Costilla Creek, Rio Costilla Park, New Mexico

Geraint June 13, 2019 2 Comments

Costilla Creek, Rio Costilla Park, northern New Mexico. A beautiful day in the high country with two photographers. Morning in the San Luis Valley and an afternoon along Costilla Creek with rushing waters, alpine meadows of wild iris, mountain lakes and great company. Here’s a cell phone photo of Costilla Creek as it rushes headlong from the mountains, and into the Rio Grande. Thanks for looking. G

Bull Elk Watcher In The Woods

Geraint June 6, 2019 4 Comments

Bull Elk, watcher in the woods. Here’s the big fella from our trip to the mountains last Monday. He had two females in tow and was certainly intent on keeping us under his watchful eye. Life in the high country. Can’t seem to get enough of it. Thanks for looking. G

Aspen Groves In The Valle Vidal

Geraint June 5, 2019 No Comments

Aspen groves in the Valle Vidal. It’s greening up nicely in the high country. The snow on those distant peaks of the Wheeler Wilderness will likely be around for the rest of the summer. It could possibly still be there when it snows again in the fall. Thanks for looking. G

Rio Costilla Park, Northern New Mexico

Geraint June 4, 2019 2 Comments

Rio Costilla Park, Northern New Mexico. The Rio Costilla was flowing with gusto in the mountains yesterday. We caught the last light creeping up the rocks of the canyon walls, casting shadows and reflected light onto the river. If you get a chance to visit this area I highly recommend it. Or join me on a photo tour in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains this summer. Thanks for looking. G

Elk Cows, In The High Country

Geraint June 3, 2019 No Comments

Elk Cows, in the high country of New Mexico. In the Valle Vidal (Valley of Lifeagain today. We spent the afternoon and evening photographing the high alpine light. Because we stayed out past dinner time, we were fortunate to see so many elk. One bull with two cows emerged from the trees and crossed the road. They stared at us momentarily, then took off into a hillside of pines. Not long after, as twilight descended over the valley, we spotted a dozen cow elks, a number of them pregnant, grazing on the fresh shoots of grass along the creek. These three ladies came down the hillside, herded the others and ushered them into the trees. It was a beautiful drive home. Thanks for looking. G

Amalia, Northern New Mexico

Geraint May 23, 2019 2 Comments

Amalia, Northern New Mexico. On the road to the Valle Vidal we passed through the the village of Amalia in the Rio Costilla Valley. The clouds were playing chase, swirling in circles around the sun, casting intermittent, repeating shadow patterns across the landscape. It was fun for us to catch them too! Thanks for looking. G

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM

Geraint May 22, 2019 4 Comments

Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM. On a photo tour today in the Valle Vidal (Valley of Life) at Comanche Point where the Rio Costilla and Comanche Creek meet. The temps were in the low 30’s F. and the windchill ten degrees colder. Flocks of Cowbirds, Mountain Bluebirds, and Robins were in abundance, impervious to the snow and cold. By noon the snow was gone. The wind eased up by mid afternoon as we photographed hawks, wild horses and old homesteads in the San Luis Valley. By the end of day 6oº F felt positively tropical. Thanks for looking. G

Osprey, Rio Costilla Park, NM

Geraint October 8, 2018 4 Comments

Osprey, Rio Costilla Park, northern NM. I’ve seen this bird here a couple of times over the last few weeks. Today it played tag with us on the Rio Costilla. At one point we lost sight of it. As we drove west, scrutinizing the cliffs, the high sun suddenly cast this raptors shadow onto the sun roof, across the hood and down the road ahead of us. The game was back on. When we caught sight of it again it had alighted on a snag, just off camera in this shot. Soon thereafter, something other than us grabbed it’s attention, which was when I made this image. Thank you so much for your attention. G

High Country, Old Corral

Geraint August 8, 2018 4 Comments

High Country, Old Corral. I always like to stop here on trips to the Valle Vidal. To contemplate the past and to wonder about those who used this corral in it’s heyday. Today the lichen creeps along the containment rails and posts. It hasn’t corralled any cattle for many years. The cattle now roam freely on the surrounding hills. Thanks for looking. G

Indian Paintbrush In The High Country

Geraint August 6, 2018 2 Comments

Indian Paintbrush in the high country of the Valle Vidal (Valley of Life) in northern New Mexico. The wildflower is only about 2 to 3 inches tall this year. Beautiful and exquisite all the same. Had to get a ground level view in this case. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Valle Vidal