Newsletter
#2 April 25th 2010
In this
newsletter:
Coyote Watches - Fine art print.
Coyote Encounter - A photo story.
Raptors of New Mexico - Published by UNM Press
ArtShare for the land a continuing show at the Taos Inn.Greetings from
Taos, New Mexico.
Greetings from Taos,
New Mexico.
Coyote
Watches
© Geraint Smith 2006
"Coyote Watches", an archival print from my Taos, NM Photography
Studio.
A captured moment on a evening drive to a familiar photo location south
of Taos.
Exhibition quality, signed, unframed prints are available in five sizes
using archival papers and inks.
8.5" x 11" $85.00
11” x 16” $135.00
13” x 19” $165.00
17” x 22” $225.00
20" x 30" $475.00
FREE shipping.
To order this print please go to Coyote
Watches or call my Taos Studio at 575-758-8563
A Coyote
Encounter, The story behind 'Coyote Watches'
When I’m heading out on a trip photographing, whether it is for
a week, a day, or a few hours, I would build up some expectations of
some of the things I might see. I would expect to see animals when planning
a trip to a wildlife refuge. A drive along the Rio Grande would no doubt
deliver sightings of waterfowl. Returning to a favorite viewpoint I
might be rewarded with a fabulous sunset and some new imagery for my
portfolio. With my many years of experience I continue to be surprised
when my expectations and destinations are hijacked by an arresting ‘photo
op’! Some times I never actually make it to my original destination.
I decided to go for an evening drive under a slightly overcast sky.
The sun had already set and the light levels were low. The reason for
the drive was to possibly make some sense of the news I had received,
that doctors had discovered that my children’s mom had pancreatic
cancer. The drive was slow and thoughts confusing. The thought furthest
from my mind on this evening was of taking photos. I parked the car
at the Rio Grande Gorge overlook with the lone tree (a favorite vista
south of Taos). I contemplated the news and the general notion that
pancreatic cancer can move very quickly through the body. In the waning
light over the gorge, I was lost on my thoughts, I couldn’t conceive
of the changes that would be coming my way. I stayed in the car and
watched the scene before me for some time. The wind had picked up and
seemed like a comforting companion. I was stirred when a truck drove
past so I decided to make the drive home. I started the car and made
a u-turn, wheeled around to take one last look at the lone tree and
pulled onto the highway.
The word came out very loud and clear in my car “Coyote”!
Crossing the highway right before me, with its familiar lope, was an
incredibly handsome coyote with a full winter coat moving through it’s
own wake in the wind. I pulled over and watched as the animal went effortlessly
about its business foraging in the grass and chamisa bushes beside of
the road.
I found that my camera (a Canon 20D with a 70 – 200 mm f2.8 lens)
was instinctively in my hand. I raised it to my eye and looked for the
composition. The scene was ‘on’ … it was as if the
coyote had come into the studio for a sitting. My first grab shot was
at 100/ sec at f2.8 400 ISO. I was able to increase the exposure settings
(slightly underexposing the shot) to 250 sec at f3.2 800 ISO. The light
was getting quite dim at this point and I kept taking photos of the
animal doing its thing in the bushes and the wind. Something caught
the coyote’s interest and it suddenly stood to full attention
and watched. As I watched, it had positioned itself perfectly in front
of the large chamisa bush and I took the resulting image above. Sometimes
people ask me if it is a painting when they look at the print. The quality
of light, timing and the camera settings make this one of the most memorable
images for me. It not only captures a moment but connects me to a moment
of change in my life.
Raptors
of New Mexico
New book containing
numerous images of mine of Raptors of New Mexico including the cover
a Red Tailed Hawk and an inset shot of a Northern Pygmy Owl. University
of New Mexico Press (Publication date - August 16, 2010)
Jean-Luc Cartron (M.D., 1991, University of Paris Val de Marne, France;
and Ph.D., 1995, Biology, University of New Mexico) is a research assistant
professor at the University of New Mexico and director of the Drylands
Institute New Mexico office. He has written numerous articles on raptor
ecology and is coauthor of A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of
the Middle Rio Grande Bosque (UNMP).
Click
here to pre-order Raptors of New Mexico on Amazon.Com
I am an
invited artist in the continuing show at the Taos Inn: ArtShare For
The Land
© Geraint Smith
I am offering this 22" x 8.5" print for sale for $125. You
can purchase it here to support the Taos Land Trust.
30% of proceeds will go to their conservation programs. Purchase
print here.
The show opened with a fabulous very well attended reception. Many thanks
to the artists and the Taos Inn.
and attendees. If you haven't seen the show be sure to stop by the Taos
Inn to see some great pieces of artwork.
The show hangs
through August 2nd 2010
It is my intention to send announcements of new archival prints and
news from my studio of workshops and special events on a regular basis.
You are receiving this email because you have previously expressed an
interest in my work. Thank you for all your enthusiasm and support in
the past. I look forward to hearing from you again.
575-758-8563
Website:
www.geraintsmith.com
geraint@geraintsmith.com
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