Here is the online gallery from my recent trip out to Monument Valley Tribal Park with the master photographer, David Muench -Monument Valley Gallery
The photo above is from the dunes area at the far back end of Monument Valley. You need a guide to get you there - they are very easy to find, but us white folks are not allowed to enter without a guide.
Hey Don, I brought home plenty of that fine red dust so you can wipe your feet on it and get it inside all of your camera gear while you are here! You would have appreciated a situation David ran into down in New Zealand (or Aussie, I forget which one) - entire hillsides covered with these incredible TALL and colorful lupines, but the locals hate them and mow them down every chance they get...
Sounds like it was a trip of a life time Tim! Glad you had fun and a safe return home! Looking forward to seeing some of the "rookies" pictures from out west!
Hey Tim, glad you made it back in one piece! That t-bone - on - a styrofoam plate experience could have been a real disaster Can't wait to hear some more stories, and see some Ernst classics!
This has to be one of the most interesting places on the planet to photograph! And, you could'nt have asked for a better mentor. The geologic processes have carved out some beautiful sculptures, and it has such a rich Native American history. I think you've done a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of this great place. Nice work, Tim, thanks for sharing!
I think that one may just be mostly a close crop with a little bit of added on either side with a couple of other photos - that new back gives me so much resolution I can make a large pano print right out of the middle of the frame without having to stitch anything together, however I did add a little bit since my lens would not go wide enough, but not too much.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on May 29, 2007 at 10:45 PM
Not bad for a "rookie". You know, I think you just might have some potential as a full time nature photographer Tim. Great stuff!
Maybe you should lead the next CSNP gathering to this area! Never too early to start planning ... say this time next year?
The dunes were one of my favorite locations to shoot. They are off limits to the touists, and way back in the far end of the valley. I had first thought there might only be a single dune that you could shoot with the totem pole and other features in the background, but the dunes are spread out over a wide area and there are dozens of great locations to shoot. The only problem is that if another photographer (or rich tourist) walked all over your perfect dune shot before you got there. But I guess if that were the case you could probably hike around until you found another. The guides picked us up at 5am for this shoot and we arrived just minutes before the light started getting good. I saw some larger dunes that were closer to the sandstone features, but by that time the light was gone - maybe next time.
By the way, just FYI, the shot of the dunes that is currently posted above (and in the gallery) is of a dune that was only about 20 feet wide and ten feet tall. With such a small area to work with and at the angle we were viewing it (the sun rising to our left and just behind us), you really had to think about your own position relative to the dune and the shadow that you cast on the dune. I was last in line (and on the left) on purpose - when the sun arrived those on the right side of the dune got a lot of shadows from tripods and photographers right across the middle of the sand while those of us on the left side got nothing but sand. Dang photographers always get in the way...
Discussion
15 repliesThe photo above is from the dunes area at the far back end of Monument Valley. You need a guide to get you there - they are very easy to find, but us white folks are not allowed to enter without a guide.
Best,
Don
Wheeler
Thanks for sharing.
I think that one may just be mostly a close crop with a little bit of added on either side with a couple of other photos - that new back gives me so much resolution I can make a large pano print right out of the middle of the frame without having to stitch anything together, however I did add a little bit since my lens would not go wide enough, but not too much.
Maybe you should lead the next CSNP gathering to this area! Never too early to start planning ... say this time next year?
Just had a chance to look the gallery over. Very nice indeed!
I see they have re-paved the highway at the Forest Gump spot since I was there a couple of years ago.
By the way, just FYI, the shot of the dunes that is currently posted above (and in the gallery) is of a dune that was only about 20 feet wide and ten feet tall. With such a small area to work with and at the angle we were viewing it (the sun rising to our left and just behind us), you really had to think about your own position relative to the dune and the shadow that you cast on the dune. I was last in line (and on the left) on purpose - when the sun arrived those on the right side of the dune got a lot of shadows from tripods and photographers right across the middle of the sand while those of us on the left side got nothing but sand. Dang photographers always get in the way...