The fence at the top of the world

I spent the better part of two days at more than 10,000 feet photographing along the high road between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico. Highway 64, among the state's highest and most scenic rises 3,000 feet above the desert floor through classic ranchland and into Aspen forest. In late April two feet of fresh snow had fallen leaving a smooth, soft surface through which junipers and fence posts stood in stark contrast.

Plane Geometry

Driving south on Highway 285 just north of Antonito, Colorado I saw a corrugated building with late afternoon shadows that fell just so. The vertical seams of the aluminum siding and the fully black shadows created precise diagonals and striking geometric shapes.

Filigree

These shimmering, silvery leaves at El Charco Botannical Gardens in San Miguel de Allende intermingle with dozens of varieties of succulents and cacti in the high desert of Central Mexico.

Spider's Web

Electrical wiring in San Miguel de Allende is nothing if not creative as demonstrated by this elaborate bit of wizardry. This street light in our neighborhood, Colonia Obraje, glows against a dimming sky.

Sketches of Winter at Wilder Nightingale

During the second week of the New Year I was honored to join the fine roster of artists at the highly regarded Wilder Nightingale Gallery in Taos. This recent image called Fade to White is part of the growing Sketches of Winter series that is being featured at the gallery.

World View

Just north of the border in Colorado I encountered this lonely little building with a very big view. Across the broad San Luis Valley the Sangre de Cristo mountains rose large above the plains.

Blessing of the Horses

More than ten thousand faithful and curious attended the two day Blessing of the Horses in the village of San Martin thirty minutes south of San Miguel de Allende. A temporary city blossomed as hundreds of horses and riders rode across the Campo for a pilgrimage and celebration of all things equine. Dozens of food stalls purveying the likes of carnitas, barbacoa and tortas lined the pathways leading to San Martin's splendid square where riders, hat in hand, bowed before young Padres sprinkling holy water on them and their steeds.

Abuela

The shawl and checkered apron are traditional attire for older Mexican ladies from the Campo. This Dolores Hidalgo grandmother is crossing the square to church; a visit she makes every single day.

Two and Half Garretts

Some 25 years after his mother painted him as twins Garrett Immel is pictured in a reminiscent pose. A musician, make-up artist, guitar maker and all round good guy he makes his folks mighty proud.

Cerillos Curtains

The vilage of Cerillos just south of Santa Fe on New Mexico's Turquoise Trail is in a time warp. Though charming in a dissolute sort of way it also has a forboding subtext where you're not at all sure that you're welcome. This abstract of billowing curtains behind mesh and glass captures neither but appeals nonetheless.

Waves

Seeing southern Colorado's Great Sand Dunes in nautical terms seems to work. This image depicts the ever moving sand in an abstract form resembling waves or building surf.

Lines and Cleat

Just before embarking on the short hour voyage from Port Clyde to Monhegan Island, Maine this compelling still life caught my eye. The lines were gracefully looped around a cleat on the weathered dock as if intended for artistic purpose.

Peter's Fedora

On a long weekend of photographing in The Needles of South Dakota I had the chance to shoot rock climbers on the spectacular spires for which the area was named. On a couple of evenings we enjoyed the company of Sylvan Rocks guide Peter Lev. One day Peter and long time friend George Hurley put up a new route that they named Most Gruesome and rated 9 plus on the climber's scale of difficulty. After their first ascent George computed that 2008 is his 50th year on vertical rock. For Peter a scant 48. A doff of the hat to these young rascals.

Conservatory Dome

Built in the early 20th Century the Rose Hills Conservatory at Pasadena's Huntington Museum is a misty, fecund repository of exotic plants. The conservatory was remodelled to the tune of $1.75 million and re-opened in October 2005. The intricate lath and glass evoke turn of the century design and aesthetics.

Old 24-16

Trains, peeling paint and good design are a marvelous combination. The Mount Washington Scenic Railroad in North Conway, New Hampshire offers a treasure trove of worn and rusted locamotives, cars and cabooses.

Justin's Palette

Several years back I spent a week in Canyon de Chelly on a horseback painting trip where I was the sole photographer. One afternoon shortly after lunch our Navajo guide, Justin Tso, set up to paint and I caught this colorful still life of his tubes of oil paint and palette.

Found Art

On an exterior wall of a closed gallery in Rinconada just south of Taos I photographed these bedsprings displayed as some kind of artistic statement. I liked the design and was struck their strong graphic quality.

Salt Marsh

In early fall with evening light the salt grass in Moody Beach, Maine wove a sweeping, glowing pattern against the brackish water.

Leather Tough

Joe Graves is a real Mountain Man. Born and raised in Taos Joe is part cowboy, part miner and a big part craftsman. His buddy Lindsey says he can make anything and that he once carved his own false teeth out of wood and tied the things in with fishing line. Later he got real choppers in Mexico. Did I mention Joe's tough?

People in Places

For an exhausting week fifteen photographers explored the world of portrait lighting on location with the estimable Alan Thornton. In a rigorous, sometimes frustrating and ultimately exhilirating workshop Alan and his able assistants Kevin and Karen turned a bunch of natural light shooters into reasonable facsimiles of professional location photographers. Our best work was perfectly lit and startlingly rendered. I am transformed.