From Nambé to Chimayó
On October 18th at Nambé Pueblo I had a great time photographing the hoodoos and other formations. Then, as we continued north-northeast on Highway 503, which forms a portion of the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, to reach Chimayó about 10 miles away, we kept seeing more parts of the Nambé badlands that deserved to pictured.
You’re seeing two of those pictures here. And who could resist the clouds
over the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo mountains off to the east?
© 2022 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Love the clouds
Sherry Felix
December 3, 2022 at 9:06 AM
In this image I understated the snow-covered mountains to make the clouds the star of the show.
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2022 at 9:10 AM
I like the impressive cloud formation over the snow-capped mountains.
Peter Klopp
December 3, 2022 at 9:39 AM
I did, too, and I chose to emphasize it in that picture. For a change I got to see something that’s like what your part of the world offers.
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2022 at 9:47 AM
The rock formations look like buildings. The snowcapped peaks are lovely.
circadianreflectionsD
December 3, 2022 at 9:41 AM
Yes, you can imagine those formations as buildings. You get to see mountains like the one in the final picture a lot more often than I do.
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2022 at 9:51 AM
Like today. We had snow the other day and expect more today and tomorrow.
circadianreflectionsD
December 3, 2022 at 10:20 AM
Lucky you to see that so often (unless you’re trying to get somewhere and the roads become impassible).
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2022 at 10:27 AM
Which may hinder my plans for birding next week!
circadianreflectionsD
December 3, 2022 at 10:30 AM
You’ll just have to become a snowbird.
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2022 at 10:34 AM
We’ve been talking about doing something similar but, during the spring/summer months as we’re not tired of the cold and snow yet.
circadianreflectionsD
December 3, 2022 at 11:01 AM
It’s a great part of the country to visit. Bon voyage in advance.
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2022 at 11:19 AM
Really impressive formations, Steven.
Have a nice weekend and thanks for sharing.
picpholio
December 3, 2022 at 11:09 AM
Yes, they are impressive. I hope you get to see them in person someday.
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2022 at 11:19 AM
They don’t exaggerate that this is a scenic byway, what a beautiful region.
Robert Parker
December 3, 2022 at 11:50 AM
Nope, no exaggeration. I’m sure glad we drove that way. Hope you make it there, too.
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2022 at 2:36 PM
The massive size of the formations in the first photo is remarkable. There’s a real sense that whatever wind or water might accomplish, that pile of rock isn’t going anywhere: at least, not for a good long while. On the other hand, the second photo brought to mind a ship going down, stern first.
You do find the most cooperative clouds. I just love the symmetry of the clouds’ bottom ‘lifting’ above the highest peak on the right. The alternately convex and concave lines of the land’s layers is pleasing, too.
shoreacres
December 3, 2022 at 8:32 PM
A massive formation indeed. It may not be going anywhere soon, but in geologic time all prominences wear down, with sandstone eroding faster than many other other things. The photographer remains grateful for the wear and tear.
Some clouds prove more cooperative than others. Your observations make these clouds out to have been pretty docile. At other times I’ve had to race to catch a cloud formation before it drifts too far, or else have had to wait in the hope that a cloud would move to a position where I wanted it. Sometimes I’ve won, other times lost.
Steve Schwartzman
December 3, 2022 at 10:06 PM
That last shot is superb … love those clouds!
Julie@frogpondfarm
December 13, 2022 at 1:28 PM
Thanks. This picture reminds me of the snow we saw on some mountains in New Zealand even at the height of summer.
Steve Schwartzman
December 13, 2022 at 2:33 PM