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By Dennis Baker


One of the toughest challenges photographers face is finding the right location to film in. If you are ever in New Mexico, this should not be a problem. The following are some places you should consider for wildlife photography Santa Fe NM.

Once you get to the town, the first area of interest that you will see many tourists at is the Loretto Chapel. You can get to it by taking a short walk from the Plaza. It has a history that spans decades. While its history is pretty impressive, with ties to the French capital Paris, you may find it oddly small.

The main attraction within the building is the Miraculous Staircase. Legends abound of how it was placed in its position. An interesting observation is that there are no nails or glues that hold it in place. Furthermore, you will not see any support system preventing it from tumbling from its 20 foot height.

For those purely looking for wildlife, the Santa Fe Ski Basin is the place to be. It only takes a short drive to get to this New Mexican gem. Its terrain is simplistic but punishing, attracting lots of adventurists every year.

Getting an excellent shot of the surroundings requires perfect timing. You need to actively monitor the position of the sun so that you will know the correct time to shoot. For the perfect shot, ensure the sun is not obstructing your view. The best filming time is in the evening from 5PM. Not only will the light be better positioned, but most of the nocturnal animals will have come out as well.

Another place worth checking out is Ghost Ranch. It is located close to an hour northwest of town. You will certainly appreciate its beauty as soon as you get onsite. There are coyotes and western diamondbacks that sprawl the landscapes. Be sure to film from a safe distance to stay safe from snake bites.

The ranch was primarily built to serve as a serene inn and conference area. Renowned artist Georgia OKeeffe spent a lot of time in the area. She probably conceived some of her best selling masterpieces out of the serenity of her surroundings. It is no secret where some of her incredible landscape paintings were modeled on.

Tourists always purpose to visit the Tent Rocks. This natural formation lies an hour west of the town. There is a Mars like feeling that comes with it. The rock formations resemble a scene from a science fiction film.

The whole formation was caused by volcanic activity more than 6 million years ago. Monitor lizards periodically duck between the rocks. Many bald eagles also have their nests perched in the cliff faces away from predators.

Last is the Chama River. It traverses most of the state, bringing with it life saving water to the flora and fauna along its course. You might be tempted to think you are not in a desert thanks to the dense vegetation growing by the riverside.




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