Tag: Southeast Utah

Less is More, More or Less. 04-23-2025

Geraint April 22, 2025 8 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM This week, saying less is more, more or less.

The old saying “less is more” came to mind when I spotted this van at the trailhead covered in stickers. It was so overwhelming, I certainly didn’t take the time to read more than a few of them. To each their own.

Less is more, van stickers — More is less! Van stickers in Taos.

While browsing my archive, I came across the photos above, followed by this one from Cow Canyon Trading Post in Bluff, Utah. Here’s my shot from 2004 of the Buick Super Eight.
Can less say more? I think so.

And below, a magpie nest that had fallen from a juniper tree on our property. Its exposed structure reveals the intricate work and craftsmanship involved in building a home for a young magpie family—a perfect example, I think, of using only what’s essential.

Magpie nest, inside out less is more. — Magpie nest, inside out, with the roof blown off.

As a side note, I left the nest untouched for a year, in case the magpies wanted to reuse the twigs for their next brood. They did return, but built a new nest from scratch, so I repurposed the old twigs to create the Dancing Magpie Ladder series in this featured post.

As always, Thanks for looking. Have a great week. G

Less Is More

“Less is more” is more than just a design principle—it’s a philosophy, a mindset, and often, a path to clarity. Coined by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the phrase suggests that simplicity and restraint can lead to greater impact, beauty, and meaning.

In a world saturated with noise, distractions, and excess, the idea of less invites us to strip away what is unnecessary. Whether in art, architecture, writing, photography, or everyday life, reducing clutter, both physical and mental, can reveal the essence of what truly matters.

Minimalism doesn’t mean emptiness; it shows intentionality. It’s the white space in a painting that gives form to the figure, the pause in a piece of music that deepens emotion, or the lone word on a page that hits harder than a paragraph. In photography, for example, a single subject placed in a wide, empty frame can tell a more powerful story than a busy scene ever could.

“Less is more” is a reminder to trust simplicity: to allow space for interpretation, for breath, for depth; to do less, but do it better; to own less, but feel more; to speak less, but say what truly counts.

In the end, less is not a loss. It’s a refinement, a distillation of what’s essential. And often, it’s where we find the most beauty.

Valley of the Gods, Big Rock Impressions, Monument Valley Yucca

Geraint April 13, 2022 24 Comments

Greetings, on a cold and windy day, in San Cristobal. If you bear with me, I’m revisiting a few images from my trip to Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley two weeks ago. I have a few personal favorites that remind me of the feeling of being in this magnificent landscape. Photography is not all about the visual. It’s about the feeling that I wish to convey in the image. When I’m standing out in gorgeous light in the landscape, I’m excited to capture an image that speaks to me. It’s also about all the other elements, heat, wind, rain, sleet, and snow that land on me, burning, tingling, and drenching me that I remember the most, the tangible that makes the place I’m in come alive for me.

In the image below, I’m in Valley of the Gods, Utah, kneeling under a big rock where the air radiates the coolness of the shadowed earth onto my face and skin. It’s a perfect spot on a hot day, and there is also a discovered, surprise view framed by the rock and shadow. Naturally, one has to pay attention and keep a lookout for rattlesnakes!

Big rock Valley of the Gods — Under a big rock with one of the many gods.

On a trip in 2019, the Valley is abundant with millions of Yucca plants, not just in Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods but also across southeastern Utah. The pale yellow of the yucca flowers stands out from the red of the monuments. The plants in this image are healthy and promising for another super bloom this year. Keep in mind the native people utilized the yucca for many things. The fibers of the leaves were stripped and used for making sandals, twine for sewing, weaving into baskets, and paintbrushes to paint the intricate designs on pottery. Not the least, the roots were pounded to make a pulp used as soap and shampoo, which is reputed to be a remedy for baldness!

Monument Valley Mitten with yucca plants — West Mitten with Yucca plants, Monument Valley, Utah

Over the years, I’ve spent many nights camping on the Monument Valley rim at the original campground where the “View Hotel” now stands. I’ve stood and stared at the dark silhouettes of the monuments against the pale light of dawn and in the fading evening twilight. The monuments are dark, with an unbroken line between the rocks and the sky, a scene witnessed through time.

I’ve done this kind of shot before, double exposure on film, so I wanted to recreate it in a digital format. When you stare at a scene long enough and close your eyes, it leaves a photographic impression on the back of your eyelids. Photographing around Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley or anywhere else in this area, the images embedded in my eyes transpose to the next visual landmark that I see. It’s very trippy and is what motivated the image below.

I made the image above from two images similar to the ones below. So you get the idea, and I understand if one prefers either, I had a fun time playing with the image to create the vision I had. It’s important to me to play and make photography fun. On my photo tour/workshops, fun is one of the motivating aspects. If it isn’t fun, then it’s work!

Monument Valley Mittens silhouette — Silhouette of the Mittens in Monument Valley.

Silhouette of buttes in Monument Valley — The iconic skyline of various buttes in Monument Valley.

This week I’m ending my blog post with one last picture from Valley of the Gods. The scene presented itself as I came over the ridge before things became technical when making last week’s image.
This area has had a profound impact on me and will continue to do so. It feels like coming home every time I visit. Where I live in northern New Mexico also felt like this when I first set foot there in 1984.

I have lived in and traveled around the Southwest United States for 44 years. I’ve lived here longer than anywhere else. I’ll always enjoy trips to the old country, but my heart lives here in the great southwest.

Valley of the Gods storm clouds, Utah — Storm moving through Valley of the Gods, Utah.

I hope you enjoyed one more trip revisiting this area. I sure did, in memory, pictures, and words. As always thank you for looking. G

Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, March 30, 2022

Geraint April 6, 2022 37 Comments

Greetings on a beautiful spring day in Monument Valley.

Last week I stated that I would post a few more images from the Monument Valley road trip with my friend David. I hope I don’t overdo it!

We went there for the “shadow event” as it is called. In last week’s photo, I told you that it had fizzled out at the prime moment, even so, the light on the landscape was magnificent. In the first two images below you can see that we were not disappointed with the second evening’s opportunity.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park shadow event.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Shadow event. — Monument Valley, the “Mittens shadow event” at the prime moment.

Dedicating a longer length of time to one place, allowed us to explore the area more extensively. Keeping an eye on the weather (one can see the changes coming far off) we were able to make a judgment call and go to where we thought the results would pay off for a photograph.

This lineman in the next photo has the best view of any job I know of. If I were him, I wouldn’t get any work done. I’d be constantly looking around at the view, and possibly electricute myself in the process. That is why I do what I do and he does what he does.

A line man for the county — A county lineman with the best view!

The lineman’s view, notwithstanding, check out his (were he to glance over) and our view in the other direction, over my shoulder. The vista point was a short walk from a turnout on Highway 163. We passed through a stretch gate, up and over a slight rise for a view of one of my most favorite places on the planet. Over the years, I’ve made many camping trips to Valley of the Gods. My preferred campsite is way in the back of this image, where the rain is falling. There are canyons to hike that seem to go on for almost an eternity. It’s a very special place. Can you imagine the night sky from in there with no light polution?

Valley of the Gods, Utah close up of rain storm — Valley of the Gods, a close-up of a fast-moving rainstorm.

From Valley of the Gods, we drove up the Moki Dugway. If you have a phobia of heights and sheer drops better give it a miss. From the top, we went west on a well-traveled dirt road to the edge of those mesas on the left in the photograph below. The view from the edge was quite amazing. In the second photo, I’m looking down to the San Juan River as it meanders through the goosenecks of the canyon and beyond to Navajo Mountain.

Muley Point and clouds from below in color. — Muley Point with clouds from below.

Navajo Mountain from Muley Point, Utah — San Juan River Goosenecks looking to the west and Navajo Mountain.

Back to Monument Valley, the point of the whole trip.

Tree with a view in Monument Valley — Tree and a view in Monument Valley.

A spectacular view in Monument Valley — Spectacular view in Monument Valley, sans the tree.

Just because it was there, I had fun lining up this shot of the Mittens with a random chair…

West and East Mittens framed — West and East Mittens are framed by a vendor’s tent structure.

…and this one!

West Mitten Framed — West Mitten is framed by a vendor’s tent structure.

One last look at the Monument Valley scenic drive from the iconic pair of rocks at the valley vista.

"The mittens", Monument Valley — “The Mittens”, Monument Valley, scenic drive.

Then it was on to Shiprock, known to the Navajo as Tsé Bitʼaʼí – Rock with Wings, and the road home.

Shiprock "Rock with Wings" — Shiprock, Tsé Bitʼaʼí (Rock with Wings), New Mexico.

Shiprock Tsé Bitʼaʼí (Rock with Wings) New Mexico — Shiprock, New Mexico.

Incidentally, this is how our trip began in the early hours of Tuesday Morning on Highway 64 west of Taos, New Mexico.

Driving in snow and ice on Highway 64, New Mexico

I hope you enjoyed the tour. If you get a chance to head out there, I highly recommend it. If you need a tour guide let me know. Prints are available of all these images. Send me and email if you are interested.

As always, thank you for looking. G

Mexican Hat Rock, Southeast Utah

Geraint November 5, 2020 2 Comments

Mexican Hat Rock, on the San Juan River in Southeast Utah. I was feeling a little chilled today so I armchair traveled through Utah. When I landed on this picture I remembered and felt the warmth of that day last year. Thanks for looking. G

Mexican Hat Rock, Southeast Utah

Geraint May 10, 2020 4 Comments

Mexican Hat Rock on the banks of the San Juan River, Southeast Utah. Revisiting a place I’ve been to many times. This trip was this week in May last year. Still armchair traveling around the southwest USA. Enjoy and thanks for looking. G

Bluff, Buick, Cow Canyon Trading Post, Utah

Geraint March 2, 2020 2 Comments

Bluff, Utah, Buick Super Eight at the Cow Canyon Trading Post. I’ll be heading out there again soon on a nine day photo trek. I feel sure this old Buick and twin rocks will still be there, I’ll lay odds on the Buick, but those rocks…? Bluff is great place to visit and stay, or stop for lunch on the road to Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat and Monument Valley Tribal Park. Stay tuned for photos. Thanks for looking. G

Rust On Rust, Dodge Truck, Utah

Geraint December 19, 2019 4 Comments

Rust on rust, on more rust, on a Dodge truck in Bluff, Utah. I’ve made many trips to Bluff over the years. This rusting old Dodge truck has already outlived me. If my memory serves me right, it was there in 1986 on my first visit. This was in May, 2019 and it’s holding up well. Thanks for looking. G

Dodge Truck, Bluff, Utah

Geraint May 10, 2019 3 Comments

Dodge truck, “Job Rated” near Twin Rocks in Bluff, Utah. The rain can make the colors pop and they did on this old Dodge. Date anyone? On a photo tour around the Four Corners. It’s been a trip! Thanks for looking. G

Yucca Plant, Monument Valley, Utah

Geraint May 8, 2019 4 Comments

Yucca plant, amidst a “forrest” of yuccas in Monument Valley, Utah. I’ve visited this most beautiful place a hundred times and it is always magical. I’m not an authority on the place but this is the first time I’ve seen so many yucca plants. Not only yuccas but so many other desert wildflowers are everywhere in this southwest super bloom year. Thanks for looking. G

Valley Of The Gods, Utah

Geraint June 22, 2018 2 Comments

Valley Of The Gods, in the Bears Ears National Monument, Utah. Go there if you get a chance. This image is from a few years ago. It still moves me to the point of distraction, and I madly want to be there. Thanks for looking. G

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