Fine Art Images from the American Southwest
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Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. I hope everyone had a great week. This week is a short post with a few photos from the beautiful Valle Vidal, (Valley of Life), NM.
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See more images from the Valle Vidal. And read more here.
As always, thanks for visiting and spending time here each week. I really appreciate you. Have a great week. G.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week, Comanche Point in the Valle Vidal, Valley of Life. I spent a couple of days on a photo tour workshop with two talented photographers in the high country of northern New Mexico.
Here are a few views of Comanche Point at the confluence of the Rio Costilla and Comanche Creek. This area is always gratifying with stunning light and beauty.
On the return trip, two hours later, the clouds in the pictures produced rain and sleet. The temperatures dropped from 76ºF down to 46ºF. I was happy to have a down vest.
The Valle Vidal is a favorite location and never disappoints, always yielding great photo opportunities.
Here are some images from previous trips. Join me on a photo trek in this area, you will be amazed.
And the road that leads to this area is no less spectacular.
Here’s a video of a Muskrat at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal from a few years ago.
This week’s “print of the week” is from another valley, “Valley of the Gods”, Utah.
As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G
Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. This week features a few images that highlight what we saw during a three-day photography workshop, this time with Scott a talented photographer from Houston. His enthusiasm inspired me. I think I inspired him.
Our last day was spent in the mountains. If you follow me or have taken a photography workshop with me you might recall this place, Comanche Point in the Valle Vidal, (Valley of Life). It’s looking a lot like fall up there. It won’t be long till the aspens turn color. In fact, it’s already begun.
We spent a couple of hours at our first stop in Ojo Caliente, working at this location and looking for an interesting composition. This is what I came up with on this trip. I look forward to seeing Scott’s interpretation. Here’s one from a visit last year.
The Rio Grande Gorge is home to many bighorn sheep. Every now and again a ram will pop up when you least expect it, and strike up a pose where you would want it. In this case up high against a blue New Mexico sky.
Restoration, repairing, and mudding are underway at the San José de Las Trampas church on the high road to Taos. The doorway arch has been replicated to an early look. The big doors were closed for weather sealing which allowed me to shoot a new angle. Usually, the doors are staked open which often provides a nice framing element.
At first glance, the scaffolding looked interesting and I had an idea to make a documentary image. Then the sun came out from behind a cloud and added shadows to the scene. Fortuitous.
The partially closed doors created a different look at one of the belfries.
Closing this week’s post is the harvest moon, shot from the deck as it rose over our mountains.
As always, thanks for looking. G
An American Kestrel juxtaposed with a sign in a drive-by shooting!
It’s the “Summer of Love” in the world of dragonflies (I think they are dragonflies) at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal, NM. There were thousands of them cavorting with one thing on their minds! Addendum, thanks to my friend Larry, these are Damselflies. There were dragonflies too!
Some color on a porch deck in Madrid, NM
The church of San Rafael in La Cueva with blue sky and the coral tones of Negrita (Desert Globe-mallow).
Last but not least, if you’ll indulge me one more time, wild iris and mountain Golden Pea in a meadow in the Valle Vidal.
As always, thank you for looking. G
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.
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.
As always, thanks for looking and all your comments and compliments. G
It’s been a fun three weeks of photo tours and workshops. I get a break next week and head out again shortly after. Thanks to all those who have joined me. I have dates open through the rest of the year and beyond if you are interested in a one-on-one photography experience.
I shot this short video of one of the few Muskrats we watched in the Valle Vidal (Valley of Life) last summer. Looking forward to getting back to the high country this summer on extended photography trips and some relaxation.
Thanks for looking. Keep staying well and healthy. Geraint
Song Sparrow along Comanche Creek (yesterday’s photo) in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. Singing it loud and clear. He certainly got my attention, his song echoing off the canyon walls and hills, accompanied by the babbling brook. Thanks for looking. G
Comanche Creek in the Valle Vidal, Valley Of Life, New Mexico. Peaceful locations in the high country of our most beautiful state and I’m told, also some of the best fishing. Temperatures drop 20ºF degrees at this point making a nice change from the heat of the plains. Thanks for looking. G
Pine Siskin at the Shuree Ponds in the Valle Vidal, NM. A pleasant little bird and fun to watch during it’s foraging activities, hopping from tree to bush and back to tree again. It has a penchant for hanging upside down, feeding on thistle and fall sunflowers husks. Thanks for looking. G
Muskrat at the Shuree Ponds, in the Valle Vidal, NM. One of the critters from yesterday’s list, masticates it’s meal of pond salad. There was ample opportunity for photographs and video as it made 5 trips to the bottom and back to the log. It was unperturbed by our presence and kept on about the business of eating. At first we thought it was a young beaver, until we saw it’s tail. It worked those claws with dexterity to perfection. Thanks for looking. G
