Spring at Bosque del Apache

Those of you who follow my blog regularly have surely noticed that I haven't posted since early April. Several weeks ago, I tore two muscles in my back simply by making an awkward move while cleaning out a birdbath in my yard. Since then, it's been lots of pain, doctor visits, medication, and physical therapy.

I'm on the mend now, albeit slowly, and I'm still not back to my old self. But I did manage to make a quick trip to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge last Saturday.

In winter we visit Bosque del Apache mainly to observe and photograph large numbers of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese. In spring, it's a completely different world. The big flock birds and winter residents are gone, and the summer residents have moved in.  And there are lots of resident critters visible in spring that are just not active or visible in winter.

Most notable in that category are turtles. Scanning the ponds with binoculars, you'll find a turtle on every snag, like this brightly colored fellow which had just crawled out of the water.

Painted Turtle

And here, Double-crested Cormorants preen while turtles pile onto a log.

Cormorants and Turtles

Although I've been to Bosque del Apache many, many times in all seasons, I'd never before seen a muskrat there.  So I was delighted to see this one swimming among the reeds from the Boardwalk.

Muskrat

Muskrats are large rodents that always live near water, and are related to beavers. They have thick brown fur, a long, scaly tail and webbed rear feet - good for swimming. They can grow up to two feet long, and live in marshes or alongside ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. Bosque del Apache has lots of prime habitat for these critters.

And then there were birds. Western Kingbirds were probably the most prominent species. It seemed like every fencepost, treetop and stick had a Western Kingbird surveying its surroundings.

Other abundant birds included Gambell's Quail, Northern Mockingbird, Chipping Sparrow, Wild Turkey and Black Phoebe. I also observed Canada Geese with their little ones, Willet, lots of assorted swallows, and many others.

Although I've seen American White Pelican at Bosque del Apache in springs past, I saw none this year.

Here's a snap of a Black Phoebe that seemed to be following me down the Boardwalk. You'll always find this species close to water.

Black Phoebe

Wading birds were also prominent.  Great Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Great Egret and Snowy Egret fed in the marshes throughout the refuge. For quite a while, I watched two Snowy Egrets hunt in some shallow water close to the road. This one caught a tiny fish.

Snowy Egret

My favorite bird of the day, however, was White-faced Ibis. When I lived on the Upper Texas Coast and regularly visited Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge, I saw these birds in abundance, along with Glossy and White Ibis.  Now that I'm in New Mexico and don't see many wading birds, this ibis was a real treat.  Just look at that beautiful iridescence!  These waders use their long, curved bills to forage in the mud for insects and small crustaceans.

White-faced Ibis

If you've only been to Bosque del Apache in winter, it's worth a trip in spring to see the summer residents in their lush, green habitat and add some different birds to your list.

Cheers 'til next time...Gail.
www.gailyovanphotos.com
All images and text ©2014 Gail Diane Yovanovich

Adding to My Art Collection

I love fine art photography though I rarely find a piece I'd actually like to display in my home.  But late last year, I found two pieces I just had to own.

I purchased the first piece in Alpine, Texas, over Thanksgiving weekend during my trip to the Big Bend. Alpine has lots of art galleries, but I was searching for photos specifically.  Not finding any appealing photography (over-manipulated, over-saturated, just plain kitshky) at the general-offering galleries, one shop owner recommended the Red Door Gallery on Main Street.

David Kachel's Red Door Gallery

Owned and run by David Kachel, this charming, well-stocked gallery offers Kachel's photography almost exclusively.  I spent nearly an hour talking with the artist and browsing his striking images, which range from grand landscapes to detail studies, many taken in West Texas. Kachel presents true fine art photography the way it's supposed to be.

After much deliberation, I finally chose this dramatic piece captured in the Southern Province of Arequipa, Peru, in the late 1980's. The fact that I had spent some time in Arequipa in 1997 tipped the scales in its favor over one from his beautifully contemplative West Texas Porches series.

High Plains Gathering Storm, Arequipa, Peru
Copyright David Kachel.  All rights reserved.

Check out Kachel's website here to see more of his work and read about his philosophy of and approach to modern fine art photography.  It's definitely worth a read.

Then in December, I had the privilege of jurying the Annual New Mexico Photographic Art Show.  Held in the Fine Arts building at ExpoNM, this juried exhibit features works exclusively by New Mexico photographers.

During the jury process, I looked at hundreds of images from several genres.  Of the many photos I studied, I was particularly drawn to the image entitled Diner by Dave Sova.

Diner, Albuquerque NM
Copyright Dave Sova.  All rights reserved.

It depicts a diner and a window reflection.  Simple, right? Hmmm, not so much.  The juxtaposition of reality and reflection leads the viewer to question, "What part of this is reality and what part is reflection?"  It creates a visual tension that leads me back again and again to study it just one more time.  This is precisely what good art should do.

Diner is a beautifully rendered piece, with rich blacks, clean grays and precise contrasts that lend an impression of spatial extension one can almost reach into.  The image now hangs in my living room, and it truly lends a sense of richness and depth to its surroundings.

You can see more of Sova's stunning black-and-white images here.

So that's how and why I added two special pieces to my photography collection, and I'm always on the look out  for that next "special piece."

Cheers....Gail.
www.gailyovanphotos.com
All images and text ©2014 Gail Diane Yovanovich

Las Cruces Fine Arts Fair

This past weekend, I participated in the inaugural Las Cruces Fine Arts Fair at the beautiful new Las Cruces Convention Center.  What a gorgeous facility!  And the organizers made the fair a wonderful experience for all the artists.

Las Cruces Convention Center

The weather was perfect, with temperatures around 75 degrees and lots of blue skies and bright sunshine.  I must say, when I got back home to Edgewood on Monday afternoon, I was freezing in the 50 degree temperatures.

After a smooth unload and setup, I was pretty happy with how my booth looked.  Art fairs are always so much easier indoors since I know there won't be unpredictable weather conditions that might damage my art or blow away my tent.  And no dust, an enemy to art of all kinds.  In fact, the weak link in the entire art fair experience is the tent - so tedious to set up, tear down and haul around, and so vulnerable to weather.  My, how I love indoor shows...

Here are a couple of shots of my booth at the Las Cruces Fine Arts Fair.

booth

booth

The show opened at noon on Friday, with a fundraiser Gala Opening on Friday night.  Waitstaff circulated with yummies, and folks enjoyed wine and champagne.

Yum!

Mingling

The show opened with lots of energy on Saturday morning, and the excitement continued into Sunday. Attendance was good throughout the show, with lots of enthusiastic shoppers.

Several folks who purchased images from me at past shows stopped by to say howdy and chat.  My favorite aspect of these shows is reconnecting with my customers, meeting new people, and answering a myriad of questions about photography and art.

On Saturday, things got too hectic to snap any more photos. I had a very good show, selling four large pieces "off the wall" and many, many matted prints. A big "thank you" to all who made purchases or simply stopped by to say hi - I look forward to seeing you again very soon.

Cheers 'til later....Gail.
www.gailyovanphotos.com
All images and text ©2014 Gail Diane Yovanovich

The Colors of Taos

On Saturday, I spent a couple of hours walking around the plaza in Taos looking specifically for things with bright colors to match my bright springtime mood.  In the soft spring sunshine, they were easy to find.

Despite the predominately earth tones of its adobe and stucco buildings, Taos is splashed with brilliantly colored windows, doors and sidewalk art, along with many surprises.

Taos was established around 1615 as Fernandez de Taos, following the Spanish conquest of the Indian Pueblo villages in the area.  The name Taos derives from the Native Taos language meaning "place of the red willows."

Beginning around 1900, artists began to settle in Taos, forming the Taos Society of Artists in 1915.  In time, the Taos art colony developed, and art remains a strong influence in the town's culture today.

As I stepped out of my truck and onto Paseo del Pueblo Sur, I spotted this couple strolling past turquoise-painted store fronts.  The man's t-shirt and the woman's skirt picked up the colors of the store fronts, tile roofs, and the wares displayed on the sidewalks.  Even her bag picked up the surrounding colors.

Color-coordinated Couple

Taos is nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and the mountains are visible from anywhere  in town.

Mountain View 

With the warm springtime temperatures and a sunny, dry day, lots of folks brought their classic cars out of winter storage to cruise the streets of Taos.  I barely snapped this 1956 Chevy Bel Air post, complete with wire wheels, as it whizzed by.  Nice!

Chevy Bel Air

I continued up Paseo del Pueblo Sur where I passed a shop showing these metal wind bells.  I couldn't resist snapping this cheerful and artfully done display.  Notice how the bells' wind catchers follow the top line of the shrubs.

Wind Bells

After enjoying an ice cream cone and exploring side streets for a while, I turned towards the plaza.  Here I encountered this wooden Indian guarding a store front.

Store Front Indian

Just look at this fun and inviting toy store.  What child - of any age - could resist!

Toy Store

In the plaza park, I encountered several of these benches. The cameos on the bench backs each show what appears to be a European agricultural scene.  If anyone reading this knows the significance or symbolism of these, I'd sure like to know.

Park Bench

I browsed many of the art galleries and shops that surround the plaza, but none showed anything as fun and whimsical as these larger-than-life metal chickens.

Colorful Chickens

To find out more about what to see and do in Taos, click here.  This site provides lots of ideas and info on restaurants, galleries and seasonal activities.

I also captured a couple of new images to add to my Southwest Windows collection, and I'll have them up on my website soon.

Cheers til later....Gail.
www.gailyovanphotos.com

All images and text ©2014 Gail Diane Yovanovich

Snapshots from Old Town

On Sunday, I hopped in the Blazer and drove into Old Town Albuquerque.  Just a short 40-minute drive away, I hadn't been there in quite a while, and I sure needed a break from work.  I had no lofty photographic goals, just strolling with camera to snap what appealed to me.

Old Town is the original Albuquerque, founded in 1706 by Francisco Cuervo y Valdes, the Spanish governor of New Mexico.  Spanish law at the time required setting a plaza at the center of all towns, and that plaza still exists today.

On the north side of the plaza sits the San Felipe de Neri Church constructed in 1793.  Here is a photo of one of the church's two beautiful spires and a few of its many gleaming white crosses.

San Felipe de Neri Church

Albuquerque's original settlers built their homes, shops and offices around the church and the plaza, and most have since been converted into art galleries, restaurants and gift shops.  Old Town Albuquerque is a popular tourist destination, and today the galleries and shops feature Southwestern jewelry, paintings, sculpture, textiles and pottery.

I just love the brightly colored blankets and ristras (strings of dried red chili peppers) displayed outside this shop.

Mexican Blankets and Chili Ristras

As I walked around the plaza peeking into galleries and courtyards, I found this charming scene behind a locked gate.  Chili ristras - a New Mexico staple - and turquoise-green benches brightened the scene, highlighted by a large Mexican pottery urn.

Colorful Courtyard

The architecture in Old Town today looks much as it did centuries ago, with Pueblo and Spanish style flat-roofed buildings, soft adobe contours, and brightly painted window and door frames.  Just look at this gorgeous doorway!

Turquoise Doorway

Porches line the fronts of most buildings, offering shade from the New Mexico sun, and plenty of benches provide resting places to sit and people watch.  I snapped this elderly gentleman, decked out in copious turquoise-and-silver jewelry, taking a break.

Turquoise Guy

In Old Town, you'll also find the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (lots of dinosaurs and a planetarium), the Rattlesnake Museum, the Albuquerque Little Theatre and much more.  For more info on Old Town cultural activities, see www.albuquerqueoldtown.com/cultural-activities.html.

It's a fun day, and I won't be waiting so long to get back out there again.

Cheers 'til next time....Gail.
www.gailyovanphotos.com
All images and text ©2014 Gail Diane Yovanovich

In Your Own Backyard

With the press of business upon me - getting ready for my first art fair of the season in late March, preparing for both a speaking engagement and a major exhibit in early April, working on income tax, composing an email newsletter, and more - I'll have little time for photography during the next few weeks.

In searching for a blog subject this week, I recalled times past when commitments prevented my getting on the road to explore with camera.   During those times, I would just grab the camera and head out into my own backyard for a few minutes of relaxation away from the desk and the telephone.

There's a world of photo ops in your own backyard.  In my yard in spring and summer, lots of wildflowers grow along the peripheries of my two and one-half acres. Wildflowers attract critters of all kinds, from ants and bees to butterflies, birds and rabbits.  Here are a few of these types of casual images from my archives.

The first is a Tiger Swallowtail.  This gorgeous butterfly visited a honeysuckle in my garden for quite a while and gave me lots of time to photograph it.  So pretty!

Tiger Swallowtail

Next is a katydid on prairie primrose.  Prairie primroses grow like weeds in this part of the world, and they attract a wide variety of insects.

Katydid on Primrose

Here's a bumble bee on penstemon in my garden.

Bumble Bee

Each spring, I allow several native sunflower plants to grow up near the house.  These striking plants sometimes reach heights of six feet or more, and they attract lots of birds.  They also grow like weeds and will take over the property if not controlled, so I pull most of them up early in the season.

The tiny black seeds of native sunflower are an important food source for many birds.  All finch species adore the seeds, and in the fall clouds of Pine Siskins descend on the plants.  It's so much fun to watch!  Here's a Pine Siskin feeding on a sunflower in front of my house.

Pine Siskin on Native Sunflower

Since native sunflower attracts so many insects, they also attract the insect-eating birds.  Below is a lovely Bewick's Wren gleaning insects from a sunflower stalk.  A pair of these cheeky little birds nests in one of my bird boxes each spring.

Bewick's Wren

So you see, you don't need to venture out of your own backyard to photograph nature.  Simply walk around looking for the "small picture," and you'll be surprised how much you can find.

Cheers 'til next time....Gail.
www.gailyovanphotos.com

All images and text ©2014 Gail Diane Yovanovich

California Dreamin'

I recently made a quick trip to southern California to escape our cold weather for a couple of days.  The sunshine, beautiful beaches and lush tropical surroundings made for a great break from the snow and cold of central New Mexico.  Here's a snapshot of me photographing at Laguna Beach sans my normal winter attire of down parka and shearling boots.

At Laguna Beach I took lots of photos of the beautiful sand patterns left by the retreating tide.  Here's one that I call Sand Flames.

Sand Flames

Also at Laguna Beach, I photographed crashing waves with a long exposure to soften the surf and spray.

Crashing surf at Laguna Beach

Traveling the Surfin' USA route, I drove south to La Jolla where I snapped this surfer leaving the waves behind.

Surfer at La Jolla

California Sea Lions, along with Brown Pelicans, cormorants and assorted gulls, like to hang out on the cliffs at La Jolla.  Here is an image of a sea lion resting on the rocks with surf boiling behind it.

California Sea Lion

I concluded my trip in at the Embarcadero in San Diego where I photographed some of the tall ships there in the harbor.  This photo shows a portion of the rigging of the Star of India.  I love the lines and angles in this image.

Star of India

Within the next couple of weeks, I'll have many more photos from this trip posted on my website.

Cheers til next time....Gail.
www.gailyovanphotos.com
All images and text ©2014 Gail Diane Yovanovich

Cold and Snowy

Well, the big news from central New Mexico the past couple of weeks has been the snow and record-breaking cold temperatures.

Last Tuesday our morning low here in Edgewood was -10 degrees, and Wednesday morning the low was -20 degrees.  I've never been in temperatures that cold, and keep in mind, I'm a Southern girl, having lived in the warm regions of Texas for most of my adult life.  I'm really suffering!

Add to that the 15 inches of snow we had last Tuesday, and you can imagine how miserable it's been.  So I've been mostly holed up in the studio trying to stay warm.

During the storm last week, I did manage to snap a couple of photos of birds in the snow.  Both images were taken through a closed window since the weather was simply too nasty to venture outdoors with the big lens. The first is a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker perched on a spent native sunflower stalk.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker in Snow

The second photo is a Dark-eyed Junco of the pink-sided race, also on a spent native sunflower stalk.

Dark-eyed Junco in Snow

Ten inches of snow was predicted for last night, but, thankfully, only an inch fell.  If it weren't for the -10 degree temperature just before dawn today, I'd be feeling pretty lucky.  At least the sun is out....

Here is a photo of a Western Scrub Jay that I took this morning through the same closed window.  It's enjoying breakfast at one of my seed blocks.

Western Scrub Jay

All three of these photos were taken with the Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens on the Canon 7D body.

While hiding from the cold and snow, I spent a good bit of time renovating my website.  Check it out at  www.gailyovanphotos.com.  It is now simplified and easier to navigate, and I hope you enjoy it.

Cheers 'til next time...Gail.

www.gailyovanphotos.com

All images and text ©2014 Gail Diane Yovanovich

Snapshots from the Car Show

On Sunday I attended the Annual National Classic Car Show in Albuquerque.  I do love the classic cars, and classic cars are all about art.  In a departure from my usual subject matter, I'm posting some of my favorite snapshots here in no particular order.  

Renowned custom car designer Chip Fosse built the Ford shown below.  You can't believe what a gorgeous piece this is - clean, sleek lines - truly a work of art inside and out, from top to bottom.

Chip Fosse 1937 Ford custom

I should mention that photography conditions at the show are very difficult.  With harsh overhead lighting, spot lights from the floor on every vehicle, nonstop clutter, and people milling about constantly, it's always a real challenge.

Love this Corvette!

custom motorcycle

While strolling through the show, I'm always looking for interesting subjects, like these rows of model cars at a vendor booth.  So random and colorful.  And then there was the tiger motorcycle....

model cars

tiger motorcycle

This very sharp jet black 1932 (I think) Ford was outfitted for a romantic picnic.

1932 Ford Custom

And don't you just love this Simpson graphic hand painted on the bright yellow background.

Simpson hand painted graphic

Two young men gave a demo of their craft - hand pinstriping.  These talented fellows paint designs on cars and motorcycles, helmets, snowboards and much more with just a tiny brush.

pinstripers demonstrating their craft

And check out the exquisite air brush and pinstripe art on this gleaming bike.

portrait on a motorcycle

The custom pedal cars were delightful, complete with fancy paint jobs, pinstriping and airbrushing.

custom pedal cars

In one hall, a section was devoted to Chevy Belairs, complete with a drive-in setup.  The carhop in the photo is an incredibly life-like manikin.  And this Belair convertible was drop-dead gorgeous.

Belair convertible

And check out the Continental kit....

Belair convertible

Here's an amazing custom (I don't know what kind of car it is) - everything about it was eye popping.

fabulous custom

I thoroughly enjoy this car show every year, and this is just a fraction of the photos I took.  I'll post more later.

The weather here today is abominable - a foot of snow on the ground, it's still snowing, and our BIG snow is supposed to get here tonight!  Need to get outside and start shoveling....

Cheers 'til later....Gail. 

www.gailyovanphotos.com

All images and text ©2014 Gail Diane Yovanovich