Creative high desert rural land real estate photography in Socorro County New Mexico
To be a good rural land real estate photographer in New Mexico, one must be able to often make something out of nothing. Maybe there is a distant mountain or mesa, maybe there are good clouds, but the desert land itself, is often just dry grass and thorny bushes. I use these, for low angle shots and incorporate the dry grass into the foreground to make a more creative and eye catching photo of what otherwise would be just a flat, sparse landscape. Thankfully at this rural land photo shoot in Socorro County, New Mexico, the clouds were fantastic and the sunset pretty good to add some style to the photos.
Spending sunset time in the desert of New Mexico for real estate photography
Lately I’ve been to both Valencia County and Torrence County in New Mexico several times on rural land real estate photography shoots. This is an opportunity to go to an area that is usually pretty remote and quiet and just listen to the desert as the daytime shift gives way to the nighttime shift. Plus, if the clouds are right, the big sky sunsets make for great views.
Ladron Peak is 20 miles from anything in New Mexico desert
Driving further down dirt road than I nearly ever did before on a rural land shoot, I passed by Ladron Peak along the way to my actual destination. After nearly 20 miles on seldom traveled dirt road, I pulled over to send the drone up to capture views of Ladron Peak and the surrounding mesas. Even from the view of my DJI Mavic 3 Cine drone, I saw no one and nothing in this area. If you are looking for a remote mountain peak to hike, Ladron Peak is for you!
White Sands National Park outside of Alamogordo, New Mexico is easily the most photographed natural wonder for me in the state. I have had the opportunity to visit this amazing place three times in the past seven months alone. Each time I go the views and the sands are different. This time I did not have the chance to wonder very far to some little trod on area, but I made the best of this near parking lot location by looking even more for the dance between shadow and light and the sunset. As it has been since I got it last year, the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master lens is an absolute rock star at White Sands. Which of these views is your favorite this time?
Infinite Sand for Infinite Photographs at White Sands
There are some natural wonders that a photographer could live at and basically photograph for the rest of their life. Places like the Grand Canyon are obvious. For New Mexico, there may not be an immediate obvious choice, but to me. the obvious choice is White Sands. I have been there three times and each visit I found something the same, but different to photograph. Then there is the unique, open world construct of White Sands. There are no set paths you have to walk on, no established iconic photo of White Sands, which frees a photographer to wander and find their own iconic view of this expanse of white sand desert, distant mountains, and endless sky.
If you live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, you are living in a pretty unique geographical and topographical setting. To the east, the border is the Sandia Mountains. To the west, the Rio Grande River. Then just beyond the Rio, you will see a few short looking black tips in the desert. If you did not know it, they are actually volcanoes. So in less than 20 miles you have mountains, river, volcanoes. Can you name another place like that?
There was just enough light left as twilight was arriving to get a few photos of the amazing metal dinosaur sculptures of Rattlesnake Ranch in Benson, Arizona (see map below for directions). These near life-size dinosaurs, though rusting, show their personality, their ferociousness, and some their peaceful nature. For a dinosaur fan, this is a must see and worth going off of the interstate to find. I recommend going near sunset time to get the most out of their desert setting.
