Photographing Monument Valley

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Tuesday, 16 October 2018 - Started the day photographing Church Rock in morning light, drive to Hunts Mesa and hiked out onto the mesa's edge revealing the breathtaking vista into the valley, admired the sweeping red buttes and desert contours, enjoyed the shifting sun and clouds over the landscape at sunset, and ended the day with steaks cooked by the outfitter before settling in for a night under the stars.

monumentvalley2018 — Church Rock in the morning light - it was a bit flat so black and white.

Church Rock is another volcanic plug - all that is left of a 25 million-year-old volcano

monumentvalley2018 — We then drove to Hunt's Mesa after breakfast. As we approached the edge of the Mesa LeRoy stopped the vehicles and asked us to step out - no cameras - and walk to the top. As we approached the top, he asked us to turn around and walk backwards so we would not look into the valley. He then told us about the magic of the place and the spirituality we would experience when we did turn.

This was the tree I was facing while waiting to turn - very pretty against the sky.

monumentvalley2018 — LeRoy asked us to turn around and this was the view - from Hunt's Mesa - breathtaking. It was spiritual.

Hunts Mesa forms the southeastern edge of Monument Valley, elevation is 6,370 feet.

monumentvalley2018 — I liked the little rocks marching into the valley floor

monumentvalley2018 — Big buttes miles away through a telephoto lens

monumentvalley2018 — The rock formations swirling and flowing - made when there was a seabed millions of years ago.

monumentvalley2018 — A stream down the cliffs into the valley

monumentvalley2018 — Giant cliff which has shed some rock - that butte is several thousand feet tall and little rocks at the foot the size of tractor trailers.

monumentvalley2018 — We had hiked out to a point on Hunt's Mesa - at the edge of a cliff. And there on top of the cliff in a crack in the rock was a hedgehog cactus in bloom. We had seen few cactus and none were blooming.

It was an amazing find in the rocks and we all took turns taking its picture.

monumentvalley2018 — Sun and the clouds playing on the rocks.

monumentvalley2018 — Virga from the clouds over Monument Vally - the rain did not make it to the ground.

monumentvalley2018 — Monument Valley in the setting sun

monumentvalley2018 — The sun peeking below the clouds on the rocks

monumentvalley2018 — The red rocks are even more vibrant in the setting sun.

monumentvalley2018 — While taking pictures of Monument Valley I noticed the view behind me - the setting sun was hitting a rock formation across from the valley.

monumentvalley2018 — Photographers on a cliff catching the sunset over Monument Valley

monumentvalley2018 — Last light in Monument Valley

monumentvalley2018 — A black and white of Monument Valley

monumentvalley2018 — The sun setting under the rain clouds

monumentvalley2018 — The sun slipping behind Hunt's Mesa

This evening we will camp out on the Mesa. The outfitter set the camp and cooked steaks for dinner. I did not sleep that well - but at least I was up for sunrise.

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