Greetings from San Cristobal, NM, and beyond. This week the Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland, is a flashback to 2013. It’s been a while since I’ve made a post from the “old country”. So here’s one of the Jacobite Steam Train, a tourist ride also known as the “Hogwarts Express’ from the Harry Potter movies. It’s an impressive site and worth the wait in pouring rain to watch it go by under full steam. I’ve ridden quite a few steam trains over the years. They were still running in Wales for the first ten years of my life, so I know what it’s like to stick my head out the window and to have the steam and soot blow in my face. Here in Taos, we are just over an hour’s drive from Antonito Colorado, and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Train Ride.
Glenfinnan Viaduct with the Jacobite Steam Train, Scotland.
Do you like it in black and white?
The Hogwarts Express in black and white.
Random images from the last few weeks.
Cerro, New Mexico.
Or do you prefer black and white?
Cross in black and white in Cerro, NM.
Vallecito Mountain snows. The snow will stick around for a while longer with more snow possible well into May/June.
Vallecito Mountain snows.
I went back down the trail last week and covered almost six miles to find the cactus location from the previous week. I found them still blooming beautifully, clinging to the rock walls of the Rio Grande Gorge.
Claret cup cactus.
A slightly different view of the same plant. I had to lean out just a little farther for this angle.
Claret cup cactus Rio Grande Gorge Rim Trail.
I am closing out this week with a sunset across the Taos Plateau.
Taos Plateau sunset.
As always, thanks for visiting and looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal NM. This week on the Petaca Point Trail, southwest of Taos.
When the only camera you have is a cellphone you make do. These few shots were taken on a hike last week. We’re going back on the Petaca trail tomorrow for what I’m hoping will be a Claret Cup Cactus superbloom. I’m taking a Sony camera on tomorrow’s hike. If you’re interested in this hike on the Petaca Point Trail it’s mostly flat with many expansive views of the mountains and river gorge.
I went to Pueblo, Colorado for a film festival last weekend. It was fun, and something different for me. On the way home I stopped at this favorite spot for this shot of the passing storm with Ute Mountain.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week spring has sprung in the neighborhood. It seems overly eager to arrive this year.
Spring has sprung but Here’s a post from two years ago when it took just a little longer to arrive. Spring has a will of its own like an impetuous child.
I’m calling this creature, in the photo below, a Painted Lady butterfly although it could be some sort of moth. They are abundant in the garden right now.
Spring has sprung in the garden, San Cristobal, NM.
Snowy Egret and Spring blossoms at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge rest area parking lot.
Snowy Egret and spring blossoms.
Spring has sprung and the moon rises.
Moonrise and blossoms, south of Taos.
The moon rising taken out the kitchen window.
April moon rise, San Cristobal, NM.
The image below was shot in mid-April 2007. It’s one of my favorite captures and collectible prints of Taos Cottonwoods. When I made this panoramic image, I stood in awe of what the chemistry of nature can accomplish. D.H. Lawrence’s words summed up the moment perfectly for me, albeit my picture is of the “fierce” evening light.
‘But the moment I saw the brilliant, proud morning shine up over the deserts of Santa Fe, something stood still in my soul, and I started to attend. There was a certain magnificence in the high-up day, a certain eagle-like royalty, so different from the equally pure, equally pristine and lovely morning of Australia, which is so soft, so utterly pure in its softness, and betrayed by green parrot flying. But in the lovely morning of Australia, one went into a dream. In the magnificent fierce morning of New Mexico, one sprang awake, a new part of the soul woke up suddenly, and the old world gave way to a new.” D.H. Lawrence.
Taos Pueblo Peak and Cottonwoods in the high desert light of Spring.
If you want to join me here in New Mexico, I’m booking dates from now through the rest of the year and beyond. I look forward to introducing you to some of my favorite locations in this area.
As always, thank you for looking. I hope you enjoyed your visit. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week features the day of April 17th from ten years of my archives.
I hope everyone had a good week. April has been beautiful in northern New Mexico,,, so far. I know I said I wouldn’t say anymore regarding my feet but I’m averaging 2-3 miles a day and getting 4-6 mile hikes in. I’m so happy with my two new feet.
Over the last month, my friend, David, and I have been hiking stretches of the road through the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument that traverses the gorge rim and skirts around the base of Ute Mountain. We have hiked a different section each week with the mountain always present, beckoning. All being well, this summer will culminate in an accent of Ute Mountain.
Back to the present that began in the past, here are pictures from April 17th taken from my photo of the day archive from 2006 to 2016.
Beginning in 2016 and working back to 2006. This day we had snow and I made this image. It makes a beautiful print. A couple of hours after taking this photo, the snow was all gone.
Willow tree lane, Arroyo Seco, April 2016.
A roadside Descanso, San Ildefonso, 2015. The internet says “Descansos are deeply rooted in Southwestern Hispanic culture. The word means “resting place” and is believed to refer to the days when coffins were transported by horse and cart or carried by hand over many miles for burial in a camposanto.”
Roadside Descanso, San Ildefonso, NM.
Some vistas around Taos have since been transformed… developed. 2014
Taos Mountain from El Prado, NM.
Here’s a shot of mine and Pami’s shadow in Arroyo Hondo on the drive home from Taos back in 2013.
Arroyo Hondo evening shadows, 2013.
Here’s a former living plant that grew out of a crack in a rock in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area of the now Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, 2012.
Rock brush, Orilla Verde, NM, 2012.
A ubiquitous Taos Raven. They are known to perch in ones or twos. This raven was probably calling for or waiting on its better half. 2011
Raven in a bare tree, Taos, 2011.
I’m still searching for the original high resolution file of this picture of Garetto Rivas, so I’ve added a higher resolution second image from the same day below this one. I’ve forgotten the name of his gorgeous blond horse. The second horse in tow and in training is named “Beauty”.
Garetto Rivas, a Taos Cowboy, 2010.
Garetto Rivas, Taos Cowboy, 2010.
The image below was scanned from a Kodachrome 64, transparency shot in the mid 1990’s and published on my website’s photo of the day archive on April 17, 2009.
Indian paintbrush, 2009.
Just around the corner from my former gallery in Arroyo Seco was a yoga studio festooned in Tibetan prayer flags. I recall shooting this one out of my car window in 2008.
Prayer flags in Arroyo Seco, NM. 2008.
I shot the image below in 1990 and published it on my website in 2007. It has since been published in a couple of local magazines.
Saint Francis church reflecting in my 1958 Volkswagen Beetle wing mirror, 2007.
On April 17, 2006 I paid a visit to the National Cemetery in Santa Fe NM. It’s the only time I’ve been there. Since then I usually post this image on social media on Memorial Day.
The National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM. 2006
As always, thank you for looking. I hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane. You can see more from my photo of the day archive here.
Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. This week a two-day photo tour around northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Nature and the elements gave up some wonderful photo opportunities, beginning with Taos Mountain and the iconic grove of cottonwoods.
On a photo tour of Taos and northern New Mexico.
The next stop on the photo tour was in Questa at an old house off the highway set back amongst some trees. I checked with a friend who said he would try and find me some information on this charming building and quiet setting.
House in Questa, NM.
Following a couple of stops en route, to photograph some wild horses, we wound up at this lake in the San Luis Valley. Moody and brooding skies were the order of the day.
Lake Tree, San Luis Valley, Colorado.
Speaking of the skies. Highway 142 crosses the Rio Grande in Colorado between the old town of San Luis and Heading west to Manassa home of Jack Dempsey, the “Manassa Mauler”.
The sky over Highway 142, Colorado.
Continuing the photo tour, there is also a stark view of a very subdued Rio Grande from the road bridge as it crosses the river.
The Rio Grande from Highway 142, Colorado.
I came across some of last year’s milkweed pods enduring against the elements. Did I mention the frigid cold winds? My guests were admirably brave, and filled with enthusiasm for whatever conditions confronted us.
On the second day, we encountered a troupe of young Bighorn Sheep in the Orilla Verde area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument walking on the road ahead of us.
Bighorn Sheep Orilla Verde, NM.
We parked the car and followed uphill and enjoyed watching and photographing them in their prime, natural environment. I can’t help but think that the one in the middle is telling them to “gather round” and show us their best side!
Bighorn Sheep gathering Orilla Verde, NM.
There were many more picture opportunities. I had to stop at some point. If you are planning to be in the area this year, join me on a photo tour/workshop and I’ll show you around.
As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a dog and pony in Arroyo Hono, NM, and a return of winter with three storms in a row that dropped 4 feet of snow on the mountains. You won’t see too much of the mountains in the following photos, as they were socked in for three days. Even today they are shrouded in clouds.
To begin with, it was just the pony in Arroyo Hondo a couple of days ago.
Pony in Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico.
Shortly after, the dog appeared out of the blowing snow. Great! I thought, now we have a dog and pony show in the snow, although a little more bucolic than dog and pony shows I’ve seen over the years.
Dog and pony in the meadow Arroyo Hondo, NM.
The Bald Eagle sitting in this cottonwood tree a two weeks ago left the scene. A few Starlings and Magpies are currently hanging out there, but not on this day in blizzard conditions.
Dead cottonwood, Arroyo Hondo, NM.
In El Prado, the meadows, I pulled over to the side of the road to get this scene. I’ve shot it a few times and watched it grow. Here’s one from fall in 2018.
Young cottonwood tree in El Prado, NM.
In the middle of these storms, we had a rainbow. Or was that a snowbow? It was snowing back there.
Spring rainbow, out in the field in San Cristobal, NM.
Then, to end it all, our neighbor’s tree lit up, blazing against the sky. It always warms our views and hearts at the end of the day.
Sunset tree.
As always, thank you for looking. I hope it’s beautiful where you are. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a Taos Mountain House in a spectacular location. It’s on Taos Pueblo land. Known as Taos Mountain, its true name in English is Pueblo Peak. A bald eagle has visited the area for the last couple of weeks. The ranch hands still guard the ranch gate on Highway 64 and the eternal fight between light and darkness continues in the shadows at the Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos. My neighbor’s tree lights up at sunset during a mountain snowstorm. Click to enlarge pictures.
Taos Mountain House.
There must be a fabulous view from the back porch! Taos Mountain House is my name for this place. I made it up. Apologies in advance.
A visitor showed up in the Arroyo Hondo Valley a couple of weeks ago. A Bald Eagle usurped the Red-tailed Hawks roost. I watched it indulge in its morning ablutions after which it was ready for the hunt.
Bald Eagle morning ablutions in Arroyo Hondo, NM.
Eyes on the valley’s rodent population… please.
Bald Eagle, ready for the day and the hunt, Arroyo Hondo, NM.
The Ranch Hands (my name for it) sculpture at a ranch gate on Highway 64. You might recognize it from a previous post.
Ranch Hands sculpture Highway 64 NM.
Down at the church in Ranchos de Taos after last weekend’s snow.
Ranchos de Taos shadows and reflections.
My neighbor’s tree yesterday evening when the sun broke through the clouds just before setting. A fitting start to the beginning of Spring.
My neighbor’s tree at sunset.
As always, thanks for looking and for all the kind words, comments, and compliments. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, under a full moon rise, as seen from our driveway. The dark shapes of the Sangre de Cristo foothills and the deep blue of a New Mexico crisp and clear sky made the full moon appear its brightest. Later that night the light from the moon kept me awake for a couple of hours from 1:30 to 3:30 am. So I played solitaire on the phone and eventually fell asleep from boredom!
Let’s call this “anatomy of a moon rise.” Click on images to enlarge.
Full Moon rising San Cristobal.
Moonrise San Cristobal.
Moonrise San Cristobal.
I love our commute to Taos from San Cristobal. I’ve said it many times, and I never tire of it. I shot the image below last night on the way home. There are more spectacular moments, but I enjoyed the way the tip of the peak was lit up.
Arroyo Seco, El Salto mountain light.
This image with the horses is from March 2014. We had lunch and a view similar to this yesterday, almost 2 years to the day.
Taos Mountain horses.
This is the view of Taos Mountain mid-winter shot in El Prado (the meadows), a flashback to 2013.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week blue and white, another sky over Taos Mountain and one man’s fence.
We’ve had a lot of days recently with blue skies like this. The old adobe buildings especially, and this church, lend themselves to photography on blue-sky days.
Blue and white at the Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos, NM.
Perhaps you prefer the black and white below.
Saint Francis Church in black and white.
Driving to Taos a few days ago I saw this sight. I think that these were dispersed contrails from a couple of passing jets. It took three wide-angle shots stitched together to get this much of the scene. I didn’t get it all in as it continued and terminated on the horizon to the west over my shoulder. See below.
Clouds over Taos Mountain, Pueblo Peak.
Here’s a cellphone shot out the car window looking west to the horizon. Highways in the sky.
Clouds or contrails?
Robert Frost wrote, “Good fences make good neighbors” in his poem Mending Wall. Below are abstract shots of one man’s fence in Arroyo Hondo, NM. In order of appearance along the roadside, from west to east.
Chainlink fence #1, Arroyo Hondo, NM.
Chainlink fence #2.
Chainlink fence #3.
Chainlink fence #4.
Chainlink fence #5.
I’ve driven by this window many times but never noticed the thoughtful pattern of the blue and green window panes. There’s always a first time for everything.
Church window and wall in Arroyo Hondo, NM.
As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a big sky over Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak), shadows in Arroyo Hondo, and the high bridge spanning the Rio Grande Gorge in Taos, NM,
It isn’t hard to get a good shot of Taos Mountain. It’s more a matter of being there at the right time. I am very fortunate to have lived in this part of the world for the last 40 years. Here, I can watch the storms make their way across the plateau, morphing with the light, and arrive at any number of preplanned locations for that perfect moment.
Big Sky, Taos Mountain, Pueblo Peak, El Prado.
Vallecito Mountain/Peak was covered in about a foot of fresh snow this week. I had wanted to catch a shot of the snow-covered trees barely discernable against the peaks. When the sun came out it was about an hour too late, but I did manage to capture a nice cloud. The new snow tends to melt fast when temperatures reach 40º F. I’ll do better next time.
Shadows on the wall of the same church an hour later. I went back today. The sun has climbed high enough over the last five days that the cross shadow is close to the bottom of the wall at the same time of day.
Arroyo Hondo shadows on the Church wall.
I got in a two-mile hike with my son Dylan, a couple of days ago. We hiked down the west rim of the Rio Grande Gorge which has numerous vistas like the one below. Often the canyon is buried in heavy shadows with contrasty light. This time it was flooded with light. Bighorn sheep were found in the rest area parking lot. I didn’t waste any pixels on them grazing amongst the gravel.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge spanning the Rio Grande Gorge.
As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G
