Hello from New Mexico. This week a large print titled, “Homage to Autumn”, and more.
Twenty one images taken recently of the fall colors in our neighborhood. Personally, I like the grid, built on the same grid as “Homage to Lone Trees”. Available in custom sizes on paper and canvas wrap.
I hope everyone had a great week and enjoying fall/autumn where you are.
“Homage to Autumn” in New Mexico.
I’m looking forward making a trip down to the Bosque del Apache this fall/winter season. Generally I prefer the late fall. There are always plenty of birds and fall color left to add a nice warm background to my images.
Ducks lifting off at the Bosque del Apache, NWR, New Mexico.
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.
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.
Sky over San Cristobal, NM
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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.
Saturn, Jupiter, the Milky Way and the Scorpion constellation.
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As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Hello from San Cristobal, NM! I hope everyone had a good week. This week, I captured some images on a rainy and overcast day in January 2024 from my car. I wasn’t driving, so I took the opportunity to shoot photos out the window using the Hipstamatic camera app on my iPhone. I know it’s been in existence for quite some time, but I’d never tried it out. Some of my clients use it frequently, and some use the app primarily for their image-making. These pictures are unedited and straight from the camera, using settings I selected just for fun.
I enjoyed the spontaneity and randomness of the subjects, with no preconceived outcome or expectations. I took these photos while traveling on highways 68, 64, and 522, from Taos to San Cristobal, as well as on Old Highway 3 through the village of San Cristobal. And… in no particular order.
I’m not a devotee of the hipstamatic app, and doubt I will be, but I enjoy playing, and that made for an enjoyable ride on a dull day.
Our Local Market in Arroyo Hondo
These hipstamatic iPhone pictures do bring out the nitty gritty elements of the region.
On another note…
The acequia culture in New Mexico is a centuries-old tradition of community-managed irrigation systems that trace their origins to Spanish colonial times and even earlier indigenous practices. These communal irrigation ditches, known as acequias, are vital for agriculture in the arid Southwest, allowing communities to share and manage scarce water resources equitably. The acequia system is not just a method of irrigation but a cultural institution that fosters community cooperation, governance, and sustainability. It involves a mayordomo, or ditch boss, who oversees water distribution and maintenance, and regular meetings where members, or parciantes, discuss water rights and responsibilities. This system reflects a deep connection to the land and water, emphasizing the importance of collective stewardship and resilience in the face of environmental challenges. Acequias are recognized for their cultural and historical significance, embodying a unique blend of indigenous and Hispanic heritage that continues to shape the landscape and communities of New Mexico today.
Taos Pueblo Mountain Acequia, El Prado.
As always, thank you for taking the time to look. I hope you enjoyed them. Join me next week as I share more photographs of the idyllic vistas, like the one above, found around northern New Mexico, highlighting the beauty and cultural significance of the acequias. Have a wonderful week! G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, a flashback to the village of Galisteo shot on 4×5 film, 1986, the Rio Grande Gorge, and a quick cellphone shot of the northern lights from our village.
House and fence shot on 4×5 film, Galisteo, NM 1986.
The northern lights and the little chapel from our village of San Cristobal. Not as impressive a display as previous auroras, but I liked the way the ambient light illuminated La Capella, setting off against the sky.
Northern lights, San Cristobal, NM
Over the next few week’s I’ll be posting more scanned images from approximately 40 years ago, taken on multiple trips to the Land of Enchantment during the 1980s, that I call “New Mexico, First Impressions“.
As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. Happy New Year! The first pictures of the new year, the first full moon of the year, the Wolf Moon, which is also known as “Canada Goose Moon”, “Greetings Moon”, and a favorite of mine, “Frost Exploding Moon”.
This year, I shot the moon rising from our driveway in order to avoid the big juniper trees on the property. It was a magnificent sight to behold.
When it first appeared behind the Sangre de Cristo foothills.
Thank you for a great year. Thanks for joining me here, for your support and friendship, and for joining me on one of my photo tour workshops. I hope everyone has a wonderful time. See you next week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, lenticular clouds, and this seems to be the season. Although these clouds can appear throughout the year, they are particularly abundant right now. Their stunning, lens-like shapes add a touch of magic to the already breathtaking landscape, making this time of year truly special.
Enjoy! And click on the image to enlarge.
From our deck in San Cristobal.
Taos Mountain, Moonrise.
Moments before the following photo.
From the deck in San Cristobal.
Click on the image below for a full panorama of the total event. I was driving home from Santa Fe when this happened. I believe it was visible across the entire state.
Lenticular clouds are lens-shaped clouds that typically form at high altitudes, often in perpendicular alignment to the wind direction. They are scientifically known as “altocumulus lenticularis” and are most commonly found in mountainous regions. These clouds form when stable, moist air flows over a mountain or a range of mountains, creating a series of oscillating waves. If the temperature at the crest of these waves drops to the dew point, moisture in the air condenses to form clouds.
Lenticular clouds are known for their distinctive, smooth, and often saucer-like appearance, which can sometimes be mistaken for UFOs. They are stationary, meaning they don’t move with the wind like other clouds, but instead remain fixed in position while the air flows through them.
These clouds can indicate turbulence for aircraft, as the wave patterns that create them can also produce strong updrafts and downdrafts. Despite this, they are often admired for their striking and unusual appearance, making them a popular subject for photographers and cloud enthusiasts.
Greetings from New Mexico! This week, early morning mountain clouds and snow on the peaks, accompanied by a moonrise. I’m eagerly anticipating an almost full moonrise tonight, followed by a full moonrise tomorrow. It should be spectacular against the backdrop of snow-covered peaks. However, more snow is forecast, and the skies might be overcast. We’ll see how it turns out!
Greetings from New Mexico. This week, a few images of the northern lights as seen from our village of San Cristobal, in the mountains of northern New Mexico.
When I first saw the northern lights last night it was through the trees at our house, so I drove five minutes to this vantage point for a view of our valley and what looked like a sunrise/sunset. Shot on the iPhone.
Norhtern Lights, San Cristobal, NM
I had a thought to photograph the little chapel in the village against the aurora sky, not one hundred percent sure that it would align.
Tonight viewing should be even more spectacular, clear skies permiting.
The image below was shot in our neighborhood in October last year.
Aurora Borealis, October, 2024
On another note: I want to take a moment to remember my friend Harry Vedoe, who had a profound impact on my life and on the many adventures I’ve had in the backcountry and wilderness over the years. Harry and I were friends for almost 40 years. Rest in glorious peace, Harry.
Harry passed away at age 96 peacefully in his sleep on October 28, 2025.
