Monument Valley Tribal Park is one of the premier “western landscapes”. It has been used for countless “western” genre movies. This was a favorite filming location of the Director John Ford, who made many movies here featuring John Wayne and other western icons. Monument Valley is Navajo land. The Navajo operate an excellent visitor center and allow people to self-tour a portion of the area adjacent to the looping, 17-mile Valley Drive. There are some short walking trails at different stops along the Valley Drive. If you want to see more of the valley, you must hire a Navajo guide. The most iconic scene in Monument Valley are two towering sandstone buttes known as “The Mittens”. With the right light and skies, the scenery in Monument Valley can be a photographer’s dream.
The iconic view of the road leading to Monument Valley.
Interesting sandstone boulders create an interesting foreground for a shot of the Mittens in the background.
Clouds make for interesting chiaroscuro lighting effects, as a patchwork of direct sun and shadow illuminate the desert landscape. Chiaroscuro lighting is an artistic term dating back to the Renaissance that is noted by the contrast between dark and light. It is often times used in a bold manner to create a dramatic effect across the composition.
The Valley Drive as it winds past the Mittens.
The Three Sisters and desert sage in the late afternoon sun.
A solitary rider surveys the landscape at John Ford's Point.
The Totem Pole rock formation in the late afternoon sun.
Setting sun on Monument Valley.
A summer cloudburst of rain over the Mittens.