Why nature photography?
The magic of New Mexico
The magic of Santa Fe, la Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís
The magic of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
The magic of the Santa Fe River
What makes such magic?
The atmosphere
Brilliant light, blue skies, clean air
High altitude, dry desert, cleansing rainstorms
Spectacular sunsets, monsoon clouds, bright moonlit nights
Human diversity
Diversity in cultural values, traditions, religion, way of life
Pueblo settlements thousands of years old
Spanish settlements four hundred years old
Anglo settlements less than two hundred years old
Natural diversity
From Santa Fe to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains: 5,000 ft (1,500 m) change in elevation
Distinct seasons: Windy springs, hot summers, rainy monsoons, colorful falls, snowy winters
Dryland vegetation at low elevation, dense forests at high altitude
The Santa Fe River: A link between mountain tops and the Rio Grande Valley
Extensive network of trails giving multiple accesses to foothills and mountains
The City of Santa Fe
Architectural diversity: Pueblo villages, adobe houses, the Santa Fe Style
Historic districts, art districts, museums of international repute
Multiple cultural activities, fiestas, festivals, international art markets
A cultural environment offering endless learning opportunities for all
I cannot think of a better place to enjoy nature, to fix its endlessly changing beauty with photography, and to create images which can be enjoyed by all everywhere in the world.