Jean-Michel Rendu

Santa Fe and its surroundings offer many opportunities for discovery, especially for those who wish to go beyond the immediate tourist areas. Sunsets are striking with colors which often appear surreal. Adobe buildings can be found that are centuries old. The Santa Fe River has brought life to this dry land for millennia. The high altitude sub-desertic environment is challenging for all vegetation. Each year, each season, even each day offers new opportunities to discover this ever-changing natural environment.

Adobe

Adobe buildings, some dating back to Spanish settlement 400 years ago, are a major part of what makes Santa Fe the City Different.

Water

The Santa Fe River environment is protected to ensure a clean water supply and to create pleasurable areas near the city of Santa Fe.

Fall

In fall, aspens and cottonwood trees bring bright orange and gold colors to mountains, foothills, and Santa Fe neighborhoods.

Clouds

On hot summer days spectacular Monsoon clouds appear over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, a welcome sign of rain to come.

Sun

The sun sets on the Jemez Mountains. The moon rises on the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The results are spectacular color shows.

Moon

The clear high-altitude sky of Santa Fe offers many opportunities to make interesting images of the moon in all its beauty.

Snow

Snowstorms are of short duration. Hikers enjoy mountain trails. Earth colored adobe houses contrast with grey skies and snowy streets.

Trails

There is a wide variety of trails in the Santa Fe area, some for leisurely walks, others requiring high-altitude mountain-hiking expertise.

Trees

Trees change with seasons, elevation, time of day. Opportunities for unique images are endless.

Garden

In spring, summer, and fall the Santa Fe gardens and parks are filled with flowers.

Undergrowth

To get water and nutrients some plants stay close to the ground while others become trees. All compete to survive.

Details

Macro photography makes it possible to observe and reproduce details which are hardly noticed with the naked eye.

Movement

Intentional camera movement (ICM) can create all types of abstract or semi-abstract images.

Map

Panoramic views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains can be enjoyed from within the city of Santa Fe. Areas of interest vary from the city itself at 7,000 feet to a wide variety of high peaks exceeding 12,000 feet.

JEAN-MICHEL RENDU: Discovering Natural Santa Fe