Canyon de Chelly & Monument Valley (three D2x pics)

Two weeks ago Mike Worley and I had the opportunity to photograph in and around Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley. For those of you unfamiliar with these parks in the Southwest US, they are both on a Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona (Monument Valley extends into Utah). Canyon de Chelly is a National Monument and Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park. Both have drives that are open to the public and both can be explored in depth with the accompaniment of a Navajo guide. We hired a guide who took us into Canyon de Chelly (consists of two canyons, Canyon del Muerto and Canyon de Chelly) for a full day (driving our 4x4 vehicle) and who provided a detailed description of the ecology and history of the canyons as we went along. At Monument Valley we only had time to take the scenic drive that is open to the public, but that provided a good overview of the photographic possibliites in the park.

Mike has already posted one of his shots from our Canyon de Chelly trip: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=16067194
and I have put some of my shots in two PBase galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/jcolson/canyon_de_chelly_november_2005
http://www.pbase.com/jcolson/monument_valley__november_2005

Here are a few that I like. I welcome your feedback, positive or negative.







I'll be adding a few more shots to the PBase galleries in the next few days. Thanks for looking.
Joe
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Joe Colson
http://www.pbase.com/jcolson
DPReview & PBase supporter

Hi Joe,

I just had a look at your pbase, no kidding Canyon de Chelly is beautiful. I now wish I had taken the trip there instead of the 'trail of the ancients' that I did. Your Spider Rock shot is very nice too!

Cheers,

Sander Meurs
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My photogallery: http://portfolio.sanderfoto.nl

coming from you, that's quite a compliment. I enjoyed your recent shots of the Southwest US very much and your shots of the Grand Canyon in particular inspired me to plan another trip sometime soon. I've never been able to get a decent shot of the Grand Canyon but I know it's possible. Thanks again and be sure to visit Canyon de Chelly on your next trip.
Joe
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Joe Colson
http://www.pbase.com/jcolson
DPReview & PBase supporter

Thanks for the preview. Tomoko and I are headed to the four corners area between Xmas and New Year, and these are two of the stops we had planned. Nothing like a top-quality preview of an upcoming vacation :^)

Have a Merry and a Happy, Joe, and say hi to Sherry for me.

Ron
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Ron Reznick
http://digital-images.net
http://trapagon.com

we had great company with Mike & Claire. Our guide in Canyon de Chelly was Ben Anagal with De Chelly Tours (928-674-3772). He has spent his life in the Canyon and knows every nook and cranny. I also recommend the Holiday Inn in Chinle as a place to stay. If you want to be at Monument Valley for sunrise, stay at Gouldings, just across the border in Utah. If you're lucky, you may be blessed with some snow on the rock formations.

I wish a very merry Christmas and a healthly and happy New Year to you and Tomoko. Enjoy your trip and thanks for your comments on my photos.
Joe
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Joe Colson
http://www.pbase.com/jcolson
DPReview & PBase supporter

Joe,
Looks like you and Mike had a great time! Merry Xmas to you and Sherry.

Bernie
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Saratoga Lefty
http://www.pbase.com/saratoga_lefty

May you and Sophie have the very best of holiday seasons and a healthy and happy New Year. We've got to start planning our 2006 shoots soon. Got any ideas (other than Costa Rica)?
Joe
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Joe Colson
http://www.pbase.com/jcolson
DPReview & PBase supporter

Wonderful images. The Mummy Cave photo is very, very impressive. I took a tour though the canyon a few weeks ago - it gave the canyon a whole different feel. It's an honor to be guided by one who grew up in the canyon. You captured those chocolate walls very well. Thanks for sharing.

David
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I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. --John Muir. http://www.davidcramer.com

Joe Colson said:

Two weeks ago Mike Worley and I had the opportunity to photograph
in and around Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley. For those of
you unfamiliar with these parks in the Southwest US, they are both
on a Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona (Monument Valley extends
into Utah). Canyon de Chelly is a National Monument and Monument
Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park. Both have drives that are open to
the public and both can be explored in depth with the accompaniment
of a Navajo guide. We hired a guide who took us into Canyon de
Chelly (consists of two canyons, Canyon del Muerto and Canyon de
Chelly) for a full day (driving our 4x4 vehicle) and who provided a
detailed description of the ecology and history of the canyons as
we went along. At Monument Valley we only had time to take the
scenic drive that is open to the public, but that provided a good
overview of the photographic possibliites in the park.

Click to expand...

Very nice!

I shot Monument Valley 2 years ago and in retrospect wished I had sprung for the guide.

Cheers,
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Zane
http://www.pbase.com/devonshire

Nikon D2x & Fuji S2

I swear we were on different trips! We just saw totally different things, and I regret not having even attempted an image of the Mummy Caves Ruins like yours. We'll just have to go back!

But we did go back to Tsegi Overlook on the morning we left. I won't start another thread with more images, and just append this one where I took advantage of the clouds that had come (experimenting with a new presentation style here, with the frame and all):

To be totally honest, I had difficulty trying to capture the many ruins and rock art in a way that did them justice. I didn't have very many keepers. But the Mummy Cave Ruins were so impressive that I spent some time trying to capture the expanse of it all. Thanks again.
Joe
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Joe Colson
http://www.pbase.com/jcolson
DPReview & PBase supporter

Zane Paxton said:

I shot Monument Valley 2 years ago and in retrospect wished I had
sprung for the guide.

Click to expand...

Zane,

We had a guide in Canyon de Chelly but not in Monument Valley. But next time I'll definitely hire a guide in Monument Valley to see some of the "secret" spots. Thanks for the comments.
Joe
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Joe Colson
http://www.pbase.com/jcolson
DPReview & PBase supporter

All I can say about your Tsegi Overlook image is "Suitable for Framing". Well that's not all I can say. I can say that it certainly rivals Alain Briot's similar shot. Your comment about seeing different things is the exact reason I find it more productive to shoot with fellow photographers than shoot alone. We "see" different possibilities. Thanks again Mike for the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with you and Claire in the magical desert Southwest.
Joe
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Joe Colson
http://www.pbase.com/jcolson
DPReview & PBase supporter