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RDVPhotography

Monument Valley Stormy Sunset

Sunset at Monument Valley as a storm moves through accentuating the sidelight.

Sunset at Monument Valley as a storm moves through accentuating the sidelight.
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Canon EOS 5D Mark II

settings

Aperture f/14.0 ISO 100 Shutter 1/8

upload_date

Dec, 2014

Views

2579

Likes

+281

Awards

Contest Finalist in In The Desert Photo Contest

Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 10 Photo Contest

Superb Composition

+62

Peer Award

+59

Absolute Masterpiece

+28

Top Choice

+27

Magnificent Capture

All Star

Outstanding Creativity

Superior Skill

Genius

Emotions

Impressed

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Categories

was there, didn't look like this! wellldone

PRO+

c'mon man...tremendous view...most unique

PRO+

Thought I thanked you for this but looks like I missed you

Wow you have fantastic lighten there. I voted this for Foto digital. I love the colors of those rocks. I know I went one in NM they are so beautiful when the light hits. And you capture the beautiful clouds too. It is Awesome!

PRO+

Thanks much GigiJim08, been off to Hawaii for last couple weeks and trying to catch up.

More than excellent and well done.

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Thanks very much appreciate the comment

Been there once and want to go back next winter!

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When you go back be sure and stay in the View Lodge right in the park. Stunning views from your room.

Just gorgeous!!!

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We were lucky, this weather was moving in as we arrived and this was from the balcony of our room.

Congratulations!

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Thanks Carol, just found out about this :D

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Beautiful light and the clouds moving in - gorgeous - voted in the desert

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Thanks for the vote and nice comments Kathy

PRO

Congratulations on your gorgeous finalist! This is definitely on my bucket list!

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Saw your comment/message before seeing the email from VB on the finalist selection, thank you very much Kathy. You need to stay at the View Hotel in the Navajo Park when you go and I can give you some tips also.

Ron, Congratulations on your Award! I love this capture a lot. I love the lighting and the clouds play.

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Jelieta, appreciate the comment, thanks.

voted inspiring shots!

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Thanks, I know you have been here before so it means much more to me that you are 'inspired' with this one : D

The beauty that you can never imagine. Voted Covers!

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Yes and I want to go back, thanks

Stunning photo... I have been there many times.

I love the warm tone, voted image of the year!

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You are right, the clouds really do help make this picture!

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Taken right off the balcony to our room, thanks

perfect time. voted battle of the advance!

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Thanks, Gigi, none of mine even made top 30% this time. Lots of competition.

Platinum

Great shot of stormy weather on the reservation.

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Thanks Tex, my favorite place in the southwest

like it!

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Glad you like it Ovos, ever been there? If not put it on your list

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Love the clouds in half of the shot. Congrats on your Awards!

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Glad you like it and thanks for the comment Carol

Platinum

Wow!!! This is spectacular. :)

PRO+

We were in the right place at the right time!

Amazing!

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This was taken right off the balcony of the room at the View Hotel, highly recommend staying there, but a bit pricey. Summertime is to busy so go spring or fall or even winter. Just posted 2 or 3 from that trip

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal park from the balcony of our room at the View Hotel. We had just checked in and it had been raining earlier, so we decided to see what we could get from the comfort of our room and mother nature delivered.

Time

It was about 10 minutes before sunset, 8:08 PM on May 11, 2011. You can see the long shadows in the photo as the sun is setting. Sunset was at 8:17 PM.

Lighting

The light was exceptional due to the setting sun and the clouds rolling in from the east reflecting soft light across the landscape. There were occasional gusty winds that stirred up the sand, which also added to the soft light conditions.

Equipment

I used my Canon 5D MkII with a Canon EF16-35 f/2.8 lens mounted on a Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ball head which was on a Gitzo tripod. Due to the lighting conditions, I was using a slow shutter speed.

Inspiration

Basically we were in the right spot at the right time. In fact we had been hurrying a bit because of rain we encountered on the way to the View Hotel. This is an iconic image of Monument Valley and we had planned for this but just not this light and weather. We were truly blessed.

Editing

I used Light Room to develop this image. I cropped the original to give it a panoramic look then reduced the noise and sharpened for scenic landscape image. I then adjusted the white balance to cloudy from sunny and made adjustments to the shadows and highlights and also small adjustment for black and white clipping. I reduced the orange saturation and adjusted the hue just a bit. I thought I was done until I spotted three spots from my sensor so had to use the spot removal tool.

In my camera bag

I have two bags and each has a purpose. The bag with my 5DMKII (Full Frame Camera) has my 16-35mm f/2.8, 24-105mm f4.0 and 70-200 f/2.8, mainly for everything except wildlife. Bag with the 50D (APS-C) has 24-70 f/2.8 and 300mm prime is mainly for wildlife. If I am traveling by car I take it all, which was the case for this trip. If traveling overseas only bag one goes unless going for wildlife, for that I take bag one with both cameras and swap 70-200 for 300 prime.

Feedback

I think spring time is the best time of year to be here as this region of the country gets thunderstorms and monsoons that time of year. To me it was the clouds that gave this image impact.

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RDVPhotography

Monument Valley Stormy Sunset

Sunset at Monument Valley as a storm moves through accentuating the sidelight.

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow RDVPhotography

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