Ship Rock, New Mexico is located in the Four Corners region on the Navajo Reservation. This place is considered sacred to the Navajo Nation. It is a very spiritual place. On this day the spirits seem a bit unsettled.
The Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park
"Looking out the North Window"
A man dwarfed by the enormity of the massive North Window Arch stands to take in the beautiful sunset in Arches National Park.
"Balanced Rock under the Milky Way"
This image was captured last summer in Arches National Park, Moab, Utah. Since artificial lighting is now prohibited during the night in the park, the lighting you see is from car headlights as they pass by.
"Horseshoe Bend of the Rio Colorado"
The majestic Colorado River makes its way from Glen Canyon to the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona. This is one of the iconic locations of the American Southwest. My son, Tim and I were fortunate to be able to capture its true beauty and bring it to you.
The Legend of Dead Horse Point
Dead Horse Point is a peninsula of rock atop sheer sandstone cliffs. The peninsula is connected to the mesa by a narrow strip of land called the neck. There are many stories about how this high promontory of land received its name. According to one legend, around the turn of the century the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck, which is only 30-yards-wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush. This created a natural corral surrounded by precipitous cliffs straight down on all sides, affording no escape. Cowboys then chose the horses they wanted and let the culls or broomtails go free. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River, 2,000 feet below..
Dead Horse Point is a peninsula of rock atop sheer sandstone cliffs. The peninsula is connected to the mesa by a narrow strip of land called the neck. There are many stories about how this high promontory of land received its name. According to one legend, around the turn of the century the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck, which is only 30-yards-wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush. This created a natural corral surrounded by precipitous cliffs straight down on all sides, affording no escape. Cowboys then chose the horses they wanted and let the culls or broomtails go free. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River, 2,000 feet below..
Stormy Evening at Ship Rock
Leona and I recently toured the desert southwest and took the opportunity to spend some time at Ship Rock in New Mexico at sunset. It is such a beautiful and spiritual place.
"Magnificent Ship Rock"
This giant monolith stands at the icon of New Mexico, and as a sacred place to the Navajo Nation, and as a place of shear beauty to everyone else. The Navajo Indians refer to Ship Rock as Tsé Bitʼaʼí, "rock with wings" or "winged rock." Hopefully this image captures the quiet spirituality of and beauty of this place that I experienced during my visit there.
“Storm Clouds Gather at Turret Arch”
Turret Arch is one of the iconic arches inside of Arches National Park, Utah. It is often shot through the North Window Arch nearby. However on this stormy afternoon I chose beautiful old dead tree as a foreground. It made for a dramatic image.
"Sunrise at Mesa Arch”
This beautiful arch is located in Canyonlands National Park, Island in the Sky District. It is one of the most iconic locations in the desert southwest. Its beauty at sunrise is truly remarkable. I tried my best to capture its magnificence.
"Buick in the Desert 2"
A we were travelling south on US 191 in the southern Utah Desert, we came across this old 49 Buick parked in front of a long closed restaurant. Its marvelous rusty beauty immediately drew my attention. This is a monument to the time when automobiles were works of art unlike the machines we drive today.
"Sunset at Milepost 13"
As you approach Monument Valley from the North, this is the first iconic view one gets of the buttes and mesas of the valley. This is my version of this famous first view of Monument Valley.
"The Beautiful Buttes of Monument Valley"
This view is so gorgeous that you could film a car commercial here. Oh, that's right, it's been done. This whole valley is sacred to the people of the Navajo Nation. Visitors are restricted to this one single road unless guided by a native. I am hoping to return soon with that Navajo guide so I too can see more of this beautiful and sacred land.
"Lone Butte"
This beautiful lone butte is located just outside of Goblin Valley State Park in Southern Utah. It's color contrasts nicely with the big sky of Southern Utah.
"The Old Truck at Twin Rocks Trading Post"
As we were heading to Goblin Valley and other scenic locations in Southern Utah we ran across this old truck at the Twin Rocks Trading Post. It is used to mark notify travelers that this is a great placed for food and trinkets. I thought it was more to stop and get a great image of an old antique vehicle.
The Courthouse Towers, Arches National Park, Utah
"The Navajo Horseman”
This young Navajo Horseman Surveys his vast domain from John Ford Point in Monument Valley Arizona. This beautiful section of Arizona was the scene of numerous westerns filmed in the late 30s and 40s. Most recently "The Lone Ranger' was filmed here also.
"Sunset at Desert View"
As the sun sets over the south rim of the Grand Canyon, the colors in the sandstone come alive.
"Falling Sand"
Upper Antelope Canyon located near Page, Arizona, is a beautiful sandstone slot canyon carved by years of erosion. This location is accessible only with a Navajo guide as the location is considered sacred to the native people. Its beauty speaks for itself. Its spirituality is amazing.
"Fortress of Solitude 2"
This is another image taken inside of upper Antelope Canyon. The name is derived from Superman's Fortress of Solitude where he went for spiritual adjustment and renewal, exactly how I felt when I visited this sublime place.
"Upper Antelope Canyon - 6057"
The views at Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons located near Page, Arizona, are spectacular. Slot Canyons are among the most wonderful land features found in the desert southwest. If you go to Page, tour the canyons. Access is by Navajo guides only.
"Sundown at Ship Rock"
"Goblin Valley State Park under the Milky Way"
Goblin Valley HooDoos
Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Look carefully for the man standing at the top of one of the HooDoos
"The Three Judges"
Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Sunrise at Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
A couple waiting for the sun to set, Monument Valley, AZ
Cape Royal, Grand Canyon, North Rim
