lot of fun!
Bird of the week, the tenacious Rock Wren in the Rio Grande Gorge, Pilar, NM.
Greetings from San Cristobal. This week, mountain snow in the highcountry of New Mexico. Snow fell on the mountain peaks, accompanied by soft winter light. It was enough to find the clouds lifting and a single moment of this pink light on the mountains. Sometimes all it takes to make my day is a simple “ah!” moment like this. The same magenta glow infused the landscape and air around me.
In this area, the Rockies are called the Sangre de Cristos. This wasn’t quite a full-on Sangre sunset color but rather more of a rosé blush. Click here to see what I’m referring to.
Mountain Snow, Taos NM
Here is a close-up of my favorite mountain in this range of peaks, Vallecito Mountain. After a brief moment of this light, it was gone. Then home to Pami, a nice single malt, and a warm fire. Some days it just doesn’t get any better.
Fresh snowfall on Vallecito Mountain, Taos New Mexico.
Flashback. An image I shot on a Saturday morning at the Taos farmer’s market in August 2008. Enjoy.
A little shopper at Taos farmer’s market.
As always, thank you for looking, and for all the comments, and compliments. G
Greetings from San Cristobal Valley. Winter is beginning to settle in, with temperatures dropping to single digits and a decent amount of snow. Not at all the amount we are used to, but we’ll take it.
Last week, on my way home, I just had to pull over to watch the shadows move through our valley. Ten years ago, I shot this same scene. It became the centerpiece in our galley and home and has been a best seller since then. I don’t think I could ever top it though I keep trying. As you can see, the foreground is overgrown, with the meadow obscured.
That cottonwood and willows in Arroyo Hondo, I can’t seem to pass this spot without making an image.
Arroyo Hondo cottonwood and willows.
Early one morning this week I went south to the adobe mission church of Saint Francis in Ranchos de Taos. This iconic buildingalways looks good with accents of snow and a dramatic sky. One important feature of this image… I arrived in time to get a photo before the parking area filled with cars.
Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos, NM.
Below is an image from December 2010 on the road that connects the villages of Arroyo Hondo and Arroyo Seco. When I had my gallery in Arroyo Seco I drove this route most days. It’s a sweet country road with close-up views of the surrounding mountains. It is an especially beautiful, and magical drive when the hoar frost covers the trees and landscape.
Arroyo Hondo, Arroyo Seco Road, New Mexico
If you plan to visit New Mexico this year and have a desire to improve your photographic skills, and see locations off the beaten track, look me up and consider a photography tour/workshop. I’ll look forward to meeting and working with you in some of my favorite places in the area.
Last week, on January 5, 2023, was the 99 percent full wolf moon. I spent a fabulous full-day photo tour with Richard. When we departed Taos, we had high expectations of catching the January “wolf moon” rising over the peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains in southern Colorado. We did not expect the vast cloud cover that occurred midday.
As is often the case in the west, the weather changes rapidly and dramatically. There is a saying, ‘if you don’t like the weather wait five minutes”. On this day, following six hours of intermittent cloud cover everywhere except the mountains, where the sky remained full of clouds, they finally dissipated to reveal the Sangres in all their glory! Click on images to enlarge.
Wolf Moon rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado.
In the images below, you can see what the rest of the day brought for us. The first is the Rio Grande looking north upstream to Blanca Peak.
Ice on the Rio Grande with the Blanca Peak Massif.
Standing on the Lobatos Bridge bridge to get this image, we could hear the ice cracking around the bridge pillars and along the cliffs. Some of the sounds were like thunderclaps deep down below. Other sounds were like the far of moaning of a person in pain.
I’m not usually one to show both versions of a shot, but I like both equally for different reasons. The black-and-white image has a more dramatic impact. The color of the grasses sprouting up amongst the volcanic rocks in the second version is pleasing and captures the softness of nature and light I experienced there.
Lobatos bridge in black and white.
Lobatos bridge with Blanca Peak and the Rio Grande.
Rio Grande Ice, Colorado
Below, the cactus thrives in this lava rock environment.
Cactus, lava rocks Rio Grande, Colorado.
General Store, San Luis, Colorado.
I first saw the Eastdale post office many years ago when the plaque with the zip code and roof was intact. Alas, things change, and vandals continue to pilfer whatever and from wherever they can.
Eastdale, Colorado US Post Office.
A few days earlier in San Cristobal, the waxing moon rose, followed by the sunset on our local peaks in the Columbine Hondo Wilderness.
Moon rise, from San Cristobal, NM.
Sunset, the last light on the mountains from San Cristobal, NM.
Greetings to all my friends in California. Stay safe!
Greetings from San Cristobal. I had a lovely time shooting in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, which always makes me smile, followed by some random images around the area this holiday season. You may recognize this scene. I visit it often on photo tours and workshops in southern Colorado.
Blanca Peak with wild horses in the San Luis Valley, Colorado.
Wild Horses and crows.
Corraled by the creek, and then the escape. I opened the car door to get out, and the horses, surprised, jumped the fence. I missed that! The payoff came in the following two images.
One mild morning last week, my son Dylan and I walked through the Fred Baca Park Wetlands and Rio Fernando Park. There wasn’t a lot going on, which was very nice. I did take a camera and caught a shot of a Townsend’s Solitaire being solitary in a bare tree. A peaceful walk surrounded the muted colors of winter.
Seeing out the New Year, we were watching a sunset cloud from the deck.
Sunset Cloud over Taos Mountain, from San Cristobal.
Lastly, a flashback to Spring 1987, on a trip I made with four friends, Martin, Frank, Ken, and Dave. Frank and I got set up each morning and evening at our primitive campsite to capture the sunrise, or in this instance, waiting on the sunset. I took this shot of our two Rollei’s, Franks Deerdorf, and my Nikon F3.
Cameras set up at the Mittens, Monument Valley.
As always, Thank you for looking. Happy New Year. G
