The Sandia Mountains in New Mexico

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I just scanned this one. I shot it back in 2007 from the top of La Bajada Mesa a few miles southwest of Santa Fe. One of my favorite landscape locations, the view over the valley to the Sandias is breathtaking. The mountains are actually right on the northeastern edge of Albuquerque (the city literally goes right up to the mountain!), 45 miles from where I was standing.

Shot with an Olympus OM-4T, 40mm f2 Zuiko, and Ilford XP2

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Ah, yes. I used to live just east of the Sandias. That's a great vista.
Family is still there.
I need to go back and get a burger at the Bobcat Bite soon. And a sweet roll & coffee at the Frontier, and dinner at Padilla's... A lot of great things about New Mexico but one of the best is the food.

Phil Forrest

 

[smk]

I lived in Santa Fe for 7 years, and enjoyed every minute of it. Fantastic landscape, everything about that region is very photogenic (though very contrasty).

I moved 3 years ago, and I still miss the food... we went there last fall, and came back with a suitcase filled with roasted green chile!

Savvas

 

[paulfish4570]

i loooooove new mexico. i have spent a little time in the high desert of the balen/mountainaire/apple mountains area. spectacular weather and scenery - and food.

 

[farlymac]

Only time I was out west, I was stuck in Vegas at a convention. This is the kind of scenery I wanted to see. Thank you for the post Chris.

PF

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Only time I was out west, I was stuck in Vegas at a convention. This is the kind of scenery I wanted to see. Thank you for the post Chris.

PF

You're welcome, glad you liked it. That was the everyday view in Santa Fe!

 

[Jeff_S]

Ah, yes. I used to live just east of the Sandias. That's a great vista.
Family is still there.
I need to go back and get a burger at the Bobcat Bite soon. And a sweet roll & coffee at the Frontier, and dinner at Padilla's... A lot of great things about New Mexico but one of the best is the food.

Phil Forrest

I enjoy the Frontier but where is the Bobcat Bite and Padillas? We live in Los Alamos.

Jeff

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I enjoy the Frontier but where is the Bobcat Bite and Padillas? We live in Los Alamos.

Jeff

http://www.bobcatbite.com/ Its on a road called Old Las Vegas Highway just outside Santa Fe near I-25. (the name refers to the town of Las Vegas, NM not the more famous one in Nevada).

 

[Red Rock Bill]

The Zuni Mountains and the Red Rocks in and around Gallup are as enchanting as anywhere in New Mexico. Uncle Sam sent me to Sandia Base in 1962 .Drafted in NYC never looked back.. Regards,Bill

 

[sepiareverb]

I lived in and around Taos for 5+ years, favorite place was Vaditio, up towards Penasco. It is (predictably) the food I miss most- though during January in Vermont the NM sky certainly is missed.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Padilla's is a restaurant in a little strip-mall in Albuquerque just off Indian School on Girard. After living in NM for a few decades, I think it's the best restaurant serving local food in the whole region. Every time I go back to visit family, we make a trip (or two) to Padilla's. It doesn't look like much but the food is to die for.

http://www.eatabq.com/padillas-mexican-kitchen/

This year is going to be my first fall semester in years that I'm going to have time to spare. I'm going to try to make it back for the balloon fiesta the first two weeks of October and shoot the event on 4x5 slide film.

Back when I was in the Navy stationed on an aircraft carrier, mom used to send me cases of Hatch chile verde in cans. I would bring one extra to the mess decks at breakfast and just sit it in front of me while I was eating my eggs topped with chile. Almost every time I'd get one or two New Mexicans or the occasional west Texan looking to buy it. A few bidding wars started and I think I got over $10 for one can of chile once. That's potent stuff!

Phil Forrest

 

[djon]

My favorite New Mexico (vs faux mex) restaurant (unconventional category...no industrial waste melted cheese, no ground "beef") is http://nmgastronome.com/blog/?p=394

 

[Al Patterson]

My favorite New Mexico (vs faux mex) restaurant (unconventional category...no industrial waste melted cheese, no ground "beef") is http://nmgastronome.com/blog/?p=394

I'm partial to a place called "Foster's" in Chama. You can sit on the porch and watch the Cumbres & Toltec put the steam engines away after the trip.

http://www.fosters1881.com/

And' I'll have to remember Sophia's next time I'm in ABQ. The food looks great. Thanks!

 

[robklurfield]

I love the big sky in that shot, Chris.