The one thing that differentiates our planet from others is water.  It is life blood coursing through our veins.  El Agua es la Vida.  Water is particularly evident at this time of year when snow melt is filling streams and rivers and ponds, overflowing and spreading its wealth over the land.  Although in New Mexico we have a tiny percentage compared to the snow melt in California, Washington state, and Virginia, where according to our friend, Lisa, four inches of rain fell yesterday, it is, nonetheless, vital to our lives.

And our waterways are really running this spring.  Whether it is the Rio Grande del Norte or the Rio Ojo Caliente, or if the water is quietly burbling in an acequia or rushing towards its goal, all that water is a thing of beauty. There is still snow in the high country, but the pond along Highway 64 between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla that I photographed last year, will soon be quite full.

pond near the Highway 64 pass

Much of the snow melt from the south side of the Highway 64 pass adds to the Rio Ojo Caliente watershed.  The photograph below was shot and is presented here "dirty" - power lines, fences, assorted buildings included.  Just a week after this image was made, more trees and bushes are already showing green.

Rio Ojo Caliente  

Another shot of the Rio Ojo Caliente, toned.

Rio Ojo Caliente toned

It is often hard to tell the volume or intensity of the water in the Rio Grande del Norte when shooting from above.  The cut in the earth, however, tells of its power over the millennia.  

Rio Grande del NorteKONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

Since each and every body of water has its own characteristics, you will, no doubt, be seeing more images of our life blood in coming blogs.

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image@