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Monument Valley Sandstorm Sunrise V2



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Awards

Contest Finalist in 80 Stays Around the World Photo Contest
Macro Lens
Contest Finalist in Desert Views Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in The Creative Landscape Photo Contest
Runner Up in Covered In Dust Photo Contest
Honorable Mention in Desert Vistas Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Covered In Dust Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Desert Vistas Photo Contest
Featured
Contest Finalist in Sand Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Peaceful Sunrises Photo Contest
Outstanding Composition
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Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
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christrabant nataliasemova Hadassahfly AkinfeevK CheriseEisdorfer m45tau robwulff +91
Outstanding Creativity
kbryan-photo BrunoHeeb fonvancho Txilekoa FawazLatheef Mandala caitlinzemlanski +44
Magnificent Capture
RoadKing15 keithhempfleng BuckPhotography michaelmarcoux DanielArrellanes fbsanches A_Rachman_Photography +33
All Star
JayneBug PeterEvans23 edandaniphone kathyzeckser Kavanthekid DerrickSteeves ElsieLove +23
Superior Skill
NejcDraganjec debidonahue leonhugo philden S_Alexandra23 Tina_Washlake susankbeard +10
Jaw Dropping
alebalboa brandydement Mountain Karen Bart susanhuckins rg6guy toddmatthewarbini +4
Exceptional Contrast
mikesuarezphotos Adranos JakeWarren radioactivekid KapturesbyKaren
Great Find
toxictabasco richgreene randallnott outdoorgirl
Virtuoso
offpin22 gavinrichardson

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Impressed
NejcDraganjec markmahler

Top Ranks

Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
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World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank
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80 Stays Around the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
80 Stays Around the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Iconic Places and Things Photo ContestTop 10 rank
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Iconic Places and Things Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Desert Views Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Desert Views Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Around the World Photo Contest By DiscoveryTop 10 rank
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The Creative Landscape Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Creative Landscape Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
The Creative Landscape Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Landscapes With Textures Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Compositions 101 Photo Contest vol2Top 10 rank
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Clash Of The Pros Photo ContestTop 20 rank
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Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 4Top 20 rank
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Trey Ratcliffs Put Your Best Foot Forward Photo ContestTop 30 rank
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44 Comments | Report
wolfgang-schram Ultimate
 
wolfgang-schram July 11, 2013
wow very impressive
limar1974
 
limar1974 August 07, 2013
nice redish capture!
jojoxena
 
jojoxena August 13, 2013
Fabulous image,love the eerie light!
SVRphotography
 
SVRphotography August 24, 2013
1st class shot
Arzhtatiana
 
Arzhtatiana September 01, 2013
Cool!
adoptedone
 
adoptedone September 06, 2013
Such a cool shot!
brentmorris
 
brentmorris March 15, 2014
Exceptional
ovosphotography
 
ovosphotography March 15, 2014
great!
danielmartin
 
danielmartin March 15, 2014
Very well composed! Bravo and congratulation for your award!!
TammyN
 
TammyN March 15, 2014
It looks so peaceful....
michelealexandra PRO
 
michelealexandra March 15, 2014
Simply stunning!
HaliSowle
 
HaliSowle March 15, 2014
Such eerie light and color. Congratulations.
amckean
 
amckean March 15, 2014
Stunning.
MRueffer PRO+
 
MRueffer March 15, 2014
Gorgeous! Congratulations!
beetlestone
 
beetlestone March 15, 2014
Gorgeous! Congrats!
toddmatthewarbini
 
toddmatthewarbini March 15, 2014
Fantastic!
biakms
 
biakms March 15, 2014
Mars? ;-)
Well done!
juditharmstrong
 
juditharmstrong March 15, 2014
Wonderful shot
prakashkhatiwala
 
prakashkhatiwala March 15, 2014
Mcanna's Gold relived.
Pegertler Platinum
 
Pegertler March 15, 2014
Exquisite! Love the mood. What would we ever do without interesting weather events?
donaldschwartz
 
donaldschwartz March 16, 2014
Absolutely other-worldly.
Davehook
 
Davehook March 16, 2014
nice mood
Joey_Howard
 
Joey_Howard March 16, 2014
Looks like mars
susanhuckins
 
susanhuckins March 16, 2014
Stunning image, so well captured. Susan
Sunshinesue58
 
Sunshinesue58 March 17, 2014
awesome
dondurante
 
dondurante March 27, 2014
What a superb capture!!!
kirkmills PRO+
 
kirkmills April 22, 2014
Beautiful shot - Voted!!!
jrhalphen
 
jrhalphen May 29, 2014
Very interesting capture of a much photographed location
randallnott
 
randallnott June 30, 2014
A nice twist on an iconic setting.
richgreene
 
richgreene July 01, 2014
Really cool -- although it must have been hell on your camera. We went through a sand storm much like that on the way to Monument Valley serveral years ago...
vastdreamer
 
vastdreamer July 10, 2014
so crazyy
skermy
skermy July 13, 2014
was a crazy morning with the wind, great for my skin complexion but not for changing the lenses on the camera ;)
sweetpea72
 
sweetpea72 July 10, 2014
Stunning ")
skermy
skermy July 13, 2014
Thank you =)
brianwhite_0722
 
brianwhite_0722 May 23, 2015
Supercalifragilisicexpialadocious!
mcampi Platinum
 
mcampi May 23, 2015
Great capture
carolcardillo PRO+
 
carolcardillo October 23, 2015
Whoa! Congrats on being a Finalist!
Elena_Andreeva
 
Elena_Andreeva October 23, 2015
Superb!!!
nandicmb
 
nandicmb November 21, 2015
Congratulations on all your Awards!
artcrowther
 
artcrowther June 25, 2016
Dramatic. Desert coloring.
skermy
skermy June 26, 2016
Was an amazing experience. Thank you.
Witmar
 
Witmar July 21, 2016
great shot
ellexa
 
ellexa July 27, 2016
Stunning!
kristigott PRO
 
kristigott August 01, 2016
I love the way the closer part of the scene is sharp and the farther part fades gradually to the blurred shadows of the giant rock stacks. Captures the eerie beauty of the place so well.
onespeedjimmy
 
onespeedjimmy August 03, 2016
Wow! Talking about desolation!
livioferrari PRO+
 
livioferrari May 24, 2017
Congratulations on the win!
skermy
skermy May 25, 2017
Thank you, was quite a shock when the email came through
garymintz
 
garymintz July 25, 2018
Cool
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

The photo was taken at Monument Valley, I am a self taught photographer, learning loads from 1000's of duff images

Time

This has been one of my most successful images to date, it was taken at sunrise on the Utah Arizona border at Monument Valley during "the worst continual winds and sandstorm for 40 years" - Navajo guide at Monument Valley. Beth and I had arrived nice and early to get the sunrise, we checked our watches/phones for the time after working out which time zone we were in (Utah one time zone, Arizona another) we were getting nothing, and I mean nothing (apart from sand blasted). we hopped back in the car just about to leave the parking lot when the sun decided to pop up between the East Mitten and Merrick Butte, stopped the car grabbed our kit and set up, probably the quickest ever, i wanted to find somewhere with a different view then the generic Monument Valley shots, found this point at the edge of the parking lot and fired off about 6/7 shots.

Lighting

At Monument Valley, never bank on the lighting, nothing is ever guaranteed...... have been there at sunset, getting lovely light on the rocks then a cloud comes over and blocks the setting sun. My advice, sit it out and have lots of patience

Equipment

Canon 500d, Canon 18-55 kit lens (wasn't going to switch in that sand) Benro Tripod

Inspiration

Have loved Monument Valley from the very first time I ever went 5 years ago. I always try and get something different out of it each time i have been, I really didn't think I was going to get anything on this trip, but with a bit of patience and perseverance it paid off and I got this shot

Editing

The only piece of post processing I did on this image was to clone out some-ones garbage they had let fly around this lovely place, and tweak the contrast slightly, everything else is as is.

In my camera bag

Canon 70-200USM Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon 18-55 kit lenses x2 (one only works on MF, face planted on first trip out to the desert) Canon 70-300 Kit lens Batteries x 8 Canon 50D Spare body of Canon 500D (spare batteries and charger)

Feedback

Wrap up warm when you go here for sunrise/sunset shots, with a 6000ft elevation it gets cold very quickly, and the last thing you want to be doing is changing lenses with icy cold hands. my second piece of advice is to try and stay at the View Hotel, it is a little pricey but well worth it, every room faces towards the rocks and has nothing blocking the view of sunrise between the rocks every morning, and with each room having its own balcony perfect for startrails of nightscape photography

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