After 20 years I returned to the Grand Canyon to find quite a different landscape. In March 2000 there was only patchy snow/ice along the south rim, and as I hiked all the way down via the Kaibab Trail to the Colorado River, the temperature actually increased as I descended. Visiting now in December 2019, the winter season presented Grand Canyon views dominated by white. Snow blanketed all the trails, viewpoints, and even the walls of the canyon itself. In fact snow was all I could see at first because the entire canyon was filled with clouds, or mist, or cotton candy for all I could tell. Finally, after several hours the clouds lifted and the Grand Canyon in its winter colors were revealed!
Getting a new rural land real estate shoot in El Morro is extra special to me because it is one of my favorite places to visit in New Mexico. Once off of I-40, you seem to leave the modern world behind and escape to this hidden hamlet via Ice Caves Road. El Morro is home to the best bagel in New Mexico, in addition to a national monument. These views are from a 20-acre property that has no cell phone signal. I spent over 2.5 hours off the grid and it was fantastic.
This was my second time seeing a tarantula in New Mexico, and my third time overall seeing one in the wild (the first was in Malaysian Borneo). In the same area where I photographed this mule deer, the day started with a big spider encounter. I know I was certainly surprised to learn that there are tarantulas in New Mexico, and I was reminded of this meeting this fellow in a remote area of Ramah some 11 miles down dirt road. Have you seen a tarantula in New Mexico or elsewhere in the wild?
Where is Regina, New Mexico? It is tucked away on a small country road that eventually becomes 16 miles of dirt road that ends at a lake. It is one of my favorite areas of New Mexico. I returned there to photograph a rural land real estate property for Hemingway Land just in time to get these blue skies and scenic clouds as the forecast for the rest of the week there called for rain and snow! If you would like to own these views for real, check out the property listing. If you’d just like to see these views from your desk or sofa, use the buttons below to get a fine art print.
I am often out in very remote areas from late afternoon until sunset and into twilight times here in New Mexico. I love to photograph wildlife, but despite so much time out in nature, I very rarely have the opportunity to photograph large animals, like the mule deer seen here (learn about mule deer). This is in part because when I am done shooting a piece of rural land real estate, I pack up both cameras into a backpack in the back of my Jeep. So if I do happen to see a deer, or other animal, I have to stop, get out, and then get my camera ready. This always results in the animals taking off never to be seen again.
Driving back from a long afternoon of rural land real estate photography and drone flying down the very scenic Bluewater Road, with the interstate nearly in sight, these pale horses caught the corner of my eye. I have an axiom that a real photographer never passes up a chance to get a shot. So even though I was tired and had a long 2-hour drive still ahead of me to get home, I pulled my Jeep over and went back into my camera bag to take out the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master lens to make a few photos of these horses. I approached slowly, as I always do to animals to let them know I am a friend and just want to share space with them for a moment. The horse in the top photo seemed to understand this as it obliged me by lifting its head up so I could get the shot you see.
If you have never driven down Southern Blvd in Rio Rancho, New Mexico all the way west until it becomes a dirt road, then may I suggest taking a little road trip so you can be treated to views of the Sandia Mountains from the open desert.
