New Mexico Whiptail Lizard

Dawson New Mexico Ghost Town Cemetery in black and white

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Dawson New Mexico Ghost Town Cemetery in black and white

Ghost Town becomes a Cemetery in Dawson New Mexico

There are very remote places in New Mexico, and there are very small towns in New Mexico, many of which I have featured here on Jason Collin Photography. However, when you have a town miles from anywhere, that requires you to then drive miles down a dirt road, and the only thing in your ghost town is a cemetery full of victims for tragic mining accidents, it is hard to get more remote than that! Such is Dawson, New Mexico, a ghost town with a historic cemetery and that it all. Though remote, It is worth making the drive to if you are in nearby Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, or Cimarron. With various types of graves, tombstones, and historical information, I was surprised to find something like this at the end of the road. Read more about this ghost town on Atlas Obscura and check out the map below to visit this place for yourself!

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New Mexico Whiptail Lizard in Valley of Fires

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New Mexico Whiptail Lizard in Valley of Fires

A whiptail lizard friend among lava

I met this new friend in the Valley of Fires.  It was hanging out on a metal grill by a picnic table (see photo below).  I only now learned it is a New Mexico whiptail lizard.  Let's just say the lizard was female for convenience sake.  She was on the aforementioned metal grill first, which is not the best backdrop to photograph a wild creature on.  I got a few quick shots though because I wanted to fly my drone over the lava fields.  When I was done flying, the lizard had moved onto to some twigs -- a much better background!  I was using my new Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Macro lens for the latter shots, which can focus less than a foot away from a subject.  I just kept getting closer and closer to the lizard, and she did not move at all!  Thank you friendly whiptail for hanging out and letting me make your portrait!

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