There is something special - magical really - about New Mexico. It’s true what they say about it being the Land of Enchantment. The light is incredible! I’ve had the pleasure of vacationing in NM many times over the years and I am always amazed at the quality of light. It’s pure magic and no wonder so many artists favor it.

While visiting Santa Fe in 2016 I went to the Andrew Smith Gallery, a photography gallery with an astonishing collection of works by the likes of Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Edward Weston, Dorothea Lange and others. Seriously, it has to be one of the best collections anywhere and not to be missed. 

Afterwards we were driving back watching the moon rise - a full moon rise on a beautiful nearly cloudless August night. I'm sitting in the passenger seat watching… thinking… I've seen this before...when it hits me. In a way that said my life depended on it I asked my husband to pull over. I quickly grabbed my camera and rested it on the side mirror of the car as I didn't have my tripod with me and it wouldn't have mattered if I did because there was no time to set it up. I shot the moonrise over Moreno Valley with my Olympus OM-D EM-10, a mirrorless micro four thirds camera, and 45mm f/2.8 lens (90mm equivalent). The second shot I took is the one posted here - my own very modest take on Adam's iconic "Moonrise, Hernandez NM". I know it isn't tack sharp and the moon is blown out, but I love the photo all the same.

The sunset, canyon and river photos were taken at the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument near Taos.