Starry Night, Satellite, Rio Grande, Pilar, New Mexico

Geraint September 18, 2020 4 Comments

Starry night in the Rio Grande Gorge, Pilar, New Mexico. I was setting up a composition for the milky way over the gorge and river when I spotted a satellite in one frame, so I quickly kept exposing shots and made a composite of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites cruising across the skies here in NM. Personally, I think there is enough junk in space, plus, Mr. Musk plans to add some 80,000 satellites to the junk already up there. It’s quite a controversy among astronomers. Almost every frame that night had some man made object coursing across the sky. Thanks for looking. G

Bighorn Sheep Ram, Orilla Verde, New Mexico

Geraint July 25, 2020 6 Comments

Bighorn sheep ram in the Orilla Verde, Pilar, New Mexico. “Is this the best I got? You bet, for now.” And an afterthought, “do I have something in my teeth?” Looking good dude, looking good! Thanks for looking. G

Canada Geese, Rio Grande, Pilar, NM

Geraint April 1, 2020 No Comments

Canada Geese, setting up a nesting spot on an island in the middle of the Rio Grande, Pilar, NM. They’ll be hatching a brood of goslings soon. A beautiful day in a beautiful location and a lovely spot to raise a family. Thanks for looking. G

Bald Eagles, Pilar New Mexico

Geraint December 6, 2018 8 Comments

Bald Eagles, on the Rio Grande in Pilar, New Mexico. Well… my heart always skips a beat when driving through the canyon, south of Pilar, and we spot a pair of eagles in a dead juniper. These two were on the west bank of the river. It was very special to see so many cars pull over and people get out and sit on the guardrail to watch in awe. Time out of one’s day well spent. Here’s another shot of a Bald Eagle in the same vicinity a few years ago. Thanks for looking. G

Bald Eagles, Sentinels Of The Rio Grande Gorge

Geraint January 17, 2018 1 Comment

Bald Eagles. Sentinels of the Orilla Verde in the Rio Grande Gorge. Omnipresent at this time of year. I chose this image, and there are many others, mostly because of their unified focused attention. The light levels were low, as the sun was still rising over gorge rim and the canyon was predominantly in shadows. It evoked in me a sense, that nothing goes unnoticed here in the Orilla Verde, along the Rio Grande in Pilar, NM. I had a short lens on the camera this day, so this was the image I got. Sometimes I will place no more importance on the shot (lens, aperture, shutter speed, exposure, sharpness), than the feeling I get from a scene, like this, and how much it propels forward in the realm of life’s discovery. When I come across a scene like this, there is no holding me back and I am propelled far beyond my expectations! I often get asked “what camera do you use?” … “how do I capture what I see?” … “is the light right?” Sometimes you just have to go with the feeling. If I don’t feel it I don’t hit the shutter button. I like to experience my feelings, that, and authenticity is where I reside as much as possible. The photograph is an appreciation of my experience. Thanks for looking. G

Bald Eagle, Rio Grande, Cottonwood Tree

Geraint January 5, 2018 No Comments

Bald Eagle, in a cottonwood tree along the Rio Grande, in Pilar, New Mexico. This image is of the first Bald Eagle spotted this year in the Rio Grande Gorge south of Taos in late November. It was so wonderful to see this bird across the river in the large tree, and, I always wonder if this is one of the eagles I’ve photographed, spending the winters here in previous years. Anyway, it never ceases to excite me when I’m driving along the road through the canyon and there it is! Thanks for looking. G

Beautiful Bald Eagle And Moon

Geraint December 25, 2017 2 Comments

Bald Eagle and a partial moon in the Orilla Verde, Pilar, New Mexico. This is the first time I’ve see this bald eagle in this tree for a couple of years. I’m not saying that it hasn’t roosted here in a couple of years, I’m saying I haven’t seen it here for a couple of years. So yesterday it was a magnificent sight to see … one bald eagle in it’s roost and the waxing moon rising over the Rio Grande Gorge to put it all in context. Thanks for looking. G

Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Geraint May 15, 2017 No Comments

Rio Grande del Norte National Monument at the Taos Junction Bridge in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area section. I’ve used this image as a photo of the day previously but if the proverbial you know what hits the fan we could loose some 27 National Monuments.

The status of 27 U.S. national monuments is being reconsidered. Leading nature photographers have created a free ebook to show you the beauty that’s at risk. See this spectacular land. Then raise your voice to save it.

I am one of the featured photographers. Check it out and thank you for looking

Land Almost Lost features the work of Tom Algire, Kevin Ebi, Michael Frye, Rick Kattelmann, Jerry Monkman, William Neill, Geraint Smith, Tom Till, Larry Ulrich and Matt Witt. All images are copyrighted work of the respective photographers.

[wp_cart:Rio Grande At Taos Junction 1603:price:[Available Sizes|8.5×11 inches $95,95|13×19 inches $155,155|17×22 inches $235,235|24×36 inches $475,475]:end]

White Bridge Over The Rio Grande

Geraint April 15, 2017 4 Comments

White Bridge. A car crosses the Taos Junction bridge over the Rio Grande, it’s headlights illuminate the girders with the Milky Way overhead. Here is the Bridge in Red illuminated by the tail lights of a vehicle. Both in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, Pilar, New Mexico, and under the starry skies of the Milky Way.

Coyote Morning Along The Rio Grande

Geraint April 9, 2017 12 Comments

Coyote stalking prey moving through the lava rocks, sage and cholla cactus early one morning in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, Pilar, New Mexico. It paused numerous times to briefly acknowledge our presence, loped off, and continued its foraging between rocks and sage only to perch on another rock with a good vantage point and make eye contact again. Moving adeptly, confidently, over the unstable terrain the coyote swiftly gained ground and left us watchers in its wake as it crossed the road ahead and vanished in to the red willows along the Rio Grande.

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Pilar