Basically by accident I ended up at Sandia Crest for the first time in 3+ years of living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have previously shared on Jason Collin Photography views from South Sandia Peak, which I earned by hiking all the way up there. For these views from North Sandia Peak, I have no sweat equity invested as I took the M3 up there. I was actually intending to go somewhere else in the East Mountains area, but found out it required a dirt road to reach that place, so I just continued along the paved road I was on and found it led right to the top the Sandia Mountains! This was also the first time I ever went to the top of a mountain without earning it by hiking up there. It was an odd feeling to enjoy a view that should have come after hours of effort. However, it was still a nice surprise and fortunately it was a clear day.
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.
Photo Tip: take just one lens with you to focus on one type of shot
When I go out with my camera for personal photography, I like to take just one lens with me so that I am really focused on making one type of photo. For a hike along the Tunnel Canyon trail in Tijeras, New Mexico, on my Sony a7 iii was the Sony 90mm f/2.8 G Macro lens. Before I left the house i was thinking what type of photos did I feel like taking that day, and despite possible being out in wide open space, having distant views, I was feeling getting close up, so I chose the macro lens. That said, there were not that many great macro subjects on the trail, but there were some large boulders with moss on them that caught my eye. The lighting was not the greatest, but the macro lens is about showing small details anyway and getting really shallow DoF.
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.
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.
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.
Looking 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 Truedesert exploring experience!