Nature & Wildlife
Revisiting photos I took at the Santa Fe Ski Resort as part of a car show with the BMW Car Club from the last day of summer last year, I found this landscape photo I had not yet shared. This area is where the ski lift would drop you off at in snowier times, but I hiked up to this viewpoint in the pleasant afternoon sunshine. Would you think this was a photo taken in a mostly desert state? Santa Fe is its own island world in New Mexico.
Read MoreIt 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.
Read MoreLooking for an interesting place to go off-roading with a specific destination during my Florida friends visit in December, searching Google Maps I found these rock formations called the Toadstool Hoodoos far west of Rio Rancho in the desert area I often do rural land real estate shoots. The toadstools were further west than even I had been before, so it would be a new adventure for me. We all got in the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk and set out not knowing what to expect. Using Google Maps as a guide, it was stop and start to find the best road in, with some warning signs that might defeat less bold explorers. In the end, we made it to these rock formations just before sunset and there was no one around for miles and miles. I was able to treat my friends to a real New Mexico True desert exploring experience!
Read MoreEvery time I go up into the foothills of the Sandia Mountains I think the same thing, I need to come here more. There are so many different trails to approach the Sandias from that it will take you quite a long time to exhaust them all. Like this time, I found this rock wall that was great for bouldering and general climbing and exploring. It was even dog accessible! If you have not gone out to the foothills of the Sandias in a while, take some time this weekend to get a very different view of Albuquerque.
Read MoreA random stop lead to exploring the Sonoran Desert in Tucson, Arizona for the first time. When most imagine what a cactus looks like, they picture a saguaro standing tall with its arms out. This section of desert had on display a wide variety of odd, tall, and even dying saguaro cacti. I was impressed by the size and boldness of a saguaro standing naked in the desert. Knowing they do not start to grow their first arm until age 70 really puts the longevity of these desert flora into perspective, especially when you see one with 4 or 5+ arms.
Read MoreBack in Deming, New Mexico exploring both east and west of the Florida Mountains out on a rural land real estate photography shoot for Hemingway Land Company, my Jeep Renegade Trailhawk took me miles off road dodging tumbleweeds and avoiding thorny bushes. In a total of 6 hours in the desert over two days, I saw no human, just a few jack rabbits and a coyote. It was great! It was definitely a New Mexico True experience.
Read MoreHidden on the back of a mesa in Sedona, Arizona, the Devil’s Bridge is a stunning rock formation with a long line of people waiting to take a photo on it. There is a long way and a less long way to reach the Devil’s Bridge in the first place. Having a Jeep Renegade Trailhawk allowed us to take the less long way, as a mile of very, very rough road was bouncily traversed in the Jeep. After the still not insignificant hike to the back of the mesa, I think I noticed the long line of people before actually noticing the Devil’s Bridge itself! How does something like this naturally occur? It’s just another wonder of Nature. One cannot actually cross the bridge as it would take a hardly leap to get back to the side of the mesa, which I contemplated doing, but with much of it still snow and ice covered, that is something only possible in the summer. I did not wait in the line to stand on the bridge, but you can see Jessica in the top photo standing out on the Devil’s Bridge. As you can see, the red rock view’s from the bridge are not bad at all either!
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