Astrophotography / Night Photography

Lightning

Mother Nature put on a show with this thunderstorm outside Roswell, NM. The sheer power is stunning.

Taiban Church Under the Stars

The abandoned Taiban Church under the stars. It was built in 1908 and the last sermon was held in 1936.

Taiban Church Under the Stars

The abandoned Taiban Church under the stars. It was built in 1908 and the last sermon was held in 1936.

Taiban Church under the Stars

The abandoned church in Taiban under the stars. A flash of lightning in the distance is seen through the open window. Built in 1908 and the last sermon was held in 1936.

Only in New Mexico

Only in New Mexico do you find signs like this on rural highways. And yes, the sign is real. Remember - we are not alone.

Santuario de Chimayo at Christmas

The Santuario de Chimayo is considered one of the holiest places in North America. It was built in 1810 and during the Christmas season they place the luminaries outside.

Sears House under the Milky Way

A nearly 100 year old abandoned Sears House (yes, you used to be able to buy a house from Sears and assemble it yourself) underneath the Milky Way.

Monsoon Lightning

Nice monsoon storm outside of Albuquerque, NM, Aug '18.

NM Storm

A lightning storm between Albuquerque and Bernalillo New Mexico.

Gateway to the Stars

A ranch gate outlines Cabezon Peak which rises almost 1100' above the ground in the NM desert as the Milky Way shines above.

The Alien Throne

The Alien Throne in the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness of New Mexico. The landscape here appears to be something from a sci-fi movie set.

Bisti Hoodoos

More Hoodoos in the Bisti Badlands (also known as the De-Na-Zin Wilderness) in New Mexico. The clouds weren't cooperating as they were hiding the stars.

The Alien Throne

The Alien Throne in the Bisti Badlands of New Mexico. The landscape here looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. The clouds were covering up the stars this evening but I still like how this pic turned out.

Exploration

Exploring an alien world one never knows what they will find... This is actually Earth. The Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness in New Mexico looks like the surface of another planet. Thank you to my friend in the astronaut suit, and yes - the skeleton is real and was already out there.

Full Moon Crossing

The Full Moon rising over a lonely railroad crossing in the New Mexico desert.

Christ in the Desert Chapel & the Milky Way

The chapel at the Christ in the Desert Monastery shines under the Milky Way.

Christ in the Desert Monastery

This monastery in a remote section of Northern New Mexico is one of the most beautiful chapels I have ever seen. It is even more gorgeous under a clear New Mexico night sky.

Trestle Bridge and Milky Way

Staring up through the old Hwy 60 Rio Puerco Bridge in rural New Mexico at the Milky Way.

Lightning Storm

Another shot from the monsoon storm outside Roswell, NM.

Lightning Bolt

Monsoon Storm outside of Roswell, NM.

Monsoon Storm

Another shot from this monsoon storm outside of Roswell, NM.

Lightning Storm

Monsoon storm outside Roswell, New Mexico.

The King of Wings

“There’s as many atoms in a single molecule of your DNA as there are stars in the typical galaxy. We are, each of us, a little universe.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos The King of Wings is a rock formation found in the Valley of Dreams (Navajo name - Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah). It seems to defy gravity in this landscape that appears to be on a distant planet.

We Are Not Alone

"Given the millions and billions of Earth-like planets, life elsewhere in the Universe without a doubt , does exist. In the vastness of the Universe we are not alone." - Albert Einstein Single shot taken at the Very Large Array in New Mexico.

Saguaro and the Stars

A lonely saguaro cactus stands tall and proud underneath the Milky Way in Arizona outside Phoenix.

Yucca and Full Moon 2

The Full Moon has now risen over the mountains on the horizon and darkness has settled over White Sands National Monument in NM.

Moon Rise

The moon rises over the Sandia Mountains and casts a reflection across the Rio Grande.

Lights Among the Ruins

Luminarias (farolitos) light up the Jemez Historic Site ruins. The Jemez National Historic Landmark is one of the most beautiful prehistoric and historic sites in the Southwest. It includes the stone ruins of a 500 year old Indian village and the San José de los Jemez church dating to 1621. In the 17th century, the Spanish established a Catholic mission at the village. The mission was short-lived, and, in time, the people abandoned the site and moved to the current location of Jemez Pueblo. The massive stonewalls were constructed about the same time the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. A luminaria or farolito is a small paper lantern (commonly a candle set in some sand inside a paper bag) which is of significance in the US state of New Mexico in southwest United States at Christmas time, especially on Christmas Eve. They are said to light the way for the Christ Child.

Camping Under the Stars

Camping under the stars at White Sands National Monument.

The Tree

A tree stands for decades but the stars are almost eternal.

July Monsoon Storm over the Rio Grande 1

A July '19 monsoon storm over the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, NM. Nature can put on a great show!

July Monsoon Storm over the Rio Grande 2

July '19 monsoon storm over the Rio Grander River in Albuquerque, NM. Mother Nature putting on a show.

St. Anne Mission

This is the St Anne Mission Church in Acomita New Mexico which is on the Acoma Reservation. It was built in 1699.

No Trespassing

Another shot of the almost 100 yr old abandoned Sears House under the Milky Way. No Trespassing!

Milky Way Express

A locomotive sits underneath the night sky in Eldorado, New Mexico.

The Windmill

A lonely windmill stands underneath the night sky in the Galisteo Basin in New Mexico. Lots of clouds that evening but some stars were shining through.

Pump Jack

A pump jack pumps oil in the Permian Basin. With so many clouds that evening I didn't think I'd get any good star shots but the clouds reflected the nearby town lights and made for an interesting effect and parted just enough to show the core of the Milky Way.

Harvest Moon

The Harvest Moon from October 2017.

Ferris Wheel

A Ferris wheel at a local carnival spins in the night. Long Exposure shot.

Santuario de Chimayo at Christmas

Another shot of the Santuario de Chimayo, built in 1810, at Christmas.

Pink Super Moon April '20

The Pink Super Moon rising over the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, NM.

Sparks

A dazzling display of sparks and a light bulb.

Comet Neowise

"By being seldom seen, I could not stir But like a comet I was wondered at." - William Shakespeare. Comet Neowise over the badlands in New Mexico. This pic was taken July 19, 2020, the comet won't return for about 6,800 years.

The Alien Throne

Another shot of The Alien Throne in the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness of New Mexico under the Milky Way. Taken July 2020.

Sunset Over the Alien Throne

Appearing to be on another planet the sun sets over the Alien Throne formation in the New Mexico badlands.

Lightning at the Very Large Array

The VLA is a system of radio telescopes in the New Mexico desert used to look into deep space. Each telescope dish is 82' in diameter (to give you some sense of size in the pic). It was raining very hard during this pic and I was just about ready to give up for fear of the camera getting too wet.

Prada - Marfa, Tx

A lonely Prada store underneath the night sky in the Texas desert. Prada Marfa is a permanent sculptural art installation by artists Elmgreen and Dragset, located just off U.S. Highway 90, and about 26 miles northwest of the city of Marfa.

Full Crow Moon and Hoodoo

This hoodoo bears a striking resemblance to a came's head. The Full Crow Moon stopped by for a visit as well.