Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

Tag: San Cristobal Valley

A little bit of This and That, this week.

A little bit of this and a little bit of that, from Ranchos de Taos, Taos Ski Valley, Ghost Ranch, Colorado, and the deck in San Cristobal.

I made this image of the ubiquitous blue window and shutters with hollyhocks in Ranchos de Taos. Hollyhocks are in abundance all around Taos this summer including the grounds of the famous St. Francis Church across the street from this scene.

Hollyhocks, Ranchos de Taos

We made a hike to the waterfall and streams coursing through the Taos Ski Valley to check out the wildflowers. Not a very long hike either. This little grouping of columbine comes back every year in the same spot. You can probably find a similar image from a previous year on my website.

Columbine, waterfall, Taos Ski Valley
Columbine with a waterfall in Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico.

We stopped in Ghost Ranch last week and saw that bits and bobs of a movie set were still standing. They’d even moved a dead tree that had fallen down a few years ago elsewhere to the middle of the set. (Thank you Mark Collins for the inspiration). We opened the doors and went inside. The light streaming through the holes made it sort of magical in a way. Thanks to the movie makers also.

Movie set chapel, Ghost Ranch, NM
Movie set chapel window, Ghost Ranch, NM

Movie set chapel, Ghost Ranch, NM
Looking through the window at another window, Ghost Ranch, NM

Movie set chapel, Ghost Ranch
Movie set chapel, Ghost Ranch

Last week I spent three days working with a client from New York during his month-long cross-country road trip. One of the days was spent in Abiquiu and the Rio Chama Valley chasing storms, followed by a day in the Rio Grande Gorge and along the High Road to Taos. Our final day was spent crisscrossing the San Luis Valley photographing abandoned farmhouses, barns, and this old bridge.

Lobatos Bridge, Colorado
Lobatos Bridge over the Rio Grande in the San Luis, Colorado.

The week ended back at home with a nice visual from the deck.

Rainbow, San Cristobal, New Mexico
Rainbow over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains San Cristobal, New Mexico

As always, thanks for looking. G

Snow Day, Snow Week

I hope you are enjoying winter. I know some of our neighbor states are getting weather they don’t normally experience. Stay safe and warm where you are. Here are some images from a trip around the extended neighborhood this week.

The first image may look familiar to many people as I stop here often in Arroyo Hondo on the drive to and from home and Taos.

Red Willows and cottonwood tree
Red Willows, Cottonwood Tree.

The sun came out on the way home today and the landscape looked pristine. Here’s my favorite “stretch gate” and farm road.

Stretch gate, Hondo Mesa
Stretch Gate, Farm Road

A stretch gate in San Cristobal on my morning walk yesterday.

Stretch gate San Cristobal
Gate and Snow, San Cristobal

Martina’s Hall, formally Old Martinez Hall directly west of the Saint Francis church in Ranchos de Taos, has some nice lines accented by the snow.

Martina's Hall Ranchos de Taos
Martina’s Hall, Ranchos de Taos.

The beautiful mission church of San Francisco de Asis in Ranchos de Taos.

Saint Francis Church
Saint Francis Church Reflections.

A view of the church in a location I’ve not shot before. The morning sunlight breaking through the clouds caught my eye from highway 68 which runs through Ranchos de Taos.

Saint Francis Church
Saint Francis Church.

In San Cristobal this morning our garden Buddha wore his full snow blanket. The snow is still coming down as I write. We are warm and cozy with the wood stove filling the room with a golden glow as well as heat. From the sofa we can watch the snow falling all around the valley.

Garden Buddha, snow
Buddha Blanket.

Thanks for looking and have a great week. G

Northern Flicker, Evening Light, Cottonwood Tree, San Cristobal

Northern Flicker in the evening light on top of the cottonwood tree, San Cristobal. I know for sure it saw the moon and planets at the same time I did. It had a slightly more elevated view over the rooftops but no closer to the cosmic events. Thanks for looking. G

northern_fliker_cottonwood_tree_sc_9300-7344453

American Crow, Cottonwood Tree, Full Beaver Moon

American Crow in the cottonwood tree with the full “Beaver Moon” setting. The wider shot and a cropped close up. I love early mornings in the country. Thanks for looking. G

American Crow, Cottonwood Tree, Full Beaver Moon

American Crow, Cottonwood Tree, Full Beaver Moon

American Robin, Portrait, Not Mary Poppin’s Robin

American Robin, a portrait, and not Mary Poppin’s Robin. I’ve always remembered the fact that a robin in Great Britain is much smaller, (everything’s bigger in the States), and Disney had an artistic license. But let’s not quibble. This sweetheart was enjoying the water in the birdbath. Thanks for looking. G

American Robin, Portrait, Not Mary Poppin's Robin

Mule Deer Family Visit, San Cristobal Valley

Mule Deer family visit the San Cristobal Valley. The dishes get put on hold. Light envelops the valley and surrounds the mule deer family as they graze their way across the meadow. Everything stands still, and we watch. I hope it’s as wondrous where you are. Thanks for looking. G

Mule Deer family visit the San Cristobal Valley.

Fall Color, San Cristobal Valley, New Mexico

Fall Color in the San Cristobal Valley, northern New Mexico. This is the valley where we live and a scene we look at every time we go south to town. On this occasion, I squeezed over on the shoulder to get this photo, dodging disturbing the powdery rabbitbrush that makes me sneeze. I just had a sneezing fit looking at this photo. I hope you don’t get an allergic reaction when looking. Thanks for checking in. G

Fall Color,San C ristobal Valley, New Mexico.

Waning Crescent Moon, Sangre De Cristos, NM

Waning Crescent Moon, Sangre De Cristos, New Mexico. The silence awash across the valley when La Luna rose over the mountains was palpable. No dogs, roosters, coyotes, or birds, and the camera on silent mode perpetuated the peace in this moment. Thanks for looking. G

Waning Crescent Moon, Sangre De Cristos, NM

Mars, Moon, Night And Day, San Cristobal

Mars, Moon night and day from the deck in San Cristobal New Mexico. This morning I looked out the window, decided I liked what I saw, so I got up and walked across the deck to get this shot of the red planet Mars and our Moon to the west. Below is the scene in the eastern sky yesterday evening. Thanks for looking. G

Mars, Moon night and day San Cristobal

Moon Mars San Cristobal, NM

Jupiter, Jupiter’s Moons, Our Moon

Jupiter, Jupiter’s Moons, our Moon. Last night, looking up from the deck revealed this beautiful alignment of Saturn, Jupiter and four moons with our moon waxing. Saturn was too small and farther away to include in this photo. This photo comprises one exposure for our moon and another for Jupiter and it’s moons. Thanks for looking. Keep looking up. G

Jupiter, Jupiter's Moons, our Moon.