Tag: Northern New Mexico

Beautiful High Country. 08-05-2026.

Geraint August 5, 2026 5 Comments

Greetings from the Vale Vidal, in the high country of northern New Mexico. My computer and internet are running really slow today so I’m heading to the mountains. Here’s a favorite stopping point, Comanche Point at the confluence of the Rio Costilla and Comanche Creek. You know the place. Not a lot of water, though some areas are very green and lush, and the clouds are outstanding. 

Enjoy! See you next week.

Valle Vidal in the high country of northern New Mexico.

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Checking out the aspen groves, it’s looking like it will be fabulous fall color up here!

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It’s always fun to stop in the San Luis Valley and photograph a dilapidated ruin en-route to the Valle Vidal.

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Three hours later I can safely say…. “As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week”. G

Large Scale Composite. 07-29-2026

Geraint July 29, 2026 11 Comments

Greetings from New Mexico. I hope everyone had a great week. This week, a large-scale composite photograph depicting two places I love being, besides home! One is standing in awe of Taos Pueblo Peak (Taos Mountain), the second is watching the river flow in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

Here’s the composite created this last spring during a session with my good friend and co-conspiritor David, Vedoe. I hope you’ll pardon another short post. I had a great couple of weeks photo touring with clients. I’m heading to the mountains tomorrow so I’ll see what I get from a day hiking. I will be looking out for unexpected things.

The picture below is a high resolution, mural sized panorama, that can be mounted on interior walls. It was created for the pure fun of doing something different.

Composite image of Taos Mountain and the Rio Chama near Abiquiu, NM

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Not a composite image, was the sky two nights ago over our valley. I only had to walk out to the driveway to get most of the expanse. I call it “under the arc of existence”.

We have views from the back garden, the kitchen, dining room and deck along with the driveway, I only need a view from the bedroom and I won’t have to leave the house. Kidding! Soon I’ll do a post of the shots I’ve taken of this scene with the skies over our neighbors house.

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The Milky Way from our driveway, with Saturn, Jupiter, and an almost complete view, on the right, of the constellation Scorpius.

Jupiter, Saturn, the milky way and the scorpion constellation. — Saturn, Jupiter, the Milky Way and the Scorpion constellation.

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

Rio Grande Gorge, Outstanding Views. 07-22-2026

Geraint July 22, 2026 8 Comments

Greetings from New Mexico. I hope everyone had a good week. This week, five views from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge looking south, one looking north at the bridge itself spanning the canyon 600 feet above the river, and one of the bridge under a rainbow.

Rio Grande Gorge summer evening light — Summer evening light on the Rio Grande.

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Rio Grande Gorge rainbow with lightning — Rainbow with lightning over the gorge.

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Driving over the bridge at any time of day affords spectacular views.

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Added bonus of winter in the canyon are accents of snow.

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Because the summer storms are almost always accompanied by rainbows.

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Looking north to the bridge, where the previous images were taken from.

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and gorge in black and white.

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All the images above are available as fine art prints on paper and on canvas. The first picture graces the cover of my book, Rio Grande del Norte: An Intimate Portrait.

Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM. 07-15-2026

Geraint July 15, 2026 2 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal. I hope everyone had a good week. I spent the last few days on a photo tour/workshop. Yesterday was spent in Abiquiu, NM. We spent three days overall, photographing in the San Luis Valley, Valle Vidal, Taos, the High Road to Taos, Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch. My photography client and new friend, Wally Love inspired me as much as I inspired him. The landscape, scenery, and iconic locations continue to inspire visitors and I’m honored to have the opportunity to share this place I call home with others.

The clouds continued to build up throughout the day, bringing much needed moisture to a dry thirsty landscape.

Abiquiu and the Rio Chama, NM — Cerrito Blanco and the Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM

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This area has attracted travellers for centuries. Join me on a photo trek, I’ll be happy to show you the locations and backroads.

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

Taos Walkabout. 07-08-2026

Geraint July 8, 2026 4 Comments

Greetings from New Mexico. This week, a few shots from a Taos walkabout. I hope everyone had a good week and holiday. I watched more than my fair share of the World Cup. I did engage in a little chair yoga while watching so I didn’t feel like too much of a slug! In the last world cup our previous two dogs (labradoodles) used to get all excited when a goal was scored. These two goldendoodles we have now, couldn’t give a monkey’s uncle!

Onward…..

La Dona Luz Inn. What I first saw…

La Dona Luz Inn Taos Walkabout — La Dona Luz Inn on a Taos Walkabout.

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…And what I came away with on a Taos walkabout. I’m drawn to scenes that work well in black and white.

La Dona Luz Inn Taos Walkabout Black and White — La Dona Luz Inn, Taos, black and white.

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No, we didn’t pay to park, but I remember the times I did 40 years ago.

Pay parking kiosk — Ancient pay parking kiosk.

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Near by in a downtown alleyway. Again, what I saw…

Taos Walkabout, alleyway downtown — Alleyway downtown Taos.

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And what I did with what I saw.

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Alternate editing.

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Very minimal display in a shop window.

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An old gate that seems to survive the hot sun and monsoons.

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The Couse-Sharp House and moon.

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Here’s a few images from a day out and walkabout in Raton, NM

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

Cholla Cactus Bloom, Abiquiu, NM. 07-01-2026.

Geraint July 1, 2026 4 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. I hope everyone had a great week. This week I did a photo tour to Abiquiu, in Georgia O’Keeffe country, where the Cholla Cactus were blooming and in abundance. I chose the two images below, though I shot many more. This was an iPhone photography workshop in Abiquiu so I was only shooting with the iPhone. Liberating!

Cholla Cactus bloom with dewdrops — Cholla cactus bloom with dewdrops.

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Cholla Cactus bloom Ghost Ranch, NM — Full bloom Ghost Ranch, NM.

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Santa Rosa de Lima, rosary beads. — Santa Rosa de Lima.

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Santa Rosa de Lima, lizard, cross — Santa Rosa de Lima, lizard and cross.

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Piedra Lumbre (shining rock) and what locals call the Shark Fin or Sandstone Fin of Ghost Ranch. I’ve photographed it many times and still don’t know its official name.

Piedra Lumbre and Shark Fin — Piedra Lumbre (shining rock) and Shark Fin.

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Abiquiu Lake on the rocks with a storm brewing over “Pedernal”.

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Abiquiu Lake with Cerro Pedernal and cloud reflections. Cerro Pedernal is the flat top mountain.

Abiquiu Lake cloud reflections — Abiquiu Lake with cloud reflections.

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Check out my New Work Page.

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week, and happy 4th of July. G

Flashback, Chama Depot. 06-24-2026

Geraint June 23, 2026 8 Comments

Hello from New Mexico. I hope everyone had a great week. This week, a flashback to 2013 at the Chama Depot, the New Mexico terminus of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. I found it impossible to find the lunar occultation, but I did give it a go. I was probably distracted by the world cup football match playing at the time. Yesterday, I had some minor surgery on my hand that makes it difficult to hold my graphic pen to edit images. I don’t poscess a mouse nor can I use one very well. I’ve used a graphics pen and tablet for 20 years. Things should be back to normal next week. I’ll also be adding a few new pieces to the new work page in a few days.

The Chama depot on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad.

Cumbres and Toltec Railway, Chama depot.

I shot the above image in July 2013, editing in black and white gave it a historical feel. I seem to recall chasing the train for a couple of days during a week long photo trek with my friend Ron during that summer.

I have made many trips over the years with Ron. And we’ve made many images on those trips. Check out Ron’s website, I think you’ll enjoy his work.

Ron in the shadows in Santa Rosa, NM.

Here’s the shot I got of the restaurant.

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

Lunar Occultation Venus. 06-16-2026

Geraint June 16, 2026 2 Comments

Hello from New Mexico. I hope everyone had a great week. Tomorrow there will be a celestial event happening, a Lunar Occultation of Venus. I’ve shot this event back in December 2015. Below are the images. It’s a daytime event that can be seen across north America and will occur in New Mexico on June 17, 2026 between 12:17 pm and 4:43 pm. Get your binoculars or long lenses and look for the crescent moon.

Weather permitting, I hope to get some good images and look forward to sharing them next week. Enjoy.

Lunar Occultation Venus — Venus and our moon.

Late Spring In The Valle Vidal, NM. 06-02-2026.

Geraint June 3, 2026 4 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. I hope everyone had a great week. This week is a short post with a few photos from the beautiful Valle Vidal, (Valley of Life), NM.

Valle Vidal, Comanche Point — Comanche Point.

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Shuree Ponds Valle Vidal. — Shuree Ponds.

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Shooting stars in the high country. — Shooting Stars.

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See more images from the Valle Vidal. And read more here.

As always, thanks for visiting and spending time here each week. I really appreciate you. Have a great week. G.

On The Chama River Road. 05-27-2026

Geraint May 27, 2026 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. I hope everyone had a great week. This week, a flashback to 21 years ago and photos I shot on the Chama River road to the desert monastery. I was looking for other subject matter, but went down a gopher hole and found myself looking at images of trips made with my friend Dwain and our kids.

Dwain is driving the truck in the photo. I saw it come over the rise in my rear view mirror, stopped got out and had him back down the hill and to drive my way again. This is the shot I got. It has been a best seller since and a true remembrance of a great friendship. This dead tree fell a few weeks later and no doubt wound up in someones campfire. Dwain passed away in 2010. I’ll always treasure our friendship

Panel truck on the Chama River road , NM — Dwains panel truck on the Chama River Road , NM

This was the time of year when the kids got out of school and the first camping trip of summer was always along the Chama River road. We went camping and made trips elsewhere but this was the first of the summer and always the favorite.

Below, if you expand the image you can see our camp site. The tall cottonwood fell down shortly after Dwain passed. Dwain was a master wood and stone carver. I like to picture Dwain and the cootonwood together wherever that may be.

The view from our go to campsite. The kids favorite place to wallow in the river and sandy mud.

Ten minutes upstream is an old bridge with this vista.

Two minutes upstream for our campsite is this bend in the river. A tranquil spot to watch the river flow and the sun setting. The evening continued with marshmallows and smores and Dwain telling stories around the campfire.

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