Newsletter #3 May 25th 2010 from my Taos, New Mexico Studio.

Greetings from Taos, New Mexico.

In this newsletter

- NEW  -  Personalized Photo Tours - Half day and Full day tours 
- Ute Mountain View from Wild Horse Mesa - Fine art print.  
- Red Tailed Hawk - Fine art print.
- Many Forms - Fine art print.
- 'SEED' - An art exhibition inspired by the beginning of everything.
- Local Color - Art Show at Gallery on the Green, Taos Country Club
- Raptors of New Mexico - Published by UNM Press.
- Taos Art Experiences - Photography Tour with Geraint Smith July 18-23.
- The day they paved the road - Photo humor.
- Sunflower a photo inspired by Pablo Neruda.

NEW  -  Personalized Photo Tours - I am now offering Full day and Half day photo tours.

 
Full day - $300 per person  
Half day - $175 per person
 
Group discounts available
 
"Join me in exploring the places that have been the inspiration for my photography for over 25 years.
We'll wander the back roads in the unique landscape of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado,
and experience the places, architecture and culture of this enchanting and mystical corner of the world."

Call: 505-501-4880
PO Box 1357, Taos, NM 87571

phototours@geraintsmith.com

www.geraintsmith.com/phototours

"Ute Mountain view from Wild Horse Mesa (Colorado)"

© Geraint Smith 2007
 
This photo was taken after a very windy day out looking for wild mustang on Wild Horse Mesa in southern Colorado.
My traveling companion and I had gotten a few shots of horses but nothing very spectacular. However, being eternal optimist's
we headed for home with still an hour and a half drive and some daylight left. One thing lead to another including a few diversions
to photograph one more view. It started to rain lightly and the sun began to break under the clouds. We decided to pursue the light
as it began to cut over the Wild Horse Mesa. We rounded a bend where the road drops to the valley floor and before us, getting
better with age, was the scene in the image above. Well, needless to say, we arrived home well after dark!
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 "Ute Mountain View" or call my Taos Studio at 575-758-8563 

"Red Tailed Hawk (Protector)"

© Geraint Smith 2006
 
This image was taken in an area north of Taos on the road to Arroyo Seco. The bird was easily visible from the highway.
I had just purchased a Canon 500mm lens and was prepared for a scene like this one. Although not the first hawk
I photographed, it has become an icon for me. It allowed me to get so close to be able explore, for quite sometime,
it's habitat and nature. I love the look of intent and purpose!  When I looked at the photos later this was the image
of the bird I connected with most. 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 "Red Tailed Hawk" or call my Taos Studio at 575-758-8563

"Many Forms, The St Francis Church"

© Geraint Smith 2010
 
I was photographing the San Francisco de Asis church in Ranchos de Taos in March during a wet snow fall.
As I drove around the building, immortalized by many artists over the years including Georgia O'Keefe and
Ansel Adams, I saw this scene in the droplets of water on the driver side door. The drops were inconsistent
in size and the upside down image was blurry and had varying forms indistinguishable as the building.
I went home and cleaned the window. With a clean window and the misting spray bottle in hand I returned to
the church. I sprayed clean water on the window and created an array of droplets I liked. The sun had now
come out and the building took on a whole new dimension. I used a macro lens and focused about an inch
off the glass and created sharp little miniature images of the church upside down in each droplet, while the
larger out of focus image occupies the background. Click here for the large image
 
My image of the St Francis Church, can be seen in a juried show “The Humble Masterpiece” at the TCA
(Taos Center for the Arts). If you are in Taos, please be sure to check out the show.
 
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 "Many Forms" or call my Taos Studio at 575-758-8563

'SEED' An art exhibition inspired by the beginning of everything.

A film by Jeremy Jones and Mandy Stapleford and website www.seedtaos.org
including some of my still imagery is an annual art show created in 2009
in Taos, New Mexico that was inspired by the macrophotography in the book
'Seeds, Time Capsules of Life' by Wolfgang Stuppy and Rob Kesseler.
 
Place these dates on your calendar now. This show was one of the most inspired,
talked about and well attended events in Taos last year.
 
October 6 - 30, 2010
Opening Reception October 8, 5-8 pm
Stables Art Gallery
133 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, #D
Taos, NM 87571- 7019

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

Reception for ”Local Color”

Friday May 28th 5-7 pm 
Show runs through the end July
Gallery on the Green, at Taos Country Club 
 
Annual Local Color Artist Reception
On Friday, May 28th from 5-7 pm, Jan Mellor, curator of Gallery on the Green at Taos Country Club,
will host a reception in honor of the late Betsy Carey and in her tradition of supporting local artists.
Honoring Betsy’s legacy Mellor holds an annual exhibition of local artists’ work, Local Color,
at Gallery on the Green. This year the artists are all local artists who will be facilitating art experiences
through the recently formed taos art experiences, LLC. (tae) The show will run through the end of July.

© Geraint Smith 2009
 
Born in the Spirit of the former Taos Institute of Arts, taos art experiences offers opportunities for
visitors to experience Taos, its art and culture and the creative process with a local artist. The reception
is an opportunity to meet the artists and discover why the experiences they are offering are unique to
them and their medium.  taos art experiences LLC was formed in order to support the Taos art community
through promoting experiential tourism, the current focus of the state tourism department and vital to the
economy of the area.
 
Participating artists are: Dorothy Lampl, Amy Cordova, Richard Alan Nichols, Gwen Fox, Joan Fullerton,
Randall LaGro, Geraint Smith, James Nave, Doug Scott, Barbara Bartels, Marion Moore, Mary Ann Warner,
Vivian Nesbitt & John Dillon of “Art of the Song,” Issa De Nicola, Steven Gootgeld, A.C.Ward,
Grace & George Schaub and Paul Pascarella.
 
Entertainment at the reception will be provided by the very popular Vivian Nesbitt and John Dillon
of the syndicated radio show “Art of the Song” and  taos art experiences LLC workshop leaders.

“A PERSONAL JOURNEY”- Desert, Mountains, Rivers and Valleys

© Geraint Smith 2008From The Taos Art Experiences website
  
Photography Tour with Geraint Smith July 18-23 Cost: $650
As an accomplished freelance photographer, Geraint Smith sees the world through an intuitive eye.
In this experience we will view some of the most spectacular scenery in Northern New Mexico,
all within a days drive of the high desert town of Taos. Some sites will be familiar and some wont!
We will explore ways to create a personal view of the landscape, people and places. The objective
is to realize a style that conveys the essence of the places we visit and ultimately expresses ones
own journey within and through photography. Come prepared with hiking shoes and rain gear for
short hikes off the beaten path and an open spirit to be amazed
 
TaosArtExperiences.Com
 
Download the course description and itinerary.pdf

"The Day They Paved The Road In Pasadena California - photo humor"

© Geraint Smith 2006

I wanted to share this photo because I still laugh out loud recalling the day I took it 20 years ago.
Imagine the incredulous look on the face of the Director of Public Works at the city of Pasadena
when I showed it to him ... seeing your crew's handy work presented to you like this. It adds new
meaning to the phrase 'good enough for government work.'  :-)

Oh tierra, esperame (Oh, Earth, Wait for Me)

© Geraint Smith 2009
 
Return me, oh sun,
to my country destiny,
rain of the ancient woods.
Bring me back its aroma, and the swords
falling from the sky,
the solitary peace of pasture and rock,
the damp at the river margins,
the smell of the larch tree,
the wind alive like a heart
beating in the crowded remoteness
of the towering araucaria.
 
Earth, give me back your pristine gifts,
towers of silence which rose from
the solemnity of their roots.
I want to go back to being what I haven’t been,
to learn to return from such depths
that among all natural things
I may live or not live. I don’t mind
being one stone more, the dark stone,
the pure stone that the river bears away.

Pablo Neruda
From Isla Negra

Thank you for looking and for all your enthusiasm and support in the past. I look forward to hearing from you again.

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