Dawn on Monument Valley
On the land of the Navajos
On the land of the Navajos
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Mar, 2019Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This is a photo of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. I'm an amateur photographer and it was a real pleasure for me to take pictures during this great 18-day roadtrip I did in the western USA.Time
I remember getting up early, well before my daughter and husband, to set up on the balcony of our hotel room with my camera and tripod. It was a bit chilly, but I was excited to see the sunrise over the buttes. It was by no means certain that I would ever be able to return to this mythical spot. I patiently waited, then admired the dawn while taking a series of photos from which this one is taken. It was October 29, 2018 at around 7am.Lighting
Dawn and dusk are undoubtedly the best times of day to capture images of sublime light. Sunrise illuminates the ochre-colored desert with its warm light, while the blue of night gently fades from the sky. All I had to do was wait and marvel at the spectacle. My camera just captured the beauty of this moment.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon EOS 6D, with an EF-24-70mm f/4L IS UM lens, and a tripod.Inspiration
When I was a child, I loved watching westerns, fascinated by their arid landscapes. As I live far away from the American West and the desert, I wanted to take some pretty photos of Monument Valley as a souvenir. But I wasn't satisfied with the result, as the day's light was too harsh. So I preferred to wait until the next morning and try my luck again at sunrise. I don't regret it!Editing
Of course there's post-processing. Firstly, because I only shoot in RAW format, post-processing is a must. Secondly, because it's always interesting to be able to play with the contrast, dynamics, curves... of a photo to reproduce on screen what our eyes and brain have recorded.In my camera bag
I've now replaced my old 6D with a dashing Canon R6 II, which I'm very happy with. My basic lens, which I use in 85% of situations, is an RF24-105mm f/4. I prefer it to the f/2.8 version for reasons of weight... and price. I also have an RF16mm f/2.8, which I need to learn to master, and an old first-generation EF 70-200 f/4, which still serves me well.Feedback
Patience and perseverance! Photographing at dawn also requires a bit of courage sometimes: getting up very early to go out into the dark and the cold so as to be ready to shoot at the right moment... but the result is worth the effort, because these moments are magical and the images you bring back are so special!
