Tag: New Mexico

Crows, Trees, Meadows, And More. 12-20-2023

Geraint December 20, 2023 10 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Crows, trees, meadows, and more.

The crows that frequent our old cottonwood snag are fun to watch from the living room window and deck. I can observe from my chair out the window when they descend on the snags. I grab my camera and move to the deck. This image is a composite mostly of those going and those staying. I never tire of this view. The reason for their routines and nagging, comings and goings as they do, eludes me, but I keep watching. Observers of crows praise their intelligence. The Smithsonian says this .

Crows and magpie, cottonwood tree, San Cristobal, NM — Our cottonwood with Crows and Magpie, bottom right.

We watched these clouds develop on our drive home from Angel Fire in the Moreno Valley yesterday. They look like very localized lenticulars. The main cloud resembles a stingray or stealth bomber.

Unique cloud formations, Moreno Valley NM — Clouds, Moreno Valley, northern New Mexico.

Evening light in El Prado (the meadows) just north of Taos. Snow is predicted for this weekend. We shall see.

When it snows the meadows look like this. El Prado has wide views across the meadows to the mountains.

Cattle in snow field El Prado, Taos, NM — Cattle in El Prado, Taos, NM.

Things change. I found this tree in the forest. Outlived by the surrounding trees its impact on me inspired me to make a picture. Then this poem by Hermann Hesse came to mind.

SOMETIMES

Sometimes, when a bird cries out,
Or the wind sweeps through a tree,
Or a dog howls in a far off farm,
I hold still and listen a long time.

My soul turns and goes back to the place
Where, a thousand forgotten years ago,
The bird and the blowing wind
Were like me, and were my brothers.

My soul turns into a tree,
And an animal, and a cloud bank.
Then changed and odd it comes home
And asks me questions. What should I reply?

~ Hermann Hesse

I listen and I make a picture.

As always thank you for looking, following, comments and compliments. Also thank you for all the well wihes. I’ll be back in a shoe next week. Happy holidays. G

Bighorn Sheep, Snow Geese And Tipis. 12-13-2023

Geraint December 13, 2023 15 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week Bighorn Sheep, Snow Geese, and Tipis. Something warm and cold for a cold and snowy winter’s day here in northern New Mexico.

Bighorn sheep in the warm light on the canyon wall.

If you can’t find them in the above image, here’s a closer look.

Bighorn sheep on the canyon wall close up — Close-up of the cliff dwellers.

Ram in the snowy Rio Grande Gorge — A ram in the Rio Grande Gorge.

Ram in the warm sunlight on the Gorge Rim.

On to the Snow Geese in the Bosque del Apache where the days are often warmer on days where it is cold and snowing elsewhere.

Snow goose landing on a warm winter's day in the Bosque del Apache — Snow Goose landing on a warm winter’s day in the Bosque del Apache.

Snow goose — Snow Goose, incoming, Bosque del Apache, NWR, NM.

And their cousins the Canada Geese in flight traveling north along the river through the Rio Grande Gorge south of Taos, NM.

Canada Geese in the Rio Grande Gorge Taos — Canada Geese.

I found this picture of a tipi I shot in the winter of 2008. I’d forgotten how much I liked it.

Tipi in snow, Taos NM — Taos Tipi in snow.

Tipis and a New Mexico sunset. — Tipis and a warm New Mexico sunset.

Our neighbor’s tree was warm and cold outside the dining room window a moment ago.

As always thanks for looking, your comments, compliments, and all the well wishes.
Stay warm where you are. G

Northern New Mexico, Moonrise – 11-29-2023.

Geraint November 29, 2023 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, in the beautiful mountains of northern New Mexico. This week a few moonrise images from around the area.

Below is one of my favorite peaks in northern New Mexico, and the subject/location for photographing the full moon rise.

A northern New Mexico moonrise — Moonrise, Vallecito Peak, Northern New Mexico.

Horse and moonrise Arroyo Seco, NM. — Horse with moonrise Arroyo Seco, NM.

I haven’t been to the Bosque del Apache NWR in a few years, preferring instead to make the shorter drive to the Monte Vista NWR in southern Colorado. I was pleased to see this image below, a reminder of the peace and tranquility experienced in the early hours at the Bosque del Apache.

Bosque del Apache moon and snow geese — Moonrise with Snow Geese, Bosque del Apache, NM.

Ladder to the moon, Toas — Ladder to the Moon, Taos, NM.

As always, thank you so much for all the comments, compliments, and well wishes for a speedy recovery. Have a great week. G

First Snow, Winter Flashbacks. 11-22-2023

Geraint November 22, 2023 14 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM, and a Happy Thanksgiving. This week we had the first snow on our local peaks and in the valley.

Not too much snow. It’s a late start to winter where we are this year. I see from our weather forecast that temps will drop next week. It’s all good for me as I’m in a foot brace again on my right foot this time, and with my leg elevated, I still have a lovely view out the windows and from the deck.

This was the scene from the kitchen window this week after the clouds lifted, leaving a few stragglers behind to fill in the little valleys.

First Snow San Cristobal — First Snow, San Cristobal.

With my right leg elevated, I’m revisiting the archives again. Pretty much a repeat of last February, when my left leg was elevated. This time next year I look forward to hiking up and down the hills in the first photo.

Early snow, Taos — First snow, Taos, 2011.

Great Blue Heron and Mallards, Rio Grande, Pilar, NM.

Red-winged Blackbirds, Arroyo Hondo, NM.

Horse, Ranchos de Taos — A horse taking shelter in Ranchos de Taos.

Vintage truck in the snow, Taos — Vintage truck in the snow, Overland Ranch, Taos.

Lastly, a picture I came across, edited on my iPhone, from last year.

As always, thank you for looking. Happy Thanksgiving. G

A Golden Eagle. A Leaf. A cloud. 11-15-2023.

Geraint November 15, 2023 16 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a Golden Eagle in flight. A lone cottonwood leaf and an unusual cloud formation over the San Cristobal Valley.

Golden Eagle in flight, southern Colorado.

There’s a little wetlands in Taos I often take a walk there. This cottonwood leaf, bigger than my hand, was asking to be photographed. I was happy to oblige.

Cottonwood Leaf and a sun star — Cottonwood leaf and a sun star

The cloud below screamed out for a picture. It first appeared much like any other lenticular cloud forming, but quickly grew a tail. Moments after, just like that, it became one with all the other particles.

Cloud formation, lenticular — Lenticular cloud formation.

I was sure it was going to become a Bottlenose D olphin… almost!

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week and if I miss you next week, Happy Thanksgiving. G

Black And White. 11-08-2023

Geraint November 8, 2023 20 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week more black and white images. I had some time over the last few days to wallow in the hard drives, throw a virtual dart at the folders, and see what showed up.

I wanted to convert this color image to black and white after I posted it in color a few weeks ago. Over the years, I have created a large collection of images from the San Luis Valley. I’ll add this one to the black-and-white folder. You can download a PDF file I made on the San Luis Valley here.

Red barn, Colorado in black and white — Red Barn, San Luis Valley, Colorado.

The tree is long gone but the flat top peak, Cerro Pedernal, stands like a beacon and can be seen from multiple locations around northern, NM.

Cerro Pedernal and tree Rio Chama road, NM.

Many places in the southwest US are deteriorating and ultimately wind up going back to earth. How quickly they reach their demise, depends on the materials they are made of. Adobe, wood, and tin seem to get there quicker than the plastic one sees everywhere these days. I shot the image below in November 2017.

Adobe building ruin, Villanueva, NM — Adobe ruin, Villanueva, NM.

Wandering through the files from a trip to Britain in 2013 with Pami, I came across this image shot on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, on the Northumbria Coast of northeast England. I’m guessing this boat, which wasn’t sea-worthy back then, has probably been overturned and is now used as a storage shed.

Lindisfarne, Holy Island, Northumbria, England.

An overturned fishing boat was reclaimed and made into a storage shed.

Overturned fishing boat, Lindisfarne, England — Beach shed and Lindisfarne Castle, England.

I always shoot a scene in color but sometimes a scene cries out for black and white. Sometimes the day and lighting inspire me to shoot for a later conversion.

I shot the picture below in color and converted it to black and white. It was taken on the Thames Embankment in November 2013.

Gulls over Westminster, London, UK — Someone was feeding the gulls.

As always thank you for all the kind words comments and compliments. Have a great week. G.

Arroyo Blanco, Balloons, Moon, Jupiter. 11-01-2023

Geraint November 1, 2023 10 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week Arroyo Blanco, Abiquiu. Some abstract balloon images from the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally last weekend, and our Moon and Jupiter over northern New Mexico.

After two weeks of photo tours in the area with Harlan I’m finally going through images of some of the places we visited.

We visited Abiquiu and Arroyo Blanco, twice. We couldn’t get enough of it in the beautiful autumn light.

Landscape in Arroyo Blanco, Abiquiu, NM.

The strangely wonderful moonscape landscape in the “white arroyo”.

Landscape, Abiquiu, NM — On the ground in Abiquiu, NM.

On our second trip to Abiquiu we made a short detour to La Madera for this scene. It has always fascinated me.

door/wall, la Madera, NM — The door is the wall, La Madera, NM.

On the last day of touring we went to Taos Mountain Balloon Rally. A few balloons lifted off but winds were higher than anticipated so we photographed them on the ground instead. Shadowy figures zip up the envelope as it’s inflated.

Balloon shadows Taos Mountain Balloon Rally — Balloon shadows at the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally.

Balloon interior Taos Mountain Balloon Rally — Checking the ropes!

In the words of actor/author David Niven, “the moon’s a balloon”.

To cap off the week the moon met up with the planet Jupiter. Eerie enough for Hallooween. Jupiter is closest to earth during all of 2023 tonight.

As always, thanks for looking. G

Cottonwood Colors. Random Black and Whites. 10-25-2023.

Geraint October 24, 2023 18 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal. This week, my favorite cottonwood tree in all the state, and random black and whites on the road in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

I think the colors on this cottonwood peaked this morning. I never tire of seeing it whenever I commute to or from Taos, in all seasons.

Cottonwood tree, Arroyo Hondo, NM — Arroyo Hondo, NM.

It’s that time of year when shadows return and traverse the adobe walls of the Saint Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos.

Shadows at Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos.

And again in an alleyway in Dixon, NM.

Alleyway and shadows, Dixon, NM — Alleyway and Shadows, Dixon, NM.

Simplicity in the shadows, San Jose de Gracia, de Las Trampas, on the High Road to Taos.

The light and the darkness.

The church of San Jose de Gracia in Las Trampas is one of my favorite stops on the High Road to Taos. I’ve made many trips there over the years. Last week I watched a number tourists pull over, wind down their windows and take a glance or a quick cellphone photo and immediately drive off. Sometimes I wonder what it’s like being a tourist snap-glancing their way around the planet?

Las Trampas church, on the high road to Taos — Adobe, Las Trampas Church, on the High Road to Taos.

In the following image I cut out any distractions. Unlike this image where the moon completed the shot.

A few days ago I was on the road in another favorite location, on the state line in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

Click on the image to expand.

Abandoned homestead, Colorado. — Abandoned homestead and potatoe bunker, Colorado.

As always thank you for looking and all the comments and compliments. G

Solar Eclipse, Aspens, Autumn Continues. 10-18-2023.

Geraint October 17, 2023 20 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal in northern New Mexico. This week, the solar eclipse from the deck. Our perspective at this latitude gave us 80% coverage. We could have gone to Albuquerque for totality but decided to put our feet up, play with the dog, shoot a few pictures, and save on a tank of gas. The photos below were shot using a tripod with a Sony camera and lens. I purchased a couple of pairs of eclipse glasses that worked very well. They’ll come in handy for the total eclipse next April. I hope you saw the solar eclipse where you are.

Solar eclipse, October 14, 2023, San Cristobal, NM.

In the image below, I opened up the exposure to get the clouds that were surrounding the event. There is some refraction from the use of two neutral density filters but you get the idea.

October 14, 2023 solar eclipse. San Cristobal, NM — October 14, 2023, solar eclipse. San Cristobal, NM.

The aspen groves continued to delight with colors at their peak in many areas. There is still a lot more peaking to come. I’ll be on a five-day photo tour during the coming week. It’s safe to say I’ll probably post more images.

Aspens sun star, New Mexico — Aspens and a sun star, Hopewell Lake, New Mexico.

Aspens near Hopewell Lake, NM — Off the beaten path near Hopewell Lake, NM.

No trip in the area is complete without a stop at the Red Barn. It was a beautiful sunny day in the San Luis Valley, however, the barn looked a little forlorn later in the day under the brooding sky. I plan to keep documenting it until…

On the climb up the Cumbres Pass, the road crosses over the state line from New Mexico into Colorado. The picture below looked much more appealing in black and white during the midday sun. The type of clouds in the picture looked like this all day long. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway also crosses the pass. If we are lucky, we sometimes meet the train there.

Black and white near the Cumbres Pass, New Mexico.

We visit the location below numerous times throughout the year. Fall is my favorite.

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

Taos Mountain Balloon Rally. 10-11-2023

Geraint October 10, 2023 8 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally. I look into the past for a glimpse at the upcoming future events on October 27, 28, and 29, 2023. Also, a little fall color from a few days ago scouting locations for this month’s photo tour/workshops.

If you are in Taos later this month, I hope to see you out and about. The Taos Mountain Balloon Rally is small, sometimes around 50/60 balloons. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is hugely attended with hundreds of colorful balloons in mass ascensions each morning. What we have here in Taos is fewer crowds and the proximity to Taos Mountain.

The images below of the balloons were shot in 2005/2006. Enjoy.

Balloon with snow capped peaks Taos Mountain Balloon Rally — Balloon with snow-capped peaks.

Balloon over mountains, Taos NM — Balloons over mountains in Taos, NM.

Moon's a Balloon — “The Moon’s a Balloon.”

Balloominaria reflections — Balloominaria (balloon luminaria) reflections.

Aspens in Red River's Aspen Valley — In Red River, NM, Aspen Valley.

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