Tag: Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Home on the Hill, Cerro Pedernal, Black and Whites

Geraint January 26, 2022 16 Comments

We had some snow last night, about three inches in our neighborhood. Not a huge amount but a very welcome amount. I went out early this morning to catch this scene of an old adobe home on the hill in the San Cristobal Valley.

Home on the Hill — Home on the hill, San Cristobal.

Last week I was on a Photo Tour/Workshop with two clients in the Rio Chama Valley. There was no wind and Abiquiu Lake was reflecting Cerro Pedernal very nicely. We wandered down to the rocks surrounding the lakeshore for the shot. I like the way his image looked in black and white, almost like a drawing. Cerro Pedernal means flint hill, the place where indigenous people collected obsidian for their weapons.

Cerro Pedernal reflections, Abiquiu Lake — Abiquiu Lake reflecting Cerro Pedernal, (flint peak).

While in Abiquiu, we visited the ruin of Santa Rosa de Lima, one of my favorite locations on the banks of Rio Chama. Like planets, the shadows aligned perfectly.

Santa Rosa de Lima ruin — Santa Rosa de Lima, gate and shadows.

There’s always time for a visit to the iconic Saint Francis Church in Ranchos de Taos, arguably the most photographed church in the world. Because I visit this place often I know where the shadows fall at different times of day and seasons. This was mid December at 8:33 in the morning.

I came across this photo of the red barn from last summer, it felt like yesterday, that’s probably because I’m in the San Luis Valley every couple of weeks. I liked the geometric composition of this image.

Red Barn in Black and White — Red Barn in black and white San Luis Valley, Colorado.

Last but not least, below is the full panorama of the wolfmoon rising. I wanted to take a few days to put it together and work up a print file. If you would like a print and have a large space to fill please get in touch.

Wolf Moon Sangre de Cristo mountains — Wolf Moon over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains full panorama.

Have a great week. I hope it’s beautiful where you are. As always, thanks for looking. G

Harvest Moon Rise, And More.

Geraint September 22, 2021 10 Comments

A couple of nights ago I walked out to our driveway to watch this month’s Harvest moon rise over the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I watched this celestial event in its entirety, unencumbered by foreground buildings and landscape features on a crisp, autumn evening. It was so clear it felt like I could reach out and touch the moon. I hope you got to watch it where you are.

Harvest moonrise, San Cristobal, NM — Harvest Moonrise, San Cristobal, NM

Today I had to get a rock chip repaired in my windshield. I had an hour to kill so I wandered around the neighborhood and came up with the following shot.

Taos Mountain and culverts — Taos Mountain with Culverts, Taos, NM

Earlier this evening I had another wander through my hard drives. I found this picture of a Javelina. This was from a few years ago in the Bosque del Apache NWR. It’s sort of appropriate as I’m planning a trip there this coming November. It’s been a couple of years since I was there last so I’m looking forward to going again. I recall the moment when this little guy popped up from an arroyo, surprising me, and ran across the trail ahead.

Javelina, Bosque del Apache, NM — Javelina in the Bosque del Apache NWR, NM

This image came up in my favorites on my phone. In 2019, my friend Ron and I ended a great five-day photo trek in Lamy, NM. He went on and I went home. I’ve caught the train here many times and ridden it to Los Angeles and back. The Amtrak train still stops here on its route from Chicago to LA.

Lamy NM Train Depot — Lamy Train Depot, Lamy, New Mexico

Going back further still, I came across this beautiful fall scene taken at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House in Taos, NM. I thought it worthy of a repeat performance on my website.

Mabel Dodge Lujan House — Gatehouse and dovecots at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House, Taos, NM

If you’d like to see fall colors in the high desert, I still have a few days open between now and the end of October for my photography tour/workshops in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

Full Moon, Eclipse, Fajada Butte, Chaco Canyon

Geraint May 26, 2021 16 Comments

The moon was nearly full when it rose over the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I’m a proponent of as little travel as possible when the presentation is before me. Dewitt Jones said, “The banquet is spread constantly, with no thought of whether anyone will attend. If I were receptive enough, perhaps I would see it in everything. But I’m not, so photography is one of the tools I use to help me concentrate, to help me see deeply, to block out all that is extraneous and see that which is essential.” I shot the moon rise last night and the following two images looking out from our deck early this morning. The potential for a vibrant eclipse diminished through the night as clouds moved in. Around 3 am the moon vanished altogether. At 4:30 am, my alarm went off. There was a faint moon with clouds surrounding it. I nodded off. By 4:55 am I was dressed and standing outside with the camera set up. I surmised that the moon would perhaps emerge from and disappear behind intermittent banks of clouds. It did as I thought but not with the resounding determination I’d hoped for. It seemed to pulse faintly as it set and then it was gone. At 5:45 I was back in bed. I woke up at 7:15 am with a feeling that I had traveled miles. In effect, at that moment I had hitched a ride with the moon. I think I’ll also need a nap later.

Full moon rise over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, NM — Nearly full moon rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, NM

Lunar eclipse, NM — Lunar eclipse, this morning from San Cristobal, NM

Full moon Lunar eclipse, setting this morning over the Taos Plateau — Full moon, Lunar eclipse, setting this morning over the Taos Plateau.

Below is a new print I’m working on. It’s a very large panorama of the sacred Fajada Butte in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. I’ll have this image ready for purchase on my fine art prints landscape page this weekend.

Fajada Butte Chaco Canyon — Fajada Butte, Chaco Canyon, Chaco Culture National Historical Park

As always thanks for looking. G

Full Moon Rise, Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Geraint March 31, 2021 10 Comments

The full moon rising last Saturday over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado. Commonly known as the “Worm Moon” it’s also known by these names in other cultures. Crow Moon, Sap Moon, Moon of Winds, Fish Moon. Here’s a link to the names of full moons in many other cultures. I’m rather partial to “Crow moon”. The crows in our field get busy at this time of year and show up every morning before sunrise. This is a photo of a crow with the full moon back in early December. Despite the names bestowed on a full moon, it’s a most wondrous site to behold rising over fresh snow-covered peaks of the “Sangres”. This was shot and cropped from a very large panoramic image on a photo tour/workshop. Join me in this area for a trip to see sights like this.

Full worm moon rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado. — The full “worm moon” rising last Saturday over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado

Here’s the panorama of the whole scene. If you have room for a large print, the detail in both is amazing. Prints will be available soon.

The full moon rising last Saturday over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado — Large panorama of the full moon rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado

As always, thank you for looking. G

Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Moon Rise, Colorado

Geraint December 29, 2020 No Comments

This evening we went north, in a more timely manner to catch the moon’s majestic rise over the Sangres. It was low light and I forgot my tripod so I held on tight resting on the car window. I need to make a checklist and check it twice, no, three times. Thanks for looking. G

Last Light, Mountain Snow, Sangre de Cristos, NM

Geraint December 15, 2020 10 Comments

Last light on the mountain snows and cloud, Sangre de Cristos, NM. The last glimmer of light on the foothills before the sun slipped over the horizon and the warmth of the day with it. Stay warm, and healthy. Thanks for looking. G

Venus, Crescent Moon, Rising, Sangre De Cristo Mountains, NM

Geraint December 12, 2020 No Comments

Venus and a waning crescent Moon rising over the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, northern New Mexico. I got out there early this morning, but only as far as the driveway. That’s as far as was needed. The silence was palpable save the crunching snow underfoot, and as is the case it got the coldest right before dawn and the frost built up thick on my tripod. The neighbor’s dog stirred up a couple of other hounds in the ‘hood. Happily, I was done by then and only had to walk a hundred feet to a steaming pot of tea, toast, and marmalade. Thanks for looking. G

Columbine-Hondo Wilderness, Sangre De Cristos, New Mexico

Geraint December 11, 2020 4 Comments

Columbine-Hondo Wilderness, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, New Mexico. Last light on the mountains this evening. I had to pop the 4 Runner into 4wd and plow through snow and get to a vista point with a clear expansive view. I got off a few shots, then it was gone. Here’s some info on the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness. Thanks for looking. G

Moonrise, Costilla, New Mexico

Geraint November 29, 2020 2 Comments

Moonrise over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from Costilla, New Mexico. I drove up north an hour before sunset, the peaks are just over the border in Colorado. I was very surprised to see just how large this “Beaver” or “Frosty” moon looked as the view opened up to the east. Nothing like an evening drive to watch the moon rise. Thanks for looking. G

Moonrise, Sangre De Cristos, San Cristobal

Geraint October 28, 2020 4 Comments

Moonrise this evening over the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, San Cristobal, NM. I got this quick shot out of the dining room window as the waxing moon was served up in a gorgeous pink sky. I served up a pot of green chile chicken stew, a perfect accompaniment to a cold fall evening. Thanks for looking. G