Early Morning in Monument Valley

[Mike Z]

This is another shot from my amazing morning in Monument Valley.

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The guides take everyone to the Totem Pole, but I don't think usually to the area where I took this shot because mine where the first footprints.

Mike

 

[qwest4light]

Super shot

Mike Z, Great colors and contrast. Picture perfect I would say, thanks for sharing.

 

[LizBug]

WOW love the colors. looks like it came right out of a calendar or a book. awesome shot.

 

[JeffKohn]

Beautiful shot Mike, I love the ripples in the sand, and the warm sidelight on the rock formations. Sky is maybe a touch over-polarized given the wide angle of view, but that's really nitpicking. This is definitely a shot worthy of hanging on the wall.

 

[little big man]

Great shot, Mike - you've captured the textures of the sand really well and the color is great. I would try adding a gradient layer to the top to even out the polarizer effect, but other than that you've nailed it.

Sean

 

[RForshey]

The totem pole is a tough area to shoot and make look good. You got it right Mike, nice job!

 

[krispee]

beautiful, love the rich colours especially....

kris

 

[Anthony747]

Mike, I like that shot a lot! Great job.

Anthony

 

[eng45ine]

What a great shot in every way. I've traveled near the Monument Vally, but never close enough to get any shots. After seeing this, I am so envious.

 

[Electromen]

Wow , it's shots like this that make me want to go there.

 

[Frits]

Oh my! What a place, what an image - fabulous!

 

[TOLady]

Mike, that's simply beautiful! Getting up early, and knowing how to shoot the scene has paid off in spades.

 

[Mike Z]

Thanks to everyone for your very nice comments.

Things were happening very fast when I took the shot and I don't even remember if I had a polarizer in place, because I had been shooting before the sun broke over the cloud bank and just continued. If I did have it on, I was moving too fast to adjust it for each shot and shooting as fast as I could because it was such a magical moment and I was bracketing.

The lighting was as dramatic as you see in the photo. I've only done a slight levels adjustment on the high end and a small amount of USM to avoid halos on the rock formation. The vision that remained in my mind as I was walking back to our truck was how the bushes were lit up as by spot lights.

Much to the D200's credit, the best shots in each bracketing series were the first ones (the initial reading).

Mike

 

[Sharon]

Wow! That's beautiful. The light is amazing, as are the colors!

 

[davidwcramer]

Great shot Mike. A real beauty!

 

[greyflash]

Great shot, love it. This is such a beautiful area when the light is right and it certainly was for you.

 

[tojor]

Wow, what a sight. Awesome light. You made me want to go immediately.

 

[sonuj2]

A wall hanger for sure Mike! Amazing shot indeed. Looking forward to meeting you June 3rd at the barbecue with PhilK.

 

[RFCGRAPHICS]

Picture Perfect !

Regards

RFC

 

[Mike Z]

Sharon, David, Gordon, Torben, SJ and Robert,
Thank you all for your nice comments. Several months ago we had a survey in which we described ourselves. I said that I was an amateur who every once in a while takes a nice shot. I think, based upon the comments I've received on this photo, this must be mine.
Thanks again,
Mike