Photographer's Note
You know when you have your GPS set, and you decide to go a different way…..usually it readjusts for the new direction. Well…. We set out from Moab for Mexican Hat where we were staying for visiting Monument Valley. On the map there are two routes in a sort of square, and by eye the distances seemed about equal. In the direction the GPS didn’t use was Natural Bridge National Park, and although we hadn’t planned to visit there we thought it would be a good idea, so we went in the other direction. The GPS didn’t readjust but kept repeating “Turn around when possible” about every half mile or so. That’s when Rob Christened it Whingeing Wendy and turned it off! We duly had a quick visit to Natural Bridges National Park, and carried on. Eventually we arrived at the gloriously named Moki Dugway, or at least, the top of it. The Moki Dugway is the 4 miles vertiginous, switchback, gravel road down from the top of Cedar Mesa. Whingeing Wendy obviously didn’t recommend we go down there.
This image is taken from the top of the Moki Dugway and shows part of The Valley of the Gods on the left of the road. The unmade road is 17 miles long. You can see the track going off to the left. The main road you see going through the picture eventually leads to a right turn and then Monument Valley, which, on a clear day you can see from here. Before turning right to Monument Valley a right turn leads to Gooseneck State Park.
Anyway we set off down the Moki Dugway. Bear in mind Rob was driving, there are no barriers and he has vertigo. Also those of you who have driven cars on the side of the road you’re not used to (In the UK we drive on the left) will know you often forget to take account of the car space on the passenger side! However we did make it down safely! In the WS is a shot of Cedar Mesa from the bottom. The ridges are the road of the Moki Dugway.
Just as a side note do you notice the pink cast under the clouds, especially those on the right? I was fascinated by that throughout this area. It’s the reflected colour from all the red rocks. (It’s very noticeable on the full size image)
ISO200, FL24mm,
Wandering_Dan, Floydian, cherryripe, delkoo, robiuk, gunbud, cbrman, UlfE, jlbrthnn, Photo65Net, snunney, Cricri, Sistercosmo, fulvio52, stego, xuaxo, saylan-cb, shevchenko, riclopes, Dyerco, JCG, josepmarin, pasternak, Royaldevon, Bluejeans, Kielia, Angshu, Emile trouve(nt) cette note utile
Critiques | Translate
wolf38
(30) 2009-01-06 8:23
Hello Kath. A fascinating landscape. In addition an exemplary text. Outstanding. Best regards, Wolfgang.
pauloog
(11751) 2009-01-06 8:33
Hello Kath,
Quite a view, with good contrasts between th sky, the brown landscape, and the gren bush in the foreground. And really an impression of wide distances.
Regards,
Paul
Wandering_Dan
(3449) 2009-01-06 9:51
Hi, Kath -
Lovely wide open and minimalist shot; putting the green bushes in the left fg is just the right touch. (Though I can't figure out what that little streak in the top of the bush is.)
GPS can be single-minded and narrows your options. Use a map. You know, that old-fashioned paper thingy. I don't take orders from machinery; I give them.
Best,
Dan
rgarrigus
(0) 2009-01-06 10:23
Hi Kath,
Reminds me of an Alan Briot image in the tones. Great depth and nice addition of context in that lower left corner. The polarizer has given a very slight magenta cast to the clouds/sky but not a big deal. Your notes are probably the very best on TE. I'm amazed at how you have time to be so thoughtful. Much respect.
Cheers!
Bob G.
Floydian
(30970) 2009-01-06 11:29
Katie ;-)
I've been here twice, both times heavy clouds with a terrible view to the far distance. But here i see finally how it could look like when the weather is good. The valley of the Gods are waiting for us down there, a great area but first that lovely decent ;-)
First time i was careful, second time i was brave knowing what to expect, especially the first three corners ;-)
Fine view Kath, you had really great weather...
Henk
barrufeto_77
(28888) 2009-01-06 11:48
Hi Kath.
Wowwwwwwwwwww! What an excellent picture! The depth is impressive! I really love that road!
My compliments!
Rgs, Oscar
cherryripe
(21033) 2009-01-06 12:14
Hi Kath
The GPS thing happened to us once here in Switzerland and it was quite hilarious but eventually got so annoying that we turned the GPS off.
The view is superb and I love the depth created by the rocky outcrop in the foreground and the long road heading off into the background.
Regards
Nikki
delkoo
(68) 2009-01-06 12:35
hi kath,
I like the bright and vivid colour in this, especially that incredible red. Good use of the road to lead us into the image too.
wild and pristine landscape.
best regards
didier
gneufeld
(15890) 2009-01-06 13:33
Hi Kath,
Quite amazing depth both vertical and horizontal in this one. Good perspective and this shot really shows the expansiveness of this region. Great idea well presented. TFS. Gerald
robiuk
(10807) 2009-01-06 15:00
What an amazing vast landscape - what a colour!
I keep looking at your pics Kath with my jaw dropped down
and even though previously uninterested for natural
wonders of the US, now I start feeling something towards it...
some sort of desire to go wild in a wild country
that looks like a wild planet...
Cheers,
Robi
gunbud
(34066) 2009-01-06 20:23
Hi Kath,
This uniquely colored and textured makes for a striking lead-in to the distant hills and beutiful cloud banks.
The zig-zagging road adds excellent depth and the foreground green a brilliant contrast to the sandy red plains.
Regards, Tom
cbrman
(21685) 2009-01-06 22:01
Hello Kath,
Incroyable décor. J'aime beaucoup la route qui semble zig-zager dans le désert. Les couleurs sont superbe. Le point de vue est grandiose et est bien rendu par ton cadrage.
Bravo !
A+
Dominique
UlfE
(14641) 2009-01-06 23:46
Hi Kath,
Wonderful view. The DOF is impressive and I love you inclusion of the bushes in the foreground. The sky with its beautiful clouds is an extra bonus. TFS and have a nice day!
Cheers,
Ulf
jlbrthnn
(76043) 2009-01-07 3:20
Hello Kath,
To have landscapes like this one to photograph, is a privilege which I envy. The sight is fantastic, the photograph is masterly. Congratulations.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël
Photo65Net
(43144) 2009-01-07 3:29
Hello Kath,
What a depth !
The landscape is amazing with its warm color... Superb image,
Have a nice day,
JB.
zeynepe
(0) 2009-01-07 3:47
Hi Kath,
I feel dizzy a little bit,your level should be the same as the clouds:)
what a fantastic bird's eye view... And I need the full size for seeing the pink cast :) I can see but I just want to get closer...
Congrats and enjoy your day,
Zeynep
snunney
(130967) 2009-01-07 4:47
Hello Kath,
A great capture of this very expansive landscape. I like the way the road snakes across the valley towards the distant ridges. The interesting sky adds to the mood and provides a pleasing diffused light. I like the natural unsaturated colours. Very useful things GPS's but also the subject of much argument and discourse between driver and co-driver ;-)
Cricri
(176) 2009-01-07 5:31
Hi Kath
Un POV façinant de cet endroit merveilleux, j'aime la route qui serpente dans la vallée et sa couleur trés particuliére, trés beaux WS aussi et note, quand meme bien utile le GPS je trouve!!
Good day for you
cricri
BlueRaven
(37) 2009-01-07 6:54
Hi Kath,
This stirs a lot of memories from my last trip... I drove the Moki Dugway several times, up and down, but didn't find it *that* scary. I thought the Shafer Trail in Canyonlands N.P. was a lot more difficult to drive. The road through Valley of the Gods is equally interesting. My biggest problem was that I had to stop hundreds of times to take pictures. ;o)
Anyway, great shot, it really shows the vastness of this area. You were really lucky with the weather, too. Last time I was there, it was drizzling - no chance to take a decent picture. But there's always a next time.
Thanks for sharing, best wishes
Claudia
Sistercosmo
(242) 2009-01-07 7:51
Hi Kath,
wonderful view of this immense valley! Great shot!
Thanks and take care,
Linda
trekks
(14348) 2009-01-07 9:11
hi Kath
Good composition and depth at f/18 for this landscape view of the valley and really fine perspective that runs so deep into the desert and including the mountain range at far distance. Really a vast open piece of land carved out by nature.
tfs, bill
carper
(96) 2009-01-07 9:13
very beautiful Kath,
marvelous view and well composed I like it a lot. have a nice evening
regard jaap
fulvio52
(8314) 2009-01-07 10:05
Hi, Kath.
I'm presently working to a new post from Mexican Hat, so... seeing this and your WS was not only coincidental, it was a more than pleasant surprise. Yes, the light management is once again awesome, you've perfectly captured that unique pink cast typical of this whole area. A brilliant touch of yellows and greens in bottom left, great overall definition (never an easy task with heat & haze doing their damn best to fuzz it all up), SPLENDID comprehensive view, TFS! I'm presently going through a Mexican Hat Blues, same applies to my brother... Wish I could be out there with a beer right now... Have a nice evening, see you soon.
Fulvio.
stego
(24132) 2009-01-07 10:09
Hi Kath,
I guess Ricardo will complain about the absence of any human figure. :-) I don't, but if there was a group of horsemen down there, many people would try to remember in which classic Western they saw this gorgeous location.
All that red vastness, which doesn't seem to offer that many options compo wise, but you used wisely the road and the FG bush. The clouds, whose reddish tones seems to reflect the earth are wonderful also.
Whingeing Wendy... Good name! :D
Regards, José.
xuaxo
(6854) 2009-01-07 14:02
Olá Kath,
This is America! What a grand landscape!
Forget the GPS ;-)
Cumprimentos
..-. .-. .- -. -.-. .. ... -.-. ---
saylan-cb
(12738) 2009-01-07 14:31
Hi Kath,
Superb POV!Great capture and wonderful colours.
Excellent work!
TFS/Regards
emka
(157280) 2009-01-07 14:38
Hi Kath,
Very funny note. We also often talk to our GPS and sometimes I said : shut up! when we wanted to avoid highway and it said Turn around when possible. I was amused to read about your experience. But it happened also "he" was right. Splendid vpanorama. I suppose we also went through the Valley of Gods. and this red colour, marvellous.
Warm regards
Malgorzata
Waylim
(25436) 2009-01-07 18:44
Kath,
Wow, I passed by this area and decided not to make the detour, there's so little time and so much to do and see. Next time. This is a very nice overview and the whole area, giving us a really nice impression of what to expect, off course I'm sure once we're down, there'll be so much more to it. Love the fiery red rock all around contrast so perfectly against the blue sky and the vegetation in the foreground give so much depth to this emense landscape. Thanks
Way
plimrn
(21344) 2009-01-07 19:55
Hi Kath (and Rob),
Your beautifully broad vista really captures the wide-open feeling of the place, usually with this kind of desert vista, haze predominates in the distance. However your photo says exciting from golden bushes on the heart-stopping drop to the ridge-line on the valley floor that intersects with the road. The road maintains the progression toward the lavender canyon and in the distance the puffy clouds drop rain on the blue mountain. An extraordinary work.
Larry laughed out-loud when I read your note to him. Your road reminds me a bit of the road to Bella Coola - 18% downgrade, one-lane road with 2 way traffic. At least Larry wasn't the one with vertigo. However, I have no pictures of that road so you're clearly braver than me.
HLj, Pat
shevchenko
(20560) 2009-01-07 20:27
Hello Kath,
Aha....read your note about using GPS, then now I remember the electronic road direction system in my city, we call it GPS Garmin, really terrible, it guide us to use the roads which have to pay tol's charges, then when we not follow the road show by the system, will came out the announce "recalculate".
Good pov to show the wide landscape, the canyon and dry land are too broad and have similar color and structure all along the way, GPS is usefull at here I think. Blue sky add relaxing feels and foreground plants add fresh feel to the hot zone, thanks for sharing your travel experience.
Ally
riclopes
(35577) 2009-01-07 23:57
I would be thrilled up here and also during all the vertigo way, although I would prefer a person without afraid of heights, behind the wheel ;-) This is a breathtaking view and you got a good yellowish FG to hold the whole image. We just have to jump to the road at right (only for people without afraid of vertigo ;-) and follow it through the plateau. Not so noticeble the pink cast under the clouds but it's amazing to know that it's from the red rocks. The Mexican hat is funny but you didn't got the best light conditions. On the other hand the WS1 has beautiful colors and sky.
ric
John_F_Kennedy
(43797) 2009-01-08 3:09
An impressive view to a wonderful landscape with splendid light and colours. Beautiful composition, very well done.
Best wishes,
Achim
coco
(30439) 2009-01-08 6:21
Hi Kath.
Much better than the WS. This wide view looks very nice and I love the colours of this valley.
Thanks for sharing.
Dyerco
(10185) 2009-01-08 9:28
Hi Kath
A wonderful vista with some FG interest. The colours are superb and the clouds have a three dimensional look to them.
Very nicely done. TFS.
Phil
keribar
(43841) 2009-01-08 11:34
Hello Kath,
What a wonderful landscape, incredible colors and clouds look as if you made a special order: I also like the way you framed the bottom with the bush.
Keep well - Izzet
JCG
(35153) 2009-01-08 12:07
Hi Kath,
Still a beautiful impression of vastness on this photograph, it is impressive. Of this height, one wonders why the road is not in straight line !!! I like much the natural light and colors just like on your photographs complementary to very good quality. A beautiful series of images on this part of America and thank you for the interesting note.
With all my friendships and a very good evening,
Jean-Charles
josepmarin
(59385) 2009-01-08 12:07
Hello Kath,
WOW! The image depth in this spectacular landscape takes the look to us up to the infinite.
It is impressive, your POV is perfect to obtain this good result in the plain and the valley, which has a few amazing rocky formations.
The sinuous road is an eye-catcher that invites to our eyes to fly towards the horizon.
A magnificent work.
Best wishes,
Josep
pasternak
(15185) 2009-01-09 11:42
Almost an image from another planet, except the greenery on the left, of course...:) The depth is amazing, the winding road helps this a lot.
Cheers
A
Royaldevon
(85606) 2009-01-09 13:07
Hello Kath,
Another awe inspiring shot!
I'm glad you anchored us in the f/g with those cliff-top shrubs before our eyes were launched down into the valley. The winding road is a good lead towards the distant mountains and Monument Valley.
You have shown tremendous depth and the composition is perfect.
Kind regards,
Bev :-)
danyy
(0) 2009-01-09 15:10
Bonjour Kath,
vue fabulause et avec de l'altitude, une profondeur qui grandit.
L'avant plan astucieusement inclu, participe à cette profondeur, j'aime aussi la richesse des couleurs, ces rouges et bleus qui s'opposent bien.
Best regards and a great we.
Daniel.
Bluejeans
(64251) 2009-01-10 3:35
Ola Kath,
Que beleza de paisagem de cores lindas , ficou lindo este primeiro plano com esta vegetação em tons de verde , gostei muito do céu , boa profundidade de foto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo
Kielia
(24077) 2009-01-10 8:14
Hi Kath,
what a great capture of this desolated valley and thanks for the excellent bonus-shots. I have read a lot about this place but now I have an imagination. Your composition is perfect and your note is very interesting! Congratulation!
Warm regards
Harriet
Angshu
(56760) 2009-01-12 20:31
Happy Birthday Kath (I am writing this around 4.30 am UK time...so date is correct)
The depth, talking about both the horizontal & vertical is something which is brought out amazingly here. Vast areas of arid red country, with the road zigzagging through the landscape. Yes I did notice the red hues in the clouds, but your note answered by query. The Mexican Hat is indeed an interesting rock formation...have seen the picture of it somewhere...maybe Tan's picture. It is difficult to compose a picture of such a desolate landscape & your work here thus is even more admirable
Best Regards
Angshu
Best wishes for the day.
Emile
(20352) 2009-01-13 21:32
Hola Kath.
Beautiful landscape, your high POV give us an amazing view of the valley with a magnificent depth. Good colors and nice sky. Thank you for your note.
TFS.
Best wishes.
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Kath Featherstone (feather)
(51130)
- Genre: Lieux
- Medium: Couleur
- Date Taken: 2008-09-17
- Categories: Nature
- Camera: Nikon D300, Nikkor 24-120mm AF-S, VR, RAW, HOYA 72mm PL-CIR
- Exposition: f/18.0, 1/80 secondes
- Versions: version originale, Workshop
- Carnet de voyage: USA 2008
- Date Submitted: 2009-01-06 8:13
Discussions
- To pospos: temperature (1)
by feather, last updated 2009-01-06 08:31 - To rgarrigus: Notes (1)
by feather, last updated 2009-01-07 03:13 - To Wandering_Dan: little streak (1)
by feather, last updated 2009-01-07 04:19 - To Floydian: Moki Dugway (1)
by feather, last updated 2009-01-07 06:29 - To BlueRaven: Moki Dugway (1)
by feather, last updated 2009-01-07 02:38 - To plimrn: 'Larry laughed out-loud' (2)
by feather, last updated 2009-01-08 08:54 - To Angshu: Birthday (2)
by feather, last updated 2009-01-13 02:16