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?
I often have opportunities to photograph the Sandia Mountains of New Mexico from unique viewpoints that no one else can get because I am on private property photographing the land for real estate clients. Add to that exclusivity for this series of photos the fact the land was in a more established neighborhood setting with a hilly topography and I was able to make a close-up photo of the mountains with some flora in the foreground. In another photo I got lucky and capture a flock of birds flying by. Then of course hovering right over the mountaintops were some dramatic clouds to add that still little bit extra to make these some of my favorite photos of the Sandias yet.
Angel Fire, New Mexico is famous for being a winter destination. However, even at the end of April snow still dusts the mountain peaks adding to the drama of dusk. Staying at an Airbnb (Covid-19 safe) condo with amazing views right off the back patio, even though I had already been shooting for hours that day for a rural land real estate client, I got my camera back out to capture the last twilight light of this spectacular spring sky. Here at Jason Collin Photography, after this spring sky show, Angel Fire became my favorite place in New Mexico.
During a marathon day of shooting 25 rural land real estate properties for Hemingway Land Company in the desert off of Highway 60 in Socorro County, New Mexico, at one point along the open desert road I stopped my Jeep to look at the view. The desert Road seemed to go on together until it merely became a vanishing point at the base of a distant mountain. From time to time you will find on Jason Collin Photography I write about the Road in poetic terms. Usually it is paved. However, if one wants to really, really take the Road less traveled, then these tracks through the New Mexico desert can take you down a path with an unknown ending, which is the best kind.
Cold Winter Sunrise at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
The first day in the Grand Canyon was mostly covered in clouds overhead and fog within the canyon. Up early the next day for the sunrise I was worried it would be for nought, but the canyon was clear of fog and the clouds opened up to let some light in to highlight this natural wonder. It was very, very cold standing on the snow of the South Rime despite sunset coming relatively late after 7am on December 28th. I could not see the actual sunrise directly from this point on the South Rim, but I was still pleased to have several vantage points of the canyon and the opportunity to use foreground tree framing and clear shots into the canyon itself.
Ideal clouds for rural land real estate photography in New Mexico
On another rural land real estate photography assignment in Socorro County New Mexico for Hemingway Land, the clouds were finally close to ideal! It was a long 8-mile drive down dirt roads to reach this property, which is already in a remote area west of the town of Belen. I actually know this area very, very well having photographed at least 10 properties in this general area before, but never quite this far south. With that much dirt road to reach the property and that far from where I have been previously, it always makes me nervous about what the actual road conditions will be, or if someone will have put up a gate! Fortunately, this was as smooth as a rural land real estate shoot gets and I had time enjoy the views in between getting these fantastic photos for the client, which is my aim for each and every client of Jason Collin Photography.
It was my pleasure to return to one of my favorite places in New Mexico this week, El Morro. I was on another assignment for Hemingway Land which took me past El Morro National Monument itself, to a very remote area 6+ miles down dirt roads. I chased clouds with my Sony a7R IV as soon as I arrived. By sunset time, only a very few lingered for me to frame for the final shots of the day. El Morro is a very special place I recommend visiting if you have never been before.