New Mexico

After recording my audio book, I realized I needed a little creative reset. So I fucked off to Northern New Mexico for a few days.

The goal: no goal. Just wanted to drive and take pictures.

Weather was on the rainy side—which was great for photography. I love dramatic skies and the weather was perfect.

New Mexico is such a funny place. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed 177 years ago, but it still feels like an outpost of New Spain.

I dipped thru Colorado’s San Luis Valley. It’s basically New Mexico. It’s Northern Northern New Mexico.

Same vibe.

Same culture.

I stayed in Taos for a few nights. It’s a nice town. Less touristy than Santa Fe. Not photogenic tho. Too many shops and signs and branding. And too hectic. Couldn’t find a good angle.

Would have been great with a model tho. Lots of great nooks to shoot a pretty human. I met a cute hippy girl and the coffee shop. She was into the idea but had to work that day.

Oh well. Next time.

Found this old closed decrepit bar. I asked a local what it was and when it closed.

He said it was a bar many decades ago. But then a movie shot there. They put up the neon sign and made it look trashy.

Totally fooled me.

Art Department for the win👍

I met up with my buddy

Thomas Wayne Riley

in Cimarron. The plan was to have lunch at the historic St James Hotel.

The hotel bar/restaurant was closed, but they let us take a little self guided tour. Place was fucking rad. Every legendary figure of the Wild West stayed there. The rooms are still period correct. It’s like a museum—but you can still stay there.

I should have taken the time to get my flash out of the car—because the place was too dark and I couldn’t get a decent exposure. In retrospect, I should have just used my iphone. Oh well…

But it was cool to look around. I’ll be back for sure.

After lunch at the drive-in, we went fishing on the Cimarron river. I didn’t bring my rods, so I just took pics while Thomas fished.

I left early and head towards Raton. I quit drinking over a decade ago, but I still love Cold Beer New Mexico. Might be the world’s greatest bar.

Sadly it was closed, but I got some nice pics. The rain made a perfect little reflective puddle in the parking lot.

Totally worth the drive.

(more pics…)