Request Photo Suggestions for Santa Fe, NM area.

<p>I'll be in Santa Fe, first time, for a few days next month, and was wondering what were some beautiful landscape areas to shoot or other not-to-be-missed photo locations/ opportunities in that area. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!</p>

<p>I'm sure you'll get many responses, with many good suggestions. Here's mine.</p>

<p>My suggestion would be La Bajada Hill, part of old Route 66 during its first 6 years, from 1926-32. It's southwest of Santa Fe, and you can drive out of town on the top of a volcanic plug to get there. Don't go down it unless you have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, it's really rough nowadays. But from the top of that plug you have long range views looking southwest across high desert - very nice. Beautiful vistas from there. There are other portions of abandoned Route 66 that you can access from I-25, south of Santa Fe.</p>

<p>In town, you've got all sorts of real and imitation adobe. Nearby you have the "ghost" town of Madrid, a former coal mining town, not nearly as ghostly since they shot "Wild Hogs" there a few years back.</p>

As an easterner I liked the views along I25 across the desert north of the city and also the scenery around Abiqui where Georgia O"Keefe did a lot of her paintings. And as Doug says almost anywhere in the old part of town around the plaza is interesting. For us Taos was a disapointment, looked like any New England ski town in mud sason. Lots of good restaurants in Santa Fe. The so called Turquoise Trail through New Madrid to Albuquerque was not as scenic to us New Englanders as I25. Santa Fe is at 7000 ft. altitude so you may get a litle winded doing a lot of walking the first few days. Enjoy.

<p>Scenically, I prefer the area north of Santa fe to that south. The terrain becomes more mountainous as you drive north.<br>

I loved the photo opportunities in Madrid but, that was many years ago when the town was really a "ghost town". <br>

One thing for sure, bring a polarizing filter in your kit! A CPL is almost mandatory for many shots because the darkened sky results in a more narrow exposure ratio which your sensor can often capture. The CPL also does a good job enhancing the saturation of foliage and of the rock formations.<br>

I suggest that you dress in layered clothing. The weather in March can be quite changeable. A windbreaker of some type is in order also, there are often gusty winds in the Springtime.<br>

BTW: Whenever shooting in the Southwest I always have an OPTECH Rain Sleeve with me. It may not rain but, the rainsleeve can also protect from blowing sand and dust. Its cheap as heck and weighs next to nothing,</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Louis, how much time for photography will you have / how far out of town are you willing to go?</p>

<p>Tom M.</p>

<p>Louis, what subjects interest you most ? Do you have anything specific in mind ?<br>

There's quite a range of landscape about. But I too prefer areas to the north and west.<br>

March is when the spring winds arrive in New Mexico. While Santa Fe is somewhat better in that regard, you may find it quite blustery.</p>

<p>Thanks for the tips so far guys!<br>

<strong>Doug</strong>- I like vista's I'll keep an eye for the Hill.<br>

<strong>Charles</strong>-I had heard of the plaza area. I will visit there for sure<br>

<strong>Richard</strong>-Thanks a ton for the polarizer and blowing sand tips. I'll be shooting with a Mamiya Super 23. I can rig up a "coat" for her.<br>

<strong>Tom</strong>- I will be there for three days and nights. I'm driving from Kansas city area. I pretty mobile. I will be staying in town so wherever I go I need to get back to SF after sunset.<br>

<strong>Richard</strong>- I'm open for any subjects. I like landscape. I don't get a chance to get out that way much so I want to hit a few spots for sunrise/sunset landscape action plus whatever else strikes me as I drive about the area.</p>

<p>South of town, Tent Rocks would be a good choice for scenic vistas.<br>

Northwest, a trip to Bandelier and/or Abiquiu - lots of red rock formations.<br>

East, a trip to Pecos - visit the monument and then drive up the Pecos canyon to Cowles.<br>

Northeast, a day trip to Taos, via Las Vegas and Mora, with the return trip via the river road, south along the Rio Grande.<br>

You'll have plenty to see in any direction you choose.<br>

With regard to Richards's suggestion for a CP filter, I beg to differ. At this altitude, the skies are already unbelievably blue - a polarizing filter is going to make them almost black. I would use one with caution. In fact, in the 14 years I've lived out here, I've never found the need to use a polarizer to enhance skies or foliage - the effect can be like Velvia on steroids. YMMV.</p>

Duplicate post. Sorry.

<p>Louis:</p>

<p>a) I totally agree with the recommendation for NO polarizer, at least when used in the conventional way. The skies are already too deep blue/black at high altitudes. The contrast with snow on the ground will be next to impossible to handle.</p>

<p>b) I agree with the recommendation for Bandelier, but, if you are already going in that direction, I would continue a bit further to visit the science museum in Los Alamos, and then continue to drive up, beyond Los Alamos towards the Parajito ski area (http://www.skipajarito.com/) for beautiful vistas including a huge caldera.</p>

<p>c) If you are flying in and out of Albuquerque, take a ride up the Sandia Peak Tramway in the afternoon, walk around / have dinner up top, take shots of the sunset, the city below, etc. </p>

<p>d) If you are a skier, you can't be in that area and not try Taos (more advanced) or Parajito or Sandia Peak to ski with the locals.</p>

<p>Tom M.</p>

This website - http://www.santafe.org/weather/index.php? - has a moving webcam and weather forecasts for Santa Fe.

<p>Hi,<br>

I hear the White Sands are nice. I've seen some great pics from there. Madrid has a lot of photoops. Don't go to Espanola. Chico had nice ops too. Enjoy!</p>

<p>Many thanks for all the helpful replies.<br>

<strong>Charles</strong>-Thank you for that link!</p>

<p> sure if you knew about this travel story by Phillip. <a href="http://www.photo.net/travel/us/sw/new-mexico">http://www.photo.net/travel/us/sw/new-mexico</a></p>

<p>There are two fine Mexican Restaurants in Espanola. One is on the road opposite The McDondalds, and a further 7 miles takes you up the the Santuary. It's called El Paragua. The other is on the main road south of Wallgreens, called Los Arcos. If you continue north thru Taos (where I live) and go another hour north to a liny town called Costilla, take a right at the only gas station (a good, clean one) and travel into the lountains. At one point the road divides, take the right and you will hear up to about 10,000 ft and sit beside a stock pond once owned by Pennsoil The areas is Valle Vidal. Contnue past the stock ponds and down into Ted Turner's 500,000 he will return to the state when he passes on. You will go thru Cimmaron when the interiors from 3:10 to Yuma were filmed, and then head back.</p>

<p>Or, go thru Taos and about 45 minutes north you will see Questa and then a sign for Wild Rivers, a 700 foot Mesa above the confluence of the Red and Rio Grande Gorge.</p>

<p>If you're really adventuresome, find Montastery of Christ in the Desert, not to far from Ghost Ranch. The chapel has clerestory windows looking out on 1,000 sand cliff.</p>

<p>e-mail me at gordon.lukesh @ nukove.com, removing the spaces.</p>

<p>Follow-up: The road up to Valle Vidal is generally not maintained in the winter/spring so you may not be able to take the ride I suggested.</p>

<p>A longer trip is to drive the main road up to Ft Garland CO, take a left and San Dunes National Monument, not to be confused with White Sands.</p>

<p>Rick and Gordon-I'm very grateful for your kind and specific advice. It's very helpful.</p>