Conversation, Monument Valley, 1987
Conversation in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona 1987. Something fun in the form of a flashback, to one of many trips made with four friends over the years. Each year, in spring, the five of us could be found on the road traveling around the American southwest. Photography happened, with hundreds of images shot on film Southwest and yes there were some keepers made of the amazing landscapes we encountered. Mostly the ten days were filled with a lot of fun and camaraderie, forging long lasting friendships. We also recycled many garbage bags full of cans and bottles! The view of the southwest from the open bed of a pickup truck was an immersive way to travel before it became illegal facing where we’d been rather than looking forward to where we were heading. Thanks for looking. G
Roads, Southwest Style, Traffic Jam
Roads, southwest style, traffic jam. This area was predominantly sheep ranching years ago. Shepherds would take their flocks from New Mexico, north to the rail heads in southern Colorado. This was a small group of about five hundred head of sheep. The truck had to wait about twenty minutes until they were past. Thanks for looking. G
Comb Ridge, Utah, Last Light
Comb Ridge, Utah. Last light of the day, last week at Comb Ridge. It was raining all around, but the sun cast a few shafts of light and tipped it’s hat before saying goodnight. Here’s another view from a few years ago. Thanks for looking. G
White Pocket Rocks, Arizona
White Pocket Rocks, Arizona. White Pocket is located in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. 30 to 40 miles on rocky and sandy roads keeps the number of people at a minimum. It still has an air of peaceful solitude. I was so overwhelmed by its beauty, I didn’t know which way to turn. Mostly I drank in the scene vowing to return soon. This scene is approximately 5 feet by 6 feet a macro of the larger landscape it makes up. Stay tuned for a larger view. Thanks for looking. G
The Mittens, Merrick Butte, Car Headlights
The Mittens with Merrick Butte and car headlights. Monument Valley, Navajo country at night. Many aspects of the southwest are stunning. This scene, with headlights from a truck driven by a Monument Valley resident is encumbered by the light pollution from distant towns. Farmington NM, Bluff UT, Cortez CO and more illuminate the horizon. The bright foreground light is pollution from the hotel on the valley rim, formally occupied by a campground frequented by large groups of German tourists playing western movie tunes on boom boxes. Things change. Thanks for looking. G
Monument Valley, Roadside Kokopelli
Monument Valley, roadside Kokopelli. Sticking with the Kokopelli motif, as seen juxtaposed with the landscape around many locations in the southwest. This one calls passersby to stop in and purchase local Navajo artwork. Thanks for looking. G
Kachinas, The View Hotel Trading Post
Kachinas with reflections at “The View Hotel” and Trading Post in Monument Valley. I hope you get to visit and spend some time in this most beautiful part of the southwest United States. Thanks for looking. G
Kokopelli, Monument Valley
Kokopelli, Monument Valley. Stopped at one of the vendors and spotted this view through the rear of his stall where he sells his arts and crafts to the tourists. I have a whole photo essay and perhaps more than a lot to say reflecting on comments made to me by a number of the people we met in Monument Valley. Read more on Kokopelli here. Thanks for looking. G
Monument Valley, Arizona, Utah
Monument Valley, Arizona, Utah. A bit of a dusting at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. On a private photo tour this week at some of the best locations in the southwest. Luxurious accommodations and the vista from my room at the “View Hotel” in the valley this evening. Thanks for looking. G
White House Ruin, Canyon De Chelly, AZ
White House Ruin in Canyon De Chelly National Monument, Arizona. It was wonderful and cool standing in the shadows of the White House Ruin in Canyon de Chelly today. It’s obvious to see why the original inhabitants built the dwellings where they did. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Take a tour some day with the guides at Beauty Way Jeep Tours. They will share their stories and home with you. Thanks for looking. G
Dancing Kachinas Monument Valley
Dancing Kachinas, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in Arizona. Ferreting through my hard drives to illustrate a story, I came across this image I made in the gift shop at “The View Hotel” on the Monument Valley rim. Here’s a link to the hotels website. Thanks for looking. G
Acoma Pueblo Blue And Gold
Acoma Pueblo blue and gold building. The sunlight reflecting off the buildings on the opposite side of the street illuminates those in the shadows. The gold of the southwest is the light. Thanks for looking. G
Between Rooms, Chaco Canyon, NM
