Greetings from New Mexico! This week, early morning mountain clouds and snow on the peaks, accompanied by a moonrise. I’m eagerly anticipating an almost full moonrise tonight, followed by a full moonrise tomorrow. It should be spectacular against the backdrop of snow-covered peaks. However, more snow is forecast, and the skies might be overcast. We’ll see how it turns out!
Last weekend saw us at the Zapata Falls campground for what turned out to be a frigidly cold night on the mountain. Fortunately, the visit to the falls made up for it. I’ve not visited the falls before, it was well worth it, and I can recommend it. Join me next winter, and I’ll take you there. Be sure to bring your crampons or your own Husky! My good friend John did just that.
Zapata Ice Falls, Colorado, the way in!
Zapata falls, Colorado, looking up!
Zapata Ice Falls, Colorado.
Yours truly at Zapata Falls, photo by my friend, John Williams.
Kiki (Johns huskey) at Zapata falls, Colorado.
The way out. Easy does it at Zapata falls, Colorado.
Fifty miles to the west of the falls is the Monte Vista NWR, where the Sandhill Cranes were present in the thousands. I hope to post a video next week. I have to say that the Sandhill Cranes, coming in for a landing, look like amateur flyers, and all flaps down!
Sandhill Cranes, over the Rocky Mountains, Monte Vista NWR, Colorado.
The sunset views from the Zapata Falls campground and parking area are incredible, as you can see in the photo below. The peaks from left to right are Challenger Point, Kit Carson Mountain, Columbia Point, Crestone Peak, and Crestone Needle. The dune field in the foreground is in continuous flux. If you feel like climbing the dunes, you will gain approximately 750 feet elevation. One step forward, two steps back, but you’ll get there! And running down is a lot of fun!
Sunset on the Rocky Mountains and Great Sand Dunes NP, Colorado.
The Full “Worm Moon,” the “Sap Moon,” or “Crow Moon,” didn’t disappoint. The clouds thinned out in time, and the moon illuminated the night, keeping us awake, beaming through the windows as it traversed the night sky.
Full “Worm Moon” rising over Vallecito Mountain, Taos, NM.
Full “Worm Moon” rising over the foothills, San Cristobal, NM.
It had snowed on the peaks a couple of weeks ago. The storm went on for most of the day, but as is usually the case the clouds linger as the storm clears, and the sun peeps through the cracks wherever it can. I made a short drive south to see what the potential might be for a photo. It was a subtle light that illuminated the trees and rocks of Vallecito (little valley). I made the second image a close-up shot (double click on the image to expand and see the detail) …and the third image… well what can I say? The sun had its day with the mountain peak.
Vallecito Mountain Peak, New Mexico
Close up of the detail on Vallecito Mountain Peak, New Mexico
Sunset on Vallecito Mountain Peak, New Mexico
I made the image below this past summer and decided to prin it. It’s much more dramatic in color, so much so that the color will never see the light of day. I particularly liked the way the cloud appears to have been blown into position.
Black and white print depicting an area of Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.
Framed back and white print of Ghost Ranch New Mexico.
Framed print of Ghost Ranch hanging in a home setting.
Thank you to all who purchased a print of “Starry Night at the Saint Francis Church”, and the many other purchases this week. I’m grateful and appreciate all the support of my work.
Starry Night, Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos, NM
Last week was the full Wolf Moon. It has many other names such as “Canada Goose Moon”, “Greetings Moon”, and a favorite alternative of mine, “Frost Exploding Moon”. In this case, I’ll stick to calling it wolf moon as it is known around these parts. You can read more here. On the night before the actual full moon, I met up with my friend John and set up, with plenty of time to spare, in order to be ready. When the moon rose behind the Northern New Mexico, Vallecito Mountain the light was still a little pale and not so dramatic, so we headed east and closer to the mountains to catch it rising over the exact same peak. On the night before the actual full moon, the landscape is bathed in the light of the setting sun as the moon, discernibly full rises in the scene making for a well-balanced exposure. We made some nice images that evening.
Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain, Northern New Mexico.
The Wolf Moon, Vallecito Mountain with the community of Des Montes.
I wasn’t done with the Wolf Moon yet so the following morning I got up early and drove about thirty minutes north near the Colorado State Line to watch it set around Ute Mountain and across the plateau.
Ute Mountain tree with the Wolf Moon setting, Northern New Mexico.
Ute Mountain, Wolf Moon, and across the plateau to San Antonio Mountain.
Road to Ute Mountain with the Wolf Moon setting.
Wolf Moon across the plateau with the Sunshine Valley community.
Mountain moon rise, Vallecito Peak, and another view from last nights moon when it rose over the snow covered Sangre de Cristos. I’m familiar with this view and if you’ve followed my work you will probably recognize it too. Last night was more subtle than it sometimes is, but while we’re in this lock down situation I’ll take it. I don’t have to go very far for inspiration either, just a couple of miles down the road. Thanks for looking. G
Wind Whipping Snow, Vallecito Peak in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. It’s a beautiful mountain in all seasons. I think winter is my favorite season. It really defines the massiveness of the mountain and “corn woman” or “the weaver” defined by the trees in the center. It also looks like Olive Oyl, Popeye’s girl! Thanks for looking. G
Grand view of thanksgiving eve moon rising over Vallecito Peak, in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains. I wanted to share this grand view that we saw from the highway that runs north – south from where we live, across the mesa, toTaos. Here’s the image I posted from that day. This expansive scene captivated me upon a second review of the shots I made after I stitched these three images together. It’s a big, beautifully panorama of the mountains of northern New Mexico. Thanks for looking. G
Gorgeous moonrise over Vallecito Peak in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains. The moon rose over the subdued rosy hues of the snowy peak. It climbed slowly and deliberately, creeping inch by inch until it cleared the snow-capped peak. Finally it appeared to linger for a moment, and glimmered like a giant pearl, as it kissed the crest adieu. A beautiful end to a gorgeous day in New Mexico. Thanks for looking. G
Vallecito Peak snow or hail? July 27, 2018 too soon for snow? Then it must be hail, although in the past there has been snow in early August. Well it was gone by morning, but the best part, it was some much needed moisture. Thanks for looking. G
Full moon rise over Vallecito Peak in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico. That big beautiful moon yesterday. It is not hard to predict the moons point of rising. I’ve been doing this for many years. I look back through my archives for a particular month and from that I can pretty much pin point the spot, as in this case yesterday evening. For an unfamiliar location there are many apps available online. Thanks for looking. G
