Monument Valley April 2024

Straddling the Utah-Arizona border within the Navajo Nation, Monument Valley is one of the most iconic landscapes of the American Southwest. Known for its towering red sandstone buttes, mesas and spires, this desert area provides endless opportunities for dramatic shots, especially as the light changes throughout the day. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park spans over 91,000 acres, with monolithic structures rising up to 1,000 feet above the desert floor.

A key landmark is the East and West Mittens, which rise side by side, their shapes resembling hands with thumbs extended. The Mittens are great at sunrise and sunset, when the soft, warm light accentuates their reddish tones and casts long, dramatic shadows across the landscape. Another iconic shot is Totem Pole and Yei Bi Chei, slender sandstone formations that stand apart from the valley’s broader, more massive buttes.

Monochrome photography is highly effective in Monument Valley, as it emphasizes the textures and dramatic shapes of the landscape.

Monument Valley offers a landscape rich in geological history and visual drama. Its rugged beauty and monumental scale provide images that evoke both the mystique and grandeur of the American Southwest.