Ute Mountain, Taos Mountain, Mountain Biking. 09-25-2024

Geraint September 25, 2024 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Ute Mountain and the Rio Grande in the Wild and Scenic Rivers area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Taos Mountain is preparing for winter and mountain biking in the Taos Ski Valley.

I love it when we visit this location, I feel sure you know it, and the shadows from the fast-moving clouds pass over the landscape creating numerous composition possibilities. I hope my clients get some images they want to share.

Ute Mountain Rio Grande Wild Rivers — Ute Mountain and the Rio Grande.

This picture of Taos Mountain has been popping up recently. One of these days I’ll print one for myself and hang it on our living room wall. It will warm up the room as we settle into the colder seasons.

Taos Mountain, Pueblo Peak, sunset — Taos Mountain, Pueblo Peak, Sunset.

I watched this guy head down a trail at the terrain park in Taos Ski Valley. I composited nine images to get the shot. It looks like he was out on a Sunday ride, not a mountain biking course. There’s a nice trail to hike nearby.

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

A little bit of This and That, this week.

Geraint July 7, 2021 20 Comments

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.

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

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

Waterfall, Taos Ski Valley, Valle Vidal, Yellow-rumped Warbler

Geraint June 9, 2021 26 Comments

First time in these mountains since last year. The air is cool, refreshing and the light at this elevation, (10,000 feet) is pristine. This waterfall is just a few hundred yards from the parking area and a short uphill hike. In about two to three weeks the Columbine and other wildflowers should be gracing these slopes. If you get a chance to go here, you won’t be disappointed. Or join me on a photo trek and I’ll take you here.

Waterfall, Taos Ski Valley — Waterfall on the Williams Lake Trail in Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico.

The next four images are from the Valle Vidal. It was 84ºF in San Luis Valley and 45ºF in the mountains. We were surrounded by hail, sleet, and rain and these exquisite, Yellow-rumped Warblers flitting about everywhere.

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM — Comanche Point in Valle Vidal unit of the Carson National Forest, New Mexico.

Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Valle Vidal, (Valley of Life), New Mexico.

Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Valle Vidal, New Mexico — Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal, New Mexico.

As always, thanks for looking and all your comments and compliments. G

Rio Hondo, Columbines, Twining, New Mexico

Geraint July 18, 2019 No Comments

Rio Hondo, Columbines, Twining, New Mexico. On a photo tour/workshop hike along the Williams Lake Trail in Taos Ski Valley. The trail makes it’s way through the pines with views of the Rio Hondo. The cool air and freezing mountain run off in the river makes for a very pleasant photography trip. iPhone only on this one. Join me! Thanks for looking. G

Columbine, Waterfall, Taos Ski Valley

Geraint July 15, 2019 2 Comments

Columbine, waterfall, Taos Ski Valley. We made a trip to Taos Ski Valley today suspecting that the columbine would be blooming. They were, gorgeous and pristine. There were many other wild flowers, indian paintbrush, daisies, shooting stars, and lots of water in the Rio Hondo. Temperatures were 15 degrees cooler in the mountains. Nice. Thanks for looking. G

Nature’s Fireworks In The Woods

Geraint July 4, 2018 No Comments

Natures fireworks in the woods on the Gavilan Trail, Taos Ski Valley. The only kind of fireworks I want to see tonight in this very dry neighborhood. Happy Independence Day. Thanks for looking. G

Granite Fall Color, Taos Ski Valley

Geraint September 16, 2017 3 Comments

Granite Fall Color. While the aspens and cottonwoods in the high country and Taos Valley are only hinting at fall, the more intimate locations like this crevice in the granite, on the road to Taos Ski Valley, were showing more signs of color and what’s to come. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Taos Ski Valley