CíafrePHOTOGRAPHY

Sunrise over La Huasteca near Monterrey, Mexico

MIKEL CÍAFRE / LANDSCAPE & WILDLIFE

Where the
light lingers.

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LA HUASTECA, MEXICO / SUNRISE

THE COLLECTION

Land. Light. Life.

Landscapes, wildlife, and scenes from the road.

35 photographs

Sunrise illuminates the rocky pinnacles of La Huasteca, while successive mountain ridges recede into the morning haze. Near Monterrey, Mexico. — First lightLa Huasteca · Near Monterrey, Mexico

A bighorn ram faces the camera among red sandstone, its curved horns standing clear against the warm rock. Zion National Park, Utah. — Face to faceDesert bighorn sheep · Zion National Park, Utah

Reflected light illuminates an orange ribbon of sandstone above flowing, purple-toned curves. Arizona, USA. — A seam of lightLower Antelope Canyon · Arizona, USA

A Red Kite banks across a pale sky, revealing a forked tail and contrasting patches beneath its outstretched wings. Wettingen, Switzerland. — On the windRed Kite · Wettingen, Switzerland

A river leads between towering canyon walls, where warm reflected light meets the shadowed water. Zion National Park, Utah. — Through the canyonThe Narrows · Zion National Park, Utah

White water breaks across dark rock, its spray and cascading channels rendered in black and white. Yosemite National Park, California. — Falling waterYosemite Falls · Yosemite National Park, California

A white cascade drops into a shaded pool beneath columnar basalt, framed by autumn foliage. Oregon, USA. — Water and stoneToketee Falls · Oregon, USA

A whimbrel stands at the surf line, its curved bill and striped crown set against soft bands of teal water. Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. — At the water’s edgeWhimbrel · Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico

A Scarlet Macaw rests in the shade, its red tail and yellow-and-blue wings contrasting with dark palm fronds. Bahía Drake, Costa Rica. — Scarlet in the shadeScarlet Macaw · Bahía Drake, Costa Rica

A Central American squirrel monkey rests beside a diagonal branch, its pale face emerging from the green forest backdrop. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. — In the canopyCentral American squirrel monkey · Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Clouds drift around a snow-covered summit, separating bright ridges from deep rock shadows. Switzerland. — Between the cloudsMountain view from Piz Gloria · Switzerland

Snow traces Half Dome and the surrounding granite, framed by dark branches and a narrow band of warm light. Yosemite National Park, California. — Winter lightHalf Dome · Yosemite National Park, California

A pale-headed caracara watches from behind the leaves, with its orange eye caught between layers of foliage. Cali, Colombia. — A watchful eyeCaracara · Cali, Colombia

An orange-billed tern catches the light while the surrounding flock falls softly into shadow. Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. — Among the flockTern · Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico

Two bighorn sheep stand on a steep rock face, their horns outlined against a pale sky. Zion National Park, Utah. — On the ridgeDesert bighorn sheep · Zion National Park, Utah

A white-faced capuchin looks upward from deep shade, its expression and pale fur isolated in black and white. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. — A quiet gazeWhite-faced capuchin · Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Sunlight crosses the high slopes above a deep valley, with snow and cloud defining the distant ridgeline. Switzerland. — Beyond the valleyMountains above Mürren · Switzerland

A tern holds its wings high against an open blue sky, its slender orange bill angled toward the water below. Approximately 13 miles offshore from San Diego, California. — SuspendedTern · Approximately 13 miles offshore from San Diego, California

The Milky Way rises between silhouetted conifers, filling the opening in the canopy with stars. Yosemite National Park, California. — Above the treesMilky Way · Yosemite National Park, California

A fine golden crescent hangs above a dark ridgeline, with the landscape reduced to a simple silhouette. Zion National Park, Utah. — A sliver of nightCrescent moon · Zion National Park, Utah

Warm light reaches a sandstone summit above a silhouetted tree and the deep shadows of the canyon. Zion National Park, Utah. — Stone & skyZion Canyon · Zion National Park, Utah

Rows of orange hoodoos rise beneath a clear sky, revealing the layers and uneven forms of the eroded plateau. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. — Sculpted by timeBryce Canyon hoodoos · Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Warm sunset light glows behind sculpted clouds above a dark, wooded mountainside. Near Ceilán, Colombia. — Evening cloudsEvening clouds · Near Ceilán, Colombia

Double yellow lines lead through a forest where autumn color borders the road. Near Groveland Ranger Station, California. — The autumn roadRoad to Yosemite · Near Groveland Ranger Station, California

Clear green water reveals submerged branches beside a fallen log, with conifers lining the far shore. Near Bend, Oregon. — Still waterDevils Lake · Near Bend, Oregon

A Bald Eagle flies through a lattice of blurred branches, its white head set against the blue-gray woodland. Near El Capitan Reservoir, San Diego, California. — Through the branchesBald Eagle · Near El Capitan Reservoir, San Diego, California

A bighorn ram stretches toward the branches overhead, its curved horn catching the light. Zion National Park, Utah. — Reaching higherDesert bighorn sheep · Zion National Park, Utah

A Ridgway’s Rail steps across exposed mud with a catch in its bill, showing a cinnamon neck and streaked back. Tijuana Slough, San Diego, California. — A successful catchRidgway’s Rail · Tijuana Slough, San Diego, California

Two Sandhill Cranes stand side by side in warm light, their red crowns visible above the dry grasses. Near Sparks Lake, Deschutes, Oregon. — TogetherSandhill Cranes · Near Sparks Lake, Deschutes, Oregon

A Glistening-green Tanager rests on a mossy branch, its emerald plumage accented by a small red-and-white patch behind the eye. Dagua, Colombia. — EmeraldGlistening-green Tanager · Dagua, Colombia

A narrow street opens onto the ornate facade of Orvieto Cathedral, with a passing figure giving scale to its Gothic detail. Orvieto, Umbria, Italy. — An afternoon passageOrvieto Cathedral · Orvieto, Umbria, Italy

Stairways and clustered facades surround the church of San Salvatore de’ Birecto beneath Atrani’s steep rock walls. Atrani, Amalfi Coast, Italy. — Beneath the cliffsSan Salvatore de’ Birecto · Atrani, Amalfi Coast, Italy

The red-and-white facade of the Real Casa de Correos is reflected in water across Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. Madrid, Spain. — Reflections of a squareReal Casa de Correos, Puerta del Sol · Madrid, Spain

A line of ornate balconies and stone facades recedes along a sunlit street in black and white. Madrid, Spain. — Along the streetMadrid streetscape · Madrid, Spain

The church clock and open bell arch stand against a steep rock wall, bringing the scale of the cliff into a close architectural view. Atrani, Amalfi Coast, Italy. — Keeping timeSan Salvatore de’ Birecto · Atrani, Amalfi Coast, Italy

A CLOSER LOOK

Vast landscapes.
Quiet encounters.

Black and white photograph of a waterfall between dark cliffs

BEHIND THE LENS

Mikel Cíafre

Landscape and wildlife photography, from the scale of a mountain range to the stillness of an animal’s gaze.

This collection brings together moments of contrast: sunlit stone and deep shadow, open horizons and intimate encounters.

View the collection