One of my favorite areas to visit in New Mexico is a very small town in San Juan County called Navajo Dam, which is home to the second largest lake in the state, Navajo Lake. I have been here many times, but this was the first time to find myself on a road on the southern shore of the lake allowing me to make photos with a much different view of the lake and dam and in the distance, the San Juan River also. This was the first time I found myself driving across the top of the dam which is very high up and steep, and with no guard rails! There are stunning views on both sides of the dam, but as the driver you definitely have to stay focused!
I have now been to Navajo Dam more times than any other place in New Mexico for my rural land photography and drone video work, that is an overnight drive away from Albuquerque. In the first 6 months of 2019, I have been there 4 times already! At the end of my most recent trip, due to the land of the property being behind a hill and thus sunset coming earlier to it, I was able to leave the property in time to my surprise with the actual sunset still visible some 10 minutes down the road where you can see a large expanse of Navajo Dam Lake and the marina itself too. A real photographer never passes by a chance to stop and make a photo, so even thought I was tired, and all my photo gear and tripod were well put away, I got my Nikon out and hustled to the road’s edge to make theses New Mexico True photos to share with you.
Navajo Dam Lake is probably my favorite area of New Mexico. This is my third trip to the area just this year and fifth overall. I have seen it in all seasons now. This trip was quite different however. I still went up to photograph and fly over a rural land real estate property. However, there was extra time and Jessica’s parents were on their way back from Monument Valley so we all met up at Abe’s Motel & Fly Shop (home of the best French toast in New Mexico) then rented a boat at the marina right on Navajo Dam Lake. I brought my drone with me out onto the boat and quickly realized flying from the actual moving object you are recording is quite a challenge! I would let the drone hover so I can frame the shot, but the boat kept moving, so you see me in the above video often looking at the control screen to make sure I am keeping the boat in frame and at the same time actually try and make the video a bit cinematic, even though this was just a fun video for family memories.
In my second trip to the Navajo Dam Lake area, I was able to fly my drone more over the lake itself and make aerial photos with my DJI Mavic Pro drone as well! The first time was only able to fly over the dam, this time I got to fly out over the lake, even very low and fast to the water! There is a surprisingly large marina at this lake, and not something one would expect to find in a land-locked, desert state that's for sure! A head's up though, if you are thinking of renting any kind of watercraft, be there early! Me and Jessica and the dogs were too late (even at 10am!) to get a boat, but that could not stop us from having fun!
