A local's view of New Mexico - in pictures

A downpour during monsoon season (which is in the autumn) at sunset in Jaconita, Santa Fe County. The Jemez mountain range is in the distance Photograph: Gabriella Marks

Lighting of Ledoux is a midwinter celebration – and an annual holiday event – that involves the lighting of numerous farolitos (paper lanterns) along historic Ledoux Street in Taos, New Mexico Photograph: Gabriella Marks

Albuquerque Neon Scout Photograph: Gabriella Marks

Santa Fe Sheriff’s Posse horse, decorated for a dios de los muertos (day of the dead) event at Santa Fe's Museum of International Folk Art Photograph: Gabriella Marks

A touch of the old west … Santa Fe Sheriff’s Posse enjoy the big country while performing a search and rescue drill in Pecos Wilderness Photograph: Gabriella Marks

Get your boots on … vintage children's cowboy boots, from the private collection at Back At The Ranch boot store in Santa Fe Photograph: Gabriella Marks

Maybe don't take it as a sign … east of Roswell town, (you know, the one with the aliens), you'll find an abandoned train station and stores Photograph: Gabriella Marks

Tyre tracks reflected in a shiny paint work of a low-rider car in Chimayó. This rural community 30 miles north of Santa Fe is known as the heartland of the low rider car culture Photograph: Gabriella Marks

Always something to laugh about … production still from Spinners, a short film about the Chimayó low-rider culture directed by Joseph von Stern Photograph: Gabriella Marks

Blink and you'll miss it … Welcome to Elida: lights from the highway at the entrance to the tiny town (population 183) of Elida Photograph: Gabriella Marks