Mystery Arch Photo

Photographer’s Note

One more shot from Mystery Valley to show you what else it has to offer as well as views into Monument Valley. It is part of the Navajo Reservation and out of bounds to everyone unless you are accompanied by a Navajo Guide.

There are several arches and I apologise that I can’t remember the name of this one. This was taken late afternoon, although the light was still a bit strong, so the red is a bit paler. It was also incredibly hot! I took shots from various PsOV. An alternative is in the WS

ISO200 FL28mm

Edit I googled Mystery Valley arches and came across this website I now know the name of this arch is Stout Arch.

Next: Colorado

Floydian, gunbud, Guenther, saxo042, xuaxo, fulvio52, robiuk, cbrman, Cricri, ktanska, rodgerg, danos, Dyerco, Emile, chrisnet, Graal, jlbrthnn, JCG, Sistercosmo, stego, pasternak, Kielia, josepmarin, penny12 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (37583) 2009-01-21 8:20

Hi dear Kath,
Amazing scene, amazing capture ! Very good pov and good idea to use the portrait format.
Good and usefull notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

pauloog (7101) 2009-01-21 8:24

Hello Kath,
Good side-view of the arch, with the tree and its shadow giving depth and a nice contrast.
Regards,
Paul

Floydian (30970) 2009-01-21 8:26

Hello Kath,

I'm 99% sure the name is; Moccasin Arch
It's another picture that makes us all MV lovers to go there with a tour. And although it's not as spectacualir as your previous one (different light and colour contrast setting), it's still i picture that is pleasant to look at with the large arch and the tree beside it...

Have a nice evening,

Henk

mkamionka (5028) 2009-01-21 8:40

Never too many shots of this place.
Fantastic colors. The tree enriches the composition.
M

gunbud (28295) 2009-01-21 8:43

Hi Kath,
The lone scrub pine tree lays a lovely peaceful shadow on the base of this beautiful arch.
Excellent light a vivid blue sky work very well in this tightly cropped vertical image.
The lone tree seems to benifit from the shade of the arch in this desert climate.
Regards, Tom

Guenther (6891) 2009-01-21 8:47

Hi Kath,

an impressive rock formation, a good composition with the single tree and the green grass in foreground.

Regards,
Günther

saxo042 (16576) 2009-01-21 8:49

Hi Kath,
A truly fantastic landscape with these unusual rock formations. We were in the Navajo Nation in October, but unfortunately not here...
Best regards
Gunnar

Wandering_Dan (3329) 2009-01-21 8:49

Hi, Kath -

Nice use of the arch diagonal and the tree to point to a "rule of thirds" spot. And people really need to do more vertical landscape shots like this.

Best,
Dan

delkoo (35024) 2009-01-21 9:43

hi kath
this is truly beautiful, the subject, the light, the colors and composition all combine to make a masterpiece.
Clearly not a trip for the out-of-shape!

best regards
didier

xuaxo (5911) 2009-01-21 10:25

Hi Kath
Good composition, with the arch, the tree and the shadow.
F.

fulvio52 (8314) 2009-01-21 10:52

Hi, Kath.
I reckon late afternoon is THE time, as being here in the early morning finds you facing it in deep shadow. At least, by mid-August. My shots of this arch (I ALSO wish I could remember its name!) are therefore not much more than snaps. Now, this is a very good one. Specially when considering the light was still pretty strong. Which you more than skilfully managed, let me tell you. Great perspective, awesome location!
ps. It doesn't look like Moccasin Arch to me, but I could be deadly wrong too. Hard to tell from this angle. Guess we'll all have to go back and find out! LOL!!! Have a nice evening, see ya soon.
Fulvio.

ahmetgedikli (22245) 2009-01-21 11:53

Hi Kath,
Excellent shot! Wönderful colours, light and very good POV. Nice work!
All the best.
Ahmet

gilou530 (35984) 2009-01-21 12:24

hello kath
only nature is capable of such head of work time does its work and carves odd forms with the elements, fabulous colors of this landscape with a sky of a polarized blue of most beautiful, very well done
friendships
gilbert

jonathan_hart (22739) 2009-01-21 13:32

another great rock formation from this part of the world, how many arches ??? i wonder, but seems that each one has its little name ^^
jc

delic (6735) 2009-01-21 14:50

Hi Kath,
I don't follow TE these days but this one is intriguing. I have avoided Monument Valley so far because it is overphotographed but I see that it does house quite a bit of surprises. I like the pov here having positioned the tree in a prominent spot. Great series from the Southwest. Regards,
Hakan

robiuk (10763) 2009-01-21 14:50

Kath,
You always seem to find an interesting angle and a
a feature to go with the main one - this time this tree
and its shadow... but the light - the light is what
makes this scene glow.
Cheers,
Robi

cbrman (19097) 2009-01-21 21:50

Hello Kath,

Ces arches sont décidément très impressionnante. Les couleurs de cette endroit très spécial sont vraiment splendide et fortement contrastée.
Splendide.

A+

Dominique

Cricri (44115) 2009-01-21 22:43

Hi Kath
C'est vraiment un endroit merveilleux, je sais je l'ai déjà dit:-) c'est arches ont des formes incroyable ainsi que leurs couleurs, bien cadrer avec l'arbre,
Friendship
cricri

coco (28318) 2009-01-22 0:21

Hi Kath.

Simple but also very good composition and landscape where the vertical view was, probably, the best one.

Regards.

snunney (35840) 2009-01-22 0:38

Hello Kath,
I like the point of view here and the framing from the shrub, which offers some interesting shadow play as well as providing a tonal contrast with the rich reds of the rocks. Superb tones and textures. Very well done.

syrus_persia (2234) 2009-01-22 0:40

Salam Kath
wonderful image,great perspective and beautiful colors,
the lighting is superb!
Greetings,
cyrus

ktanska (16743) 2009-01-22 3:33

Hi Kath,
I like this perspective from angle, although it shows less views through the arch itself. But I still prefer the WS version giving an impression of a big eye. Good to have some green in the frame too. Erosion really makes wonders through time.
Kari

rodgerg (25535) 2009-01-22 4:19

Hello Kath,

An another excellent photowork with good use of vertical format and POV very well selected. I like especiallit here the harmony and the balalnce between the three colors: green, blue and red.
Very interesting, very nice.
Roger

npecanhuk (15182) 2009-01-22 4:23

Hello Kath!
Excellent quality photo!
The place is fantastic and you did such a great photo job here!
Vertical format, sharpness, exposure and composition are all outstanding features in this image!
TFS - Congratulations!
Warmest regards,
Neyvan

PS.: Next - Colorado - Wow - I was an exchange student there back in 1982/1983 - I miss it a lot!

aadilj (17950) 2009-01-22 5:37

I like the way you nuance and capture the colours and the tones Kath. The images in your gallery are dramatic and appealing. I love the hues in this one and the way you have used the pov

danos (33730) 2009-01-22 5:54

Hello Kath,
one more gorgeous scene from the Mystery Valley,with this rock formation with the lonely tree to decorate pleasantly the shot.I like the reddish colour of the rock,as the great contrast between the blue sky and the earth.In my mind, the alternative shot with the different POV, is more effective.Well done.

Have a nice afternoon.

Dyerco (9396) 2009-01-22 7:09

Hi Kath
You are right these arches always look better in the early or late light however I really like the inclusion of the tree and its shadow that softens the whole image.
Phil

Emile (20177) 2009-01-22 10:34

Hola Kath.
Nice lateral view of the amazing arch with the tree in front, your POV in both pictures are very good, colors and sharpness are also great.
Another excellent shot of MV.
Best wishes.

chrisnet (20378) 2009-01-22 11:54

Hello Kath,
Good capture of this amazing landscape, the colors and light are fantastic and you have well framed the arch, very good work.
Regards
Christian

gneufeld (15289) 2009-01-22 15:23

Hi Kath,
Sorry I've missed a few of your recent posts - to busy again on that website of mine. Working on the background keywords and such for search engine indexing. Anyways, I love this one. I think you chose a perfect perspective to compose this arch with the tree featured as part of the frame. Awesome colors too. Well done and TFS. Gerald

danyy (69929) 2009-01-22 22:42

Bonjour Kath,
beaucoup de couleurs orange sur tes dernièrs photos et pour cause, la région en abonde. La touche verte de la végétation est vraiment la bienvenue pour compléter ces orange puissant et ce bleu du ciel très intense.
Des couleurs, actrices de la beauté de cette prise de vue.
Have a great week-end.
Daniel.

Graal (59126) 2009-01-22 23:08

Hi Kath,
another unusual form of rock. Amazing place, fantastic nature. WS I like, too. Well photojob and serie.
Gr., Aleksander

jlbrthnn (39501) 2009-01-23 2:49

Hello Kath,
You have a stock of superb and very descriptive images about this area. The extraordinary colors are always present, framing is always skilful. Congratulations.
Have a nice day.
Cordially
Joël

JCG (25875) 2009-01-23 9:59

Hi Kath,

Here another natural sculpture nicely put in image. I like much your composition carried out with an artistic eye. All is well balanced and I like much the shade of the tree on the rock. Beautiful harmony of the colors and a good light. The beautiful one and interesting photograph, just like that which you propose to us in WS, thank you Kath.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

Sistercosmo (2801) 2009-01-23 14:50

Hi again, Kath,
back to the red. I love this shot, with its strong lines and colors. The WS image would be worth a post of its own. Great photos! MV is very special. I think I should dive into my archives too... Wonder if I can find something half as good. :-)
Take care and see ya!
Linda

stego (22500) 2009-01-23 18:04

Hi Kath,

It's a very advantageous POV, that takes great profit of the scenic impact of the rock formation. I like how the tree and its shadow combine graphically with the arch. The colours and clarity are gorgeous.

The WS is also a great photo, as usual. It's very curious how it looks a different place.

Regards, José.

pasternak (13796) 2009-01-24 4:08

Very good pov to make an untraditional view of this arch, plus the inclusion of the tree and even its shadow makes the shot much more interesting.

Cheers
A

Kielia (8811) 2009-01-25 2:35

Hi Kath,
the perspective is excellent. I like your captures of this fantastic place with the atmosphere of desolation very much. Also the management of the light is great (as usual). TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

josepmarin (34269) 2009-01-25 9:39

Hello Kath,
The capricious rocky formations have a nice effect in the composition, but I think that this solitary tree and its shade on the rock add a great interest to the image.
The technical execution is impeccable.
Nice work, my friend.
Best wishes,
Josep

plimrn (19872) 2009-01-28 11:57

Hi Kath,
I would be hard put to chose between the tree with its shadow on the arch and the absolutly stunning curves that frame the blue sky in the WS. I agree with Linda that the WS deserves a post of its own; however, I know that you are very strict with yourself about avoiding repetition. You're new ways of viewing certainly have the SW buffs drooling with envy.
HLJ, Pat

Angshu (34243) 2009-01-28 19:55

Hello Kath
Real stout an arch it is! I liked the Ws view as well, but this one with a wider perspective is better. Like the bit of the shadow of the small tree as it falls on the rock face. Fine contrast with the blue sky as in all your pictures from this place. Good work!
Best Regards
Angshu

penny12 (132) 2009-06-23 12:10