It's one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world and it can be photographed from the balcony of an affordable motel, writes Mark Galer.
Remote and 'difficult to get to' landscapes like Lake Eyre in Central Australia and the Antarctic offer a certain fascination for landscape photographers who like a challenge, but perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes steeped in a rich cultural history can be photographed from the balcony of an affordable hotel in Arizona, USA.
North of the Grand Canyon, south of Bryce Canyon National Park, east of Las Vegas and west of Colorado and Mese Verde National Park you’ll find the awe-inspiring Monument Valley. A land of sandstone ridges, spires and towers eroded by weather and volcanic action over a period of 160 million years.
Indian Route 42 is a graded red dirt road which runs through the heart of Monument Valley. Nikon D700, 24-70mm lens @ 46mm, 1/640s @ f/8, ISO 200. Photo by Mark Galer.
Monument Valley has been etched into the imagination of moviegoers all around the world, the landscape having been used as the backdrop for countless movies from John Ford’s 'Stagecoach' in 1939 to Disney's 'Lone Ranger' in 2013.
Although surrounded by some of the world’s most impressive national parks, Monument Valley is a 'Tribal Park', owned by the Navajo Indian Nation. The park straddles the Utah/Arizona border just off Scenic Highway 163 and although Monument Valley has a Utah zip code, the scenic Indian Route 42 that traverses the park is all in Arizona. Although there may be cheaper hotels to stay in the area (usually more than 30km away) there’s only one hotel that photographers should really consider.
Sunrise over Monument Valley. Image captured from a guest room balcony at the View Hotel, Utah. Nikon D700, 24-70mm lens @ 52mm, 1/200s @ f/8, ISO 200. Photo by Mark Galer.
The View Hotel, which opened in 2008, is unlike any hotel you have stayed in before. The building is perched on a rocky outcrop which overlooks the valley and the rising sun. All rooms have valley views and private balconies which make ideal photographic vantage points. The rooms on the third floor (designated as 'StarView' rooms) offer the best 'room with a view' opportunities.
Roads to the Tribal Park and View Hotel are sealed, but the Scenic Indn Route 42 is a graded red dirt road (though manageable for drivers of two-wheel drive rental vehicles).
There is no secret formula for how to photographic this magical vista. Catch a classic John Wayne movie that the hotel projects on its side after sunset and then go to bed when you get bored with the starscapes wheeling through the pitch black night sky. Get up an hour before dawn, get organised and start shooting when there's sufficient light.
The View Hotel in Utah. Photos by Mark Galer.
I would recommend using the Photographer’s Ephemeris (an app for iOS and Android devices) to calculate sunrise, sunset and moonrise times and positions. If you love photography, this landscape is definitely one for your bucket list!
Mark Galer is a senior lecturer in photography at RMIT University. He has written a number of top-selling photography books and is a regular contributor to Australian Photography + digital. More info: www.markgaler.com
Guests at The View Hotel watch a John Wayne movie.