Tag: Taos Mountain

Springtime, Taos Mountain. 05-28-2025

Geraint May 28, 2025 No Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Taos Mountain and El Prado, the meadows, are in the height of spring finery, and Williams Lake, followed by the ‘print of the week’.

I made it back to Williams Lake without a slip on the ice. Conditions weren’t too bad, no need for micro-spikes this time, but I was definitely glad to have the hiking poles. I’ve had tougher trips, like back on July 4, 1995, when I had to turn around because the snow was too deep. I was carrying my 1½-year-old son on my back and kept post-holing through the drifts in the trees. Over the years, I’ve probably made close to a hundred trips to this lake, and I’m looking forward to many more, here and on the trails beyond.

I had brunch with these two critters, a ground squirrel and a scarry looking buck toothed marmot

While the squirrel raced around foraging, the marmot sat unmoving like a big furry glove puppet. To put it in perspective, he/she was bigger the our chihuahua, Barkley, now no longer with us. Here he is on Wheeler Peak.

This week’s featured print is a nearly full Harvest Moon beneath an almost double rainbow. Some images stay with me, and this is one of them. I remember the exact moment I captured this five-image stitched panorama. Taos Mountain is in the clouds under the rainbow. This piece found a home in Taos this week.

Print of the week, Harvest Moon Rainbow — Print of the week, Harvest Moon and Rainbow

As always, thank you for looking and for all the comments and compliments. Have a great week. G

Taos Mountain, Orilla Verde, Clouds, July 27, 2022

Geraint July 27, 2022 19 Comments

Taos Mountain beckoned across the meadows yesterday on my drive home. It always does! The lighting was intensely bright on the rocky outcroppings and peaks. It looked like snow had accumulated or, perhaps, hail.

Earlier, my son, Dylan, and I drove late afternoon along the Rio Grande south of Taos. The elusive wildlife was probably due to the number of paddlers on that stretch of the river. There were many areas of washouts along the roadside, evidenced in the very muddy river. Dylan spotted a Great Blue Heron who wasn’t having much luck fishing in the brown waters.

We drove on to the Taos Junction Bridge, where I shot the last image, in this post, of the headland that divides the confluence of the Rio Pueblo and the Rio Grande.

I’m beginning this blog at the end and winding up at the beginning.

I hope everyone is staying as hydrated and cool as possible where you are. If you enjoy the cool mountain air and a trip here appeals to you, join me on a photo tour/workshop in the high desert of northern New Mexico.

Taos Mountain storm in Black and white — Taos Mountain storm in black and white.

… and in color. I’m partial to the black and white myself.

I shot the image below in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area The storm clouds were building. I suspect it looked like this yesterday before the deluge that washed out parts of the roads in the area. I exposed the image for the lighter areas of the clouds and picked up the little highlight on the green grasses of the bench. I lightened the shadow to bring out the other green hues on the hillsides and the rock faces. Moody, just like I experienced the scene.

Sky and Mesa, Orilla Verde, NM — The sky over, Orilla Verde Recreation Area, NM.

If you are interested in seeing more images of Taos Mountain or the Orilla Verde Recreation Area you can put these search terms in the search bar on the website.

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

Eclipse, Racing Cow, Taos Mountain Clouds.

Geraint November 24, 2021 16 Comments

Well, I got out there as I said I would last week for this partial eclipse. It wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be but there were some clouds that created a weird maroon halo-ee thing. In the second image, you’ll see the Pleiades to the upper right. The clouds added a kind of mystery to the scene but they didn’t help make for a crystal clear lunar eclipse, the sort I’m used to. I like that the extent of the partial eclipse is defined very clearly. I’m sure there’ll be more eclipses to come. I will say, that I’m finally recovered from the stiff neck I got looking straight up overhead!

Lunar eclipse, November 19, 2021 — Lunar Eclipse, November 19, 2021, San Cristobal, NM

Driving home from Taos last weekend I found I had competition in the pasture, a cow racing me and my car.

Racing a cow, Arroyo Hondo — Racing a cow in the Arroyo Hondo Valley.

… and today the clouds lifted enough to give a glimpse of the thin layer of snow on Taos Mountain.

Taos Mountain Clouds across the meadows, Taos NM — Taos Mountain clouds, El Prado (the Meadows), NM

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope it’s a good one. Thanks for looking. G

Taos Mountain Cloud, Mourning Doves, Wild Iris Meadow, Venus Moon

Geraint June 16, 2021 7 Comments

Another fun week in the field and a couple of instances from the deck! During one of the last snowstorms not long ago in memory but ages ago for the much-needed moisture. We can watch the storms build up over Taos Mountain from the deck. The mourning doves have been enjoying life and seem to be inseparable, hanging out side by side in the old cottonwood tree, also visible from the deck. We made a trip to join our friends Chris and Carla at their ranch in Black Lake, New Mexico a few days ago. The meadows were carpeted with millions of wild iris. I’ve seen similar fields of iris in the Valle Vidal but nothing like this. And this was only a square mile of it. On June 11, the waxing crescent moon swung by the planet Venus. I have a favorite parking spot to watch this particular sight when it occurs. Summer Solstice is coming up on Sunday, June 20th. Where to go for a Solstice moment photo? We shall see!

Taos Mountain cloud — Taos Mountain storm cloud building up, San Cristobal, NM

Mourning Doves in the old cottonwood tree, San Cristobal.

Wild iris, Black Lake, NM, in Lonesome Dove country near where they filmed the TV movie.

Venus, Moon, sunset — Venus, Moon and sunset across the Taos Plateau.

Enjoy the summer where you are and as always, thanks for looking. G

The Light, Both Ways

Geraint April 28, 2021 8 Comments

The drive home yesterday with a quick stop for this moment. Looking West, looking East and as always thank you for looking. G

Three Peaks, Tres Orejas — Storm breaking over Tres Orejas (Three Peaks).

A line of light in the shadow of Taos Mountain

Light on El Salto, Taos NM — Light breaking and some snow on El Salto, Taos NM

Taos Mountain Clouds

Geraint March 24, 2021 6 Comments

One photo this week of Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak) in black and white. I had a longer post planned but the hosting company server crashed this morning, until an hour ago. They emailed and were very gracious and apologized and let me know things were up and running. So, I hope you enjoy this image from this last week, this week.

Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak) Taos New Mexico. — A view of Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak) across El Prado (the Meadows) with late afternoon light and cattle.

Winter Light, Iconic Taos Truck

Geraint February 24, 2021 22 Comments

Last week we went out for dinner at a local restaurant. We haven’t been out for a sit-down meal in a long time, and were we ever glad we did! We had a good time and the food was fabulous. The restaurant is in a great location and the view from the dining room, was such, that I was prompted to get up and leave my meal for a few shots of that favorite GMC, the iconic Taos truck, parked in an adjacent field. The diffused sunlight on the scene gave the truck and landscape a warm rosy glow.

The camera in my pocket was my iPhone. I could have walked back to the parking lot to get my ‘other’ camera but I was afraid the light would have faded by the time I got back. Within a couple of minutes later I’d shot a dozen images and was heading back to my meal. The light was fleeting and as the saying goes, the best camera is the one you have on you.

The first image is when I approached the vehicle. You can see the distracting footprints in the foreground. In the two following images, I moved in closer. The truck dominates the composition and the tracks out front were probably made by a dog or coyote rather than clunky, human footprints.

The last image is a view you would have if you were sitting in the cab looking out. I wouldn’t recommend getting in the cab as it’s full of broken glass and in the summertime is home to a thriving nest of hornets.

GMC Truck Winter Taos, NM — GMC, iconic Taos truck in El Prado, winter light.

Old Taos Truck — GMC truck in winter light, with Taos Mountain.

GMC truck El Prado, Taos NM — Close up view of the truck’s fender and hood detail.

Taos Moutain Light — Winter light on Taos Mountain.

I’m heading out on a photo tour this weekend. Let’s see what I come up with. There’s also a full moon so I’ll be out photographing its latest appearance, weather permitting.

As always, thank you for looking.

Geraint

Things I’ve seen and done in the last couple of weeks.

Geraint February 10, 2021 10 Comments

I’m continually reviewing images from previous weeks and months. The following images are from the last couple of weeks. Some from the front field and some from trips out in the greater field. I’ve also included an image of my daughter pulled from way back in 2004 that I’ve re-worked for printing. And lastly, a little something from 2005 for this weekend’s happy hearts day.

I begin with the most recent from yesterday morning with this month’s waning moon rising over Taos Mountain.

Crescent moon rise over Taos Mountain — Crescent moon with earth shine rising over Taos Mountain from the field at our home in San Cristobal.

The following are a couple of images from a drive Pami and I did into the San Luis Valley the last time it snowed.

Snow field furrows Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado — Snow filled field furrows with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, taken near Jaroso, Colorado.

San Antonio Mountain clouds and snowy road in the San Luis Valley, Colorado.

Last week Chris Ferguson and I drove south to Carson, NM for a photoshoot on the Rio Grande Gorge Rim. We had some beautiful winter sunlight in the late afternoon to create another set of old west inspired images. Stay tuned for a few more from the last couple of these commercial shoots I’ve collaborated on with Chris, at Tres Estrellas.

Tres Estrellas photo shoot — Chris from Tres Estrellas. Photo shoot on the Rio Grande Gorge Rim, Carson New Mexico.

A rather dense sunset last week on the way home from the Cellar, our local bottle shop. Not the color of fine red wine as is often the case with the Sangre de Cristos. Despite the heaviness, this sunset got a lot of attention from locals judging by the number of posts on Facebook.

Vallecito Mountain sunset — Sunset, Vallecito Mountain, in the Sangre de Cristos.

My daughter, taken back in fall 2004 in Taos, New Mexico. If she could get into or under anything she would. I reworked this image in order to make a print I’ve wanted to hang.

“Leaf Girl” my daughter under a pile of leaves, fall 2004, Taos, NM.

And lastly, something appropriate for this weekend. Fly me to the moon in a valentine balloon.

Valentine balloon moon — Valentine Balloon, Moon.

As always, thank you for looking.

Geraint

GMC Truck, Overland Ranch, Taos, New Mexico

Geraint December 18, 2020 6 Comments

GMC Truck at the Overland Ranch compound, Taos, New Mexico. No truck is an island unto itself! This familiar location with a backdrop of Taos Mountain (Pueblo Peak), always inspires a photo. I made a quick stop in here as the snow receded, it left the truck looking like it was washed ashore and stranded. Thanks for looking. G

Wave, Surf, Clouds, Dawn, Taos Mountain, NM

Geraint December 4, 2020 8 Comments

Wave, surf, clouds, dawn with Taos Mountain, NM. The correct name of these fascinating cloud forms is Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds. Here’s the scoop from earthsky.org. Looks warm, doesn’t it? I won’t be getting up this early again for some time. At 9º this morning I think I’ll crawl into my bear den and come out in the spring. Thanks for looking. G