Colorado mountain driving is fantastic
A recent visit to Colorado did not go exactly as planned, but we were still able to take in some views on the famed Million Dollar Highway that is north of Silverton. What a fantastic driving road with views that go on for miles. At least in the summer, there are no lack of amazing mountain towns to visit in a sports car to take advantage of all the sweepers, hairpins, and twisties on the roads in between all nestled in stunning setting after stunning setting.
Read MoreJumping into the Blue Hole of Santa Rosa
Waking up Saturday morning and not wanting to spend a hot weekend in Albuquerque just sweltering, I headed to Santa Rosa with intentions of swimming in the natural spring they have there, called the Blue Hole. I actually first saw the Blue Hole five years ago, but returning from a 2 month road trip, I just wanted to make it back to ABQ dry. This time I was ready with swimsuit on from leaving the house! However, it was overwhelmingly busy upon first arrival, but after 5pm there were only a few people left and I finally had my chance to make the jump. People of all ages were jumping in, including kids, and I am a very strong and confident swimmer. Nevertheless, upon standing on the rocky overhang, which of course looked much higher up once actually on it than it did from the angle you see above where I took the photo, I felt a bit of hesitation. It is definitely not nothing jumping in from up there! I jumped in feet first and the 61F felt refreshing as I made my way back up to the surface then swam to the steps.
Read MoreWorking outside in for professional apartment photography in Albuquerque
Professional commercial real estate photography for apartment complexes in Albuquerque involves both indoor and outdoor shooting. As I made my way around Rock Creek Apartments, it is my preference to get the outdoor photos done first, as you never know when the weather can change. Once done with the exterior photos, I move on to the interiors based on what spaces are open at present and likely to get busy sooner rather than later. Plus, the leasing office slash community space had by far the most visual appeal for photographs, so this is where I spent most of my time. Ironically, photographing the interior of the empty apartment units was actually the least time consuming portion of the shoot! Thank you to the team at Rock Creek Apartments for escorting me around!
Read MoreA lake almost to oneself in the desert
Though relatively nearby to Albuquerque, Cochiti Lake is not a place I have often visited, but almost on a whim made a return visit to recently. It was to the less used Tetilla Peak area where most of the time there, it felt like having the lake to oneself. This area did only just open up for the season the day before so that probably helped too! Is this a beautiful lake? No, not at all, especially since it only exists because of a dam. However, there are not many bodies of water in New Mexico, and if you go at the right time and to the right spot, it can feel like a small escape from the desert.
Read MoreSwinging by the Grand Canyon one afternoon
On a recent trip to Arizona for rural land real estate work, it turned out for one part of it I was only about 1 hour away from the Grand Canyon, so if one can do such a thing, I swung by the Grand Canyon for an afternoon stroll and made these panorama photos of the canyon in less than ideal light, but at least a few clouds swooped in to help add some drama.
Read MoreIn Tucson pack shorts and a snow suit!
When you visit Tucson, Arizona, you have the opportunity on the same day, to walk among a forest of saguaro cactus in the desert and snow covered pine trees atop a mountain peak. Tucson is definitely more famous for its cactus, but Mount Lemmon is a fantastic change of scenery to have just a short drive from town. If you time the drive just right, you can arrive at the peak (or rather near it, as there is no defined peak you can actually drive to) in time to see the sunset over the sweeping valley and smaller peaks below. This means when visiting Tucson you can pack both your shorts and your snow pants and use them on the same day!
Read MoreFool gets a lake named after him in Show Low
Whenever I am out of town, or in this case out of state, on extended rural land real estate shoots, despite being very busy, I always try and visit some local point of interest. So while in Show Low, Arizona for three days, I fortunately had time one morning to take a stroll around Fool Hollow Lake. The fool part of the name comes from a settler in the 1880s thinking he could farm the rocky ground surrounding the lake area. As it is today, it’s a peaceful place to walk among pine trees with changing views of the lake as you circumnavigate it.
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