Lost City of the Lukachukai (Uncropped Repost)

Well, it ain't lost anymore!

I have no idea how this extremely remote ruin in N.E. Arizona came by its name, but it does set high in a canyon that drains the Lukachukai Mountains on the Arizona/New Mexico border.

I made it here just before the big storms of last week, which will isolate this place for yet another winter in its centuries old existence.

Canon 40D w/24-105 lens @ 50mm
1/160 @ f7.1 ISO 200

WOW! Great comp and the BW treatment is awesome. Nice work.

Impressive site, John! I've never seen any images from here before.

What made you cut off the wall on the left with the square composition?

Thanks!

Good question, Bill. Looking at the original, I can't say as to why I did that.
I'll post the uncropped version later today.

Very nice! Looks like a magical place, completely outside of our concept of time.

Was the original vertical? I'd love to see more of the desert varnish. On my monitor, it also looks like the image could use just a little more "punch."

Thanks for the suggestions! I really appreciate them.
This is the uncropped version with a bit more punch.

Love the desert varnish. Interesting scale too. Looks like a worthy subject, nice choice with the B&W treatment.

Dramatic light and subject matter, this is fantastic, and I'm a color kind of guy.
Is this a place one can visit on their own, or is an Indian guide required?

Love that name. Sounds like a Indiana Jones title! The desert varnish definitely puts this one over the top. I think I'd chose the square crop myself, but I'd maybe like to see a little more contrast to it (like you did with the repost).

I agree with the square crop; i really like the way you chose to include much of the overhang above, the diaganols are great and it gioves it better context. I like the B&W as well. I notice some uneven blurry spots in the immediate fg, not sure if this is due to pp, the lens, or aperature.

Great shot. I like the square format.

RichieV

The square crop gives a more powerful vertical feel, but I like the contrast boost in the second. I don't think I have a preference for either, but I like them both. What a cool place!

Very cool John! I prefer the full version comp and pp. Reminds me a little of White House ruin. You get to see some awsome places that most of us do not.

Love the repost. Great details as well.

Do I have to pick?

I love the sense of scale that the dwellings give the cliffs. Also the runoff marks on the cliffs really draw my eye to the dwellings. Great job!

Great Image
Thanks for finding, working hard to get there and sharing it with us.

Both are very nice, but I prefer the square format.

I think you could add some interest to the image by stretching the light values up a bit though. The shadows and midtones are very well placed, but it seems like the highlights are veiled.

Great photos John. I like the full frame best. Thanks for sharing.