Top Spots To Shoot Wildlife Photography Santa Fe NM

By Dennis Baker


One tough challenge that every photographer faces is choosing a good location for excellent shots. If you are thinking of heading down to New Mexico, you can rest assured that you will not run out of options. Most of the places in this article are excellent for wildlife photography Santa Fe NM.

Upon arriving in the town, the first important attraction you will notice is the Loretto Chapel. It only lies a couple of blocks away from the Plaza. Its lush history cuts across decades. Despite the impressive history it has with a similar cathedral in Paris, it is surprisingly small in size.

The point of attraction in the church is the Miraculous Staircase. There are many stories about how the staircase came to be. For one, it was constructed without glue or nails. It also lacks a visible central support system despite 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.

Originally, the ranch owners had planned to make the ranch a haven for relaxation and conferencing. Georgia OKeeffe, a massively successful artist, spent her developmental days in it. A number of her most famous pieces may have actually been thought of in the ranch. You can easily tell this from her famous landscape paintings.

No one ever leaves this area without visiting the Tent Rocks. It is a natural rock formation located 1 hour west of town. It gives you the feeling of being in planet Mars. The surrounding rock formations are simply out of a science fiction movie.

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.

The Chama River caps it all. It cuts across the state, providing water to the many species of wildlife in its path. The surrounding lush vegetation makes one mistakenly think the place is not a desert.




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