Monument Valley, a photo from Utah, West

Photographer's Note

This is a repost of the very first photo I posted here on Trekearth. I straightened the crooked horizon, changed the color balance, and fixed the pixilated sky. Thanks everyone who critiqued this photo the first time for bringing these problems to my attention.

Original Note: This was taken on my first visit to Monument Valley, about an hour after I arrived. It was overcast when I arrived and it didn't look like there would be much of a sunset, but then the sun broke free just before it disappeared over the horizon. What a spectacular place.

Film: Fuji Velvia.
Scanned with a Nikon Coolscan 5000 ED.

alonsote, belido, mpdre, zeca, pboehringer, edytungkal, AnimeshRay, luiscar, cbrman, gelor, bakes888, luisafonso, Floydian, mphotographies, fayeulle, lilimih33, Dpbours, crisnique, woladorsky, MayaG, Angelillo, Francisco_Brito, cherryripe, Bluejeans, Mistral, bruce_wayne, daddo, andante, wishlist, riclopes, xkolba, InasiaJones, IgorDeleze, sevy, kabel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

alonsote (244) 2007-07-05 18:12

Hi Ryan,
Superb photograph, what I like the most is the colours and depth. Very nice composition.
Congratulations
Alonso

dospordostres (1170) 2007-07-05 18:31

Hi Ryan,
This picture is really beautiful, as much as the others in your gallery, and this version looks better than the previous one. Thanks for posting it.
Saludos,
Daniel

Polonaise (5802) 2007-07-05 18:33

I had to jump several times from one to another in order to decide which one I like better...
Ryan, brother...Don't do these trics for me again... Please !
I've got only one brain and its capacity is used entirely for trying to remember my address...
I don't need any extra un-necessary puzzles in my life... (:-))))))
-------------------
I still don't know which one is more beautiful...
Dammit...

Stunning photography as it is.

George

ViktorVaughn (1525) 2007-07-05 18:48

You have fixed some problems from the last one, especially in the colours of the foreground. The added shadows make this a better photo.

This is one place I can't wait to visit in the United States, and what beautiful lighting you have with the fading sun, and beautiful sky.

Regards

mpdre (1611) 2007-07-05 19:26

Hi Ryan! Very good capture. It's the first time I see it. I like the warm colors and the shadows falling on the mountains. The road add also something to the composition. I find this one an improved version compared to the original.

Good work!!!
Andre

partha (14023) 2007-07-05 19:34

Hi Ryan,
Amazing shot. The world looks different here. Great colour tone and composition.Very good use of light as well.
Regards.
Partha

Ann75 (0) 2007-07-05 20:13

Hi Ryan,

Wow, amazing shot! The color are absolutely fantastic, not to mention the amazing scenery! Great POV with fantastic lighting, a beautiful sky and great details! Excellent work, Ryan...I love those strong colors!

Greetings,
Ann

grantlp (2113) 2007-07-05 20:20

Hi Ryan,
This is a fantastic image of Monument Valley. The orange colour acoss the rock outcrops is amazing and the clarity is superb. I like the variations in the earthy tones across the flat landscape, and the inclusion of the winding road adds good interest to the overall view. Well done.
Cheers Grant

zeca (19762) 2007-07-05 20:29

Hi Ryan!
Amazing landscape to say hello to the aliens! They choosed very well! ;-D
The nice lights and its hot tones are great and make this a true postcard! Excellent work!
Regards,
Zeca

edytungkal (4551) 2007-07-05 21:29

Hello Ryan
I think both of your pictures are wonderful but i prefer this one, the foreground looks more nature. Very superb colours and sharpness are well. tfs

regards
daniel

AnimeshRay (9089) 2007-07-05 21:35

What an astonishing beauty...the color, the sky and the famous landmark all combine to make a perfect visual delight.

luiscar (3286) 2007-07-05 22:07

Hello Ryan, spectacular image with a big scale of colors very well compueta between this magnificent sky and the reddish ground.
postal photo with big fund
a greeting.

cbrman (21685) 2007-07-05 22:38

Hello Ryan,

Wahouu ! Monument Valley au couch� du soleil ! Superbes couleurs sur ces 3 幯ormes rochers 廨rod廥 ! La route du premier plan nous guide vers eux en sinuant dans ces terres aux teintes ocres ! Vraiment superbe !
Bravo !

A+

Dominique

gelor (3233) 2007-07-05 22:52

Bonjour Ryan,
De superbes couleurs et une tr鋊 belle composition !
G廨ard

bakes888 (18499) 2007-07-06 0:33

Hi Ryan. To fit such a vast landscape into 800 pixels is a difficult task but you managed well. The road and car give this image the scale it needs. Great colour and composition thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

luisafonso (862) 2007-07-06 0:33

That's it, I am creating a "Favorite Landscapes" theme. Impressive capture my friend! Oooppps, better switch to Portuguese... ;) Eu falhei esta quando fizeste o poast pela primeira vez, mas tenho a dizer que est� ligeiramente melhor, especialmente as cores na parte inferior que est緌 mais naturais. A composi誽o � linda e o horizonte centrado resultou mesmo bem. Est� com uma luz incrivel! Grande foto.

Floydian (30970) 2007-07-06 0:35

Looking back to your first one...i never wrote on that one. Photography is a play with light and that is exactly what you did here. The other one is much to red in the highlights.
This is a classic view, for most people the first view they see when entering MV.
There is still something mytical about film. You have to shoot at least in RAW if you want to come close to this result, but than that final feeling, that is something we can't put our finger on. I see and feel that, and you see and feel that also...it is the magic of the Velvia. We both know that and we both know that the biggest problem is a good scan. I have to work hard to bring out the scan to live, i need all my skills in PS to make something out of it. And it seems you improved your skills a lot seeing this one compared to the first upload. Now it lives, now it has that depth, that magical feeling all landscapers are trying to get.
I worked on a few Velvia's last month and the more i worked on it, the more i felt that digital is nice, but still not comes close in trying to get that feeling. This photo lives, in color, in contrast, in saturation and in light, and that's what's it all about. I was here last year, the weather was not perfect, but none of my images comes close to this one...PERFECT..!!!
Regards, Henk

tehanu_f (6896) 2007-07-06 1:58

The place is indeed spectacular, Ryan. I find the rocks a bit too oversaturated, but it doesn't ruin the beauty of the shot. The half overcast sky compliments the view nicely. Your high vantage point - I guess nearly as high as the rocks - enables you to give depth to the scenery. Congrats.
Fusun

jonathan_hart (21276) 2007-07-06 1:59

hello Ryan
excellent contrast ! the colours are amazing thanks to a very good light at that moment, indeed spectacular, it's a very good shot ;)
regards
jo

mphotographies (1976) 2007-07-06 2:26

Hey Ryan,

STUNNING!!!

Just as the 'red-sun' rising, I see a strange surreal landscape, the million of years museum is totally on red 'hot' rock! The towering rock formation glows its 'red-rust against the shadowy clouded azure sky. Everything broadens away to the horizon when you follow the cloud patches. The foreground path/road secretly draws our eyes to the secret canyon floor, seeing the scale of the vista as a lone traveller passes thru...A magnifiscent stark of mysterious beauty well presented here in TE!

Best Regards!

Jom

fayeulle (27827) 2007-07-06 2:27

Hi Ryan
This repost is highly better than the first one. This is now one of the best picture of this amazing place.
Cheers
JP

Dpbours (222) 2007-07-06 2:28

Hi Ryan,

My first thought, and perhaps I owe you an apology, was 'That's a nice shot of Henk Meijer....'. Then again, Henk is a great photographer and he's praising you loads for this shot as I can read, so in that sense, my thought is also a big compliment!
Yeah, I fully agree with Henk. The magic of Velvia, the power of photoshop and now a perfect result. Great shot! Goes directly to my theme 'Landscapes with WOOOOW!'.

Have a good weekend!
Dennis

lilimih33 (9918) 2007-07-06 2:40

Hello Ryan!
Fantastic colours and light and really great composition!
Beautiful perspective and lovely place!
Excellent done!
Lili

crisnique (857) 2007-07-06 4:21

Ciao Ryan!
You did a very good job here with an excellent improvement of colour tone.
Well done!
Greetings from Italy.
Cristian

woladorsky (806) 2007-07-06 6:18

Hi Ryan!!

Great work!! what would photography be like without all this nice programs?

cheers

Rolando

pboehringer (770) 2007-07-06 7:12

Hi Ryan, a very nice shot to be used as grand overture furioso for TE. I didn't see it back at that time and I'm glad that you did a repost using all the critiques to improve it. It seems to be flawless now! A true marvel and slowly I'm comprehending Henk's (floydian) enthusiasm for Velvia.
Stunning work!

cdmonson (5304) 2007-07-06 7:25

Hi Ryan:

I thought the original was great, but you're right, this is an improvement. I think the sky looks much better, not just the lack of pixellation but the color as well, and the colors of Monument Valley look much more real without losing their vibrancy. I haven't been down this way in 11 years--wish I had the time and money to go this summer. Thanks for sharing.

Clark

Cormac (26565) 2007-07-06 7:44

Stunning shot Ryan! The sunset light peaking under the clouds before dropping below the horizon is amazing - with the low angle and warm color you get a wonderful combination of colors. It's almost like a spotlight has been shone on the landscape. This is one to really be proud of. Superb!

rajhema (1873) 2007-07-06 8:30

I have a similar shot. Your is superior to mine. The enhanced reddish colors because of sunset is awesome. Simply a wall hanging collection Ryan.
TFS
Rajesh

chicken (1557) 2007-07-06 10:21

A classic, very well executed. I especially like the winding road leading into the landscape, and that tiny car giving out some idea about the grandness.
Thanks for reposting, didn't browse that far back in your gallery :-)

cam (9043) 2007-07-06 15:10

Hi Ryan
It is always worthwhile to wait until after the last moment,we never know what will happen and when it does,it doesn't last.
A great capture,one to be proud of.
the colors are exceptionnal,
The road with the truck gives a sense of scale,those monuments are huge.
A composition with the monuments in a triangle with the road in the front center leading to them,very effective.
Charles

MayaG (2415) 2007-07-07 16:09

Nice re-editing Ryan, the colours stand out much better - not only the sky, but also the greens on the ground. It is really a spectacular place and your photo really did justice to present it in all its beauty.
Its cute how much similarity I can see in yours and Luis's landscape photography (I'm actually talking about some other photos in your gallery also). You guys must be some kind of photographic soul mates ;))
regards
Marija

Angelillo (9374) 2007-07-08 2:54

Hi Ryan,

It's fantastic this shot. In comparison with the original, the improvement is really wonderful. TE is an amazing site, and this one is a really proof! The lights are magnificent, the red color againts the sky very beautiful. I like the road in the shot, with the little car, it gives us the scale, and contributes to te perfect balance. Wonderful! Thanks.

Regards,
Angel.

baba_flies (8829) 2007-07-10 3:40

Hello Ryan! I am glad to see that also you re-post :) I don't know if this was necessary but I like the sky better than in your first edition (the noise is gone). Lucky you that the sun came out letting its rays shine on the rocks. Truly something. I was there in winter once, with just a little snow ... something that I will never forget. Take care, wonderful work, Barbara.

crhieatt (5347) 2007-07-10 13:22

Yikes!!!!
Scarily fantastic vision of Monument Valley Ryan - and one of the few scans I've seen which seems to have really captured the brilliant saturation of Fuji Velvia (R.I.P. 50 ISO!).
Beautiful.
Regards
Colin

Francisco_Brito (219) 2007-07-11 7:26

Hi Ryan!
I tried to locate the original post with no sucess: I would like to compare both.
This one is great, although maybe with excessive red saturation (i'm not sure: maybe the original is naturally saturated, but... :)

Cheers,
Francisco

cherryripe (21033) 2007-07-11 10:15

Hi Ryan
Already I liked your original version so I won't repeat what I wrote but it was right to repost as it's even more stunning. This time it's going in my favourites.
Regards
Nikki

leo61 (0) 2007-07-11 11:18

Hi Ryan!
Fantastic shot of these unique rockformations.Great colors caused by this wonderful and warm light.Excellent POV and good composition with this curvy road in the foreground.The little blue car is a nice detail.
Regards,Leo

rbcy1974 (20758) 2007-07-12 5:18

Hello Ryan
Really beautiful colours, a divine light,
excellent composition.
YOu have really managed to capture the majesty of the place.
Well done
Regards
Daniel

jmcl (14535) 2007-07-12 21:10

Hi Ryan,

Wondrous .. the sky is endless .. the shadows are as tremendous as the beautiful light .. the shadow of the one on the other .. the way they seem to be rising from almost a mist of darkness .. wonderful .. into my favorites ..

take care,

John

barni (15751) 2007-07-13 3:41

Hello Ryan
Incredible sky and colors.
Congratulation
Christophe

anes_lc (14968) 2007-07-13 4:52

magic picture .such place i must see...is fantastic.
great quality of picture ,and good saturation of colors
best regards,anes

giorgimer (35017) 2007-07-13 5:01

Hi Ryan,

this is one of the best places I've ever seen! I went there for my honeymoon. Great colors and light in the image, nice DOV

TFS

Giorgio

sebinho342 (19329) 2007-07-13 6:00

Such amazing, crazy mother nature to have done that beauty ... and thanks to your talent to have it shot like that.
This is part of the marvel of TE, happy to have a gallery that yours on TE.
Have a good week end mister Thayne

Bluejeans (64251) 2007-07-15 6:54

Ola Ryan fantastico lugar , esta tres montanhas coloridas pelo sol , o ceu ficou muito bonito , gostei muito da cor do deserto , bonitas as cores ,parabens!!!
Um abra蔞 Gon蓷lo

veronika (6058) 2007-07-15 8:29

Hi Ryan,
ooh this si so rich as for the colours, could be a postcard :)
Fantastic image
Vero

zumoduvas (2069) 2007-07-15 10:58

Hello Ryan.

Excellent picture, nice composition and colors.

Regards.

rminkow (1556) 2007-07-16 20:39

Hi Ryan...this is a wonderful photograph. The colors, composition and clarity are really good.

Roger

umbrellaphotos (1901) 2007-07-20 13:43

Ryan,
This is still a ridiculously great image. The colors and the color are quite remarkable.

There's not much more to say,

Brian

lucinka (9976) 2007-07-27 0:54

Hello Ryan, I am really glad that with my vote I can bring you over the 100 points mark. You've done well to repost this beautiful photo. I can see that you've really improved your PP skills since. It is never easy to scan a shot and give it its original colors and feel. Well done. Lucie

Mistral (15416) 2007-07-31 10:43

Hi Ryan
really a stunning shot of a well know place: I love the sharpness, the great light and the perfect composition.
A smile
Luca

bruce_wayne (1507) 2007-08-01 15:54

Hi Ryan
fantastic shot with great colors, those rocks are beautiful...very well done!

Alessandro

daddo (28748) 2007-08-02 4:15

Well Ryan, what can one say when faced by such grandeur and such beauty? Thanks for capturing so expertly this wonder land. I am practically speechless. My compliments. Klaudio.

goodwill (4274) 2007-08-15 10:18

Hi Ryan,
What I am observing these days....is that the reddish brown colour is catching more eyes. The blue always attracts ,the yellow steals the show , but lastly I find that reddish brown is seeking into our mindsets and asking for more.
Without the pasage in the shot, it would be totally flat.
I think the shot lacks the depth(just mine personal opinion and nothing else).
Take care,
Rajeev

France (125) 2007-08-21 18:11

Hi Ryan,
Nothing to add. It's perfect. Pure beauty. The warm colors of sunset, the path which leads the eye, the sky ... Congratulations !
France

Lilly716 (240) 2007-08-23 7:44

Hi Ryan,

Yet another great shot of many in your gallery! Nice composition and color. Nice detail and sharpness. The only thing that seemed to look a bit off is the sky. It has nice colors, but appears to be a bit blurry or grainy maybe? Not sure, it could just be the way the clouds appeared that day. Still, overall a great photo!

Take care,
Liz

andante (7092) 2007-08-23 9:55

Talk about great compositions... can't think of a better idea to evoke the sense of scale to a monument, than to put a car on distance... that little blue dot between the two rocks blew my mind.
This Is Insane!
Enrique

wishlist (4133) 2007-08-24 11:14

Hi Ryan,
superb landscape with a great dof..amazing! Compo speaks for itself, no need to add any comment. This view is breathtaking. Incredible quality in the details you managed to get and the lighting is stunning!
thanks and regards
Igor

sagar (2410) 2007-08-26 0:33

Hi Ryan,
This is so beautiful!!!Certainly one of the best I've seen in TE!!Nature is so selfless that she gives so much for us to enjoy!!I ;m adding you to my favorites list!!
Regards,
Sagarneel.

riclopes (35577) 2007-09-22 2:42

Ol� Ryan, tens tantas imagens t緌 boas e impressionantes que me deixo embalar na tua galeria por bastante tempo at� decidir que tenho de parar...Esta faz-me sonhar - nunca resisto a vistas destas, sobretudo quando s緌 de lugares espantosamente bonitos como � este. O caminho a ondular por a� fora com o carro t緌 pequeno l� � frente � um grande extra na composi誽o. O 1� post j� era bem impressionante, mas este est� de facto muito melhor. Um excelente re-post.
Um abra蔞,
ricardo

donluicu (24741) 2007-10-09 9:13

salut Ryan
c'est une superbe image, tres bien ger嶪 en argentique (wow)
tres bon choix de filtre

ciao

jocduerr (217) 2007-11-02 15:39

amazing shot!
Those reds are so typical for this place.
Nothing more to say....

Best Regards,
jochen

xkolba (596) 2007-12-16 9:14

Hi Ryan,
Fantastic capture, with wonderful light. Everything about this image is perfect! You did a excellent work here, I add this picture to my favourites.
Best regards,
Maciek

brandstaetter (15915) 2008-01-04 8:18

Hi Ryan,
a perfect qualtiy for a scan and a nice second try ! So many jewels in your gallery, hard to choose.
Cheers christian

guitianmiranda (22) 2008-01-05 15:20

Perfect picture of the Monument Valley, hope some day to be there and shot some thing close to this. Regards.

rico (514) 2008-02-05 4:30

Hi, Ryan. This shot has 130 points today. I am going to give it 2 more! rsrsrs
You make very nice and professional pictures, like this special one. Fine detail of the blue car at the road.
Thanks for sharing.
Rico

marietom (34611) 2008-03-06 7:35

Hello Ryan,

Magnifique composition, aux superbes couleurs.
Marie qui revient

InasiaJones (31566) 2008-03-14 5:57

Hi Ryan,

I was thinking to myself: "Let's have a look to Euryan's gallery to see the shots that I've missed"..., but it didn't take long before I feel the urge to stop and comment this one... What a great moment you've caught here! Wow!

Fabulous! The way you describe how the sun suddenly appears is one of the great moment of joy in photography, the little miracle, the unexpected luck. You couldn't wish to get a better light and you were ready to catch it. The big and large sky expanding, the red hot rock formations and the textures valley. The kind of work you see on covers of coffee-table books.

Grandioso!

Andr�

capthaddock (28790) 2008-03-23 17:48

I haven't seen the original, but this is a beauty, the sky adds a different twist to the stereotypical Marlboro man idea. I'm surprised the hard edge of the ND is not discernible at all, either because thats normal since this is only a 1 f-stop filter, or you placed the edge exactly at the horizon.

josien (175) 2008-04-01 12:39

Hello Ryan,

You're an artist. I've been flipping through the pages of your gallery a great many times and I love your clear and very beautiful work. And yet, I haven't commented any of it, so it's about time to do so. I think the light and the colours in this composition are spectacular (as is ofcourse the phenomenon). I hope that one day I'll be right there.
Thanks,

Kind regards,

Josien

jimkilgallon (0) 2008-05-05 9:37

Hey Ryan

Looked through your archives to see if you had any captures of Monument Valley and I wasn't disappointed. My trip to this unique place was shrouded in dust storms from 80mph gusts which gives a different perspective to Monument Valley, but one I had not hoped for.
Brilliant exposure, the reds are striking and punchy and the cyan/blue sky compliments this well. Very good shadow and highlight detail. Sharp, composition is fantastic, well done
Regards
Jim

scalerman (26900) 2008-08-17 2:59

How do you do it man????? I'm a simple street shooter.. but I lack the skill of the tripod...
c

brevbrev14 (140) 2008-09-02 7:41

Hi Ryan, the light here is just wonderful and the place too
amazing sky and result
ciao
Valeria

IgorDeleze (585) 2008-10-24 3:53

Hello Ryan,
I've foud this one on the home page ...
That's a mistake from me to have missed this beauty.
The light on the red towers is fantastic.
Greetings.
Igor

sevy (58) 2008-10-24 10:39

Hello,

As Igor, I am a bit late to comment this photo, but it is really a pure beauty. Typically, the kind of photo I hope to shot one day.
This landscape a place I dream to go and it is perfectly taken: good colors, good sky, and good work of scan to get the right contrast, white balance and color rendering. I know it is not always easy.

Yves.

danielz (82) 2011-02-18 6:29

Hi,

I like this photo very mouch. Colors and nature object are great.

Keep a great work. :)

Best regards from Croatia,

Daniel

fds (9963) 2011-08-04 6:14

fantastic picture and great colors and light

kabel (1930) 2012-05-03 19:44

Hello, this is an amazing photo of Monument Valley.
+Great capture of light on the rock formations. Fuji Velvia film has such a strong and different effect than the digital. Simply beautiful.
TFS,
Karen