Even familiar places can appear utterly different when viewed from another perspective and that’s a large part of aerial photography’s appeal. As more drones take to the air, we’re likely to encounter an increasing number of bird’s eye images. When dealing with landscapes as vast as New Mexico’s, that’s a boon, because it allows us to grasp both scale and beauty in one picture. Here are 15 photos that’ll make you look at the Land of Enchantment a little differently.
- Bandelier National Monument certainly looks different from above.
Flickr/Joe Bartolini The ruins depicted here, called Tyuonyi, once consisted of 400 rooms, stacked two stories high. This monument is located near Los Alamos.
- Even when you stand at the overlook above the Santa Rita Mine, it’s hard to grasp the size of this operation.
Flickr/jan buchholtz An aerial perspective shows the massive scale of this open-pit copper mine, near Silver City.
- From above, it’s even easier to see why this volcanic plug is called Shiprock.
Flickr/Doc Searls With a little imagination, the sections of greener land stretching out around the rock formation do resemble the wake of a ship.
- New Mexico in general, and Albuquerque in particular, is known for hot air ballooning.
Flickr/Eric Chan In addition to favorable wind conditions, ballooning over the Land of Enchantment provides views like these, so it’s no wonder the activity remains so popular.
- The area around Taos appears really open from above…
Flickr/Meghan Hess …In a way that isn’t apparent when you’re driving at ground level.
- It’s worth clambering to the top of the dunes at White Sands to admire the crest of the dunes and the ripples in the sand.
Flickr/Angi English This national monument is breathtaking from any vantage point.
- This image shows Raton, a city of 6,885 people, from above.
Flickr/Christopher Check out the Goat Hill Overlook if you’d like to see excellent views of this city firsthand.
- Albuquerque is surprisingly easy to appreciate from above because you can drive or take the tram right up to Sandia Crest. From there, Duke City spreads out below you.
Flickr/killbox This perspective is a little different because it includes the Sandia Mountains, meaning that it was shot from the other side of Albuquerque.
- When riding the Sandia Peak Tramway, you know you’re high up but you’re hopefully soaking in the vistas rather than whimpering on the floor.
Flickr/wehardy However, this photo emphasizes the sharpness with which the land descends below the cars. Frankly, I’m grateful to be seeing this image after riding the tram rather than before.
- While we’re on the topic of fighting fears, it’s impressive that anyone had the foresight to snap a photo of this carnival ride while spinning around with legs kicking in the air.
Flickr/mwwile This shot was captured at the New Mexico State Fair.
- Perhaps you consider the suburbs a great compromise between city and rural living.
Flickr/Duncan Rawlinson - Duncan.co Or, maybe the idea of suburbia fills you with dread. Regardless, the way this Albuquerque subdivision spreads out like a fan is pretty neat.
- The High Road to Taos is a popular scenic drive in Northern New Mexico and for good reason - the scenery is astounding.
Flickr/Daxis However, this picture shows the faster Low Road to Taos, which offers plenty of pull offs where you can marvel at the Rio Grande. With views this alluring, there’s a lot to be said for taking the Low Road.
- Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon is the most famous great house in this Chacoan complex.
Flickr/mksfca This perspective allows you to imagine this structure between AD 850 and AD 1150, when it boasted 800 rooms.
- Vermejo Park Ranch belongs to Ted Turner, who is the second biggest landowner in the nation.
Flickr/SkyTruth/EcoFlight Even from above, it’s hard to grasp the fact that the ranch is three quarters the size of Rhode Island! The place is so massive that it spans two states, spilling over from New Mexico into Colorado.
- The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area is a surreal yet stunning badlands in the northwestern portion of the state.
Flickr/Bureau of Land Management Once you descend into the badlands and hike between the hoodoos and rock formations you lose all sense of scale. Thankfully, this image serves as a gorgeous reminder.
Which of these is your favorite?
Flickr/Joe Bartolini
The ruins depicted here, called Tyuonyi, once consisted of 400 rooms, stacked two stories high. This monument is located near Los Alamos.
Flickr/jan buchholtz
An aerial perspective shows the massive scale of this open-pit copper mine, near Silver City.
Flickr/Doc Searls
With a little imagination, the sections of greener land stretching out around the rock formation do resemble the wake of a ship.
Flickr/Eric Chan
In addition to favorable wind conditions, ballooning over the Land of Enchantment provides views like these, so it’s no wonder the activity remains so popular.
Flickr/Meghan Hess
…In a way that isn’t apparent when you’re driving at ground level.
Flickr/Angi English
This national monument is breathtaking from any vantage point.
Flickr/Christopher
Check out the Goat Hill Overlook if you’d like to see excellent views of this city firsthand.
Flickr/killbox
This perspective is a little different because it includes the Sandia Mountains, meaning that it was shot from the other side of Albuquerque.
Flickr/wehardy
However, this photo emphasizes the sharpness with which the land descends below the cars. Frankly, I’m grateful to be seeing this image after riding the tram rather than before.
Flickr/mwwile
This shot was captured at the New Mexico State Fair.
Flickr/Duncan Rawlinson - Duncan.co
Or, maybe the idea of suburbia fills you with dread. Regardless, the way this Albuquerque subdivision spreads out like a fan is pretty neat.
Flickr/Daxis
However, this picture shows the faster Low Road to Taos, which offers plenty of pull offs where you can marvel at the Rio Grande. With views this alluring, there’s a lot to be said for taking the Low Road.
Flickr/mksfca
This perspective allows you to imagine this structure between AD 850 and AD 1150, when it boasted 800 rooms.
Flickr/SkyTruth/EcoFlight
Even from above, it’s hard to grasp the fact that the ranch is three quarters the size of Rhode Island! The place is so massive that it spans two states, spilling over from New Mexico into Colorado.
Flickr/Bureau of Land Management
Once you descend into the badlands and hike between the hoodoos and rock formations you lose all sense of scale. Thankfully, this image serves as a gorgeous reminder.
Have you ever had the opportunity to try some aerial photography? If not, you can live vicariously by viewing this drone footage taken over New Mexico.
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