Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape Photography Locations => Topic started by: tim wolcott on November 11, 2012, 01:04:36 am

Title: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: tim wolcott on November 11, 2012, 01:04:36 am
Just wanted to say thank you for all of you who attended the workshop.  I had the privilege to be an instructor for Phase and Capture One.  I look forward to seeing you guys again very soon.  Here are just a few from the trip.  Tim

Sorry I had to change out the photo since it was not profiled.  Tim Wolcott
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: tim wolcott on November 25, 2012, 12:08:02 am
To add a few more.   Tim Wolcott

Sorry guys I had to update the images.  I realized they had the wrong profile.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Peter McLennan on November 26, 2012, 01:04:27 pm
Damn!  Those are great skies.  Worth the price of admission right there.  Beautiful images, Tim.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Tony Jay on November 26, 2012, 03:27:17 pm
Totem-Horsetails - everything one would want in a B&W image.
Beautiful tone and texture combined with a wonderful composition.

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: James Clark on November 26, 2012, 10:02:52 pm
Totem-Horsetails - everything one would want in a B&W image.
Beautiful tone and texture combined with a wonderful composition.

Tony Jay

Yes.  It's a standout image not just in this group or on this site, but truly one of the best B&W images I've seem in quite awhile.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: francois on November 27, 2012, 06:23:20 am
Totem-Horsetails - everything one would want in a B&W image.
Beautiful tone and texture combined with a wonderful composition.

Tony Jay

Almost too good to be true…

Bravo!
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: dreed on November 27, 2012, 06:40:19 am
I'm pretty sure that the "when" had a lot to do with the presence of clouds (or even just the likelihood thereof.) If there's nothing else to learn from PODAS it is they always have their shoots "at the right place AND at the right time".
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: tim wolcott on November 27, 2012, 09:39:36 pm
Isn't that the point to create an image so amazing its hard to believe,  anything else is just Mediocrity.  Mediocrity is not a standard!!!!!!

If its not worthy of exhibiting its not worth Capturing.  

If you find the location, set up the tripod, pick the right lens for the job, pick the right angle for the camera, pick the right light, choose the right composition, Then you just wait for the right clouds to position themselves where you want them.  Chasing clouds is challenging when you have limited roads but this was scouted ahead of time but still rough.  A lot of waiting and waiting.


"There are no short cuts.

Great photography requires understanding light, vision and patience – simple discipline – simple but never easy."
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Steve Lefkovits on November 30, 2012, 11:57:29 am
Fantastic.  Thank you for sharing. I've been to both places more than once and think this work is terrific.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Schewe on December 01, 2012, 12:33:22 am
Mediocrity is not a standard!!!!!!

Actually, mediocrity is "standard"...it's a unique scene (with the right stuff) that is unusual...
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: RobbieV on December 01, 2012, 12:41:59 pm
I hope to one day be able to afford the price of admission for one of these trips. Until then, I'll be honing my craft so that I'll be ready.

Thank you for sharing your creations.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Piboy on December 01, 2012, 09:46:31 pm
Great interpretations Tim. I did 900 miles in 4 days a couple of years ago and did the slot canyons, monument valley and Grand Canyon (Had a business trip to Phoenix and decided to go North for a few days before).
Robbie don't save your money just take your camera and go. You won't be disappointed.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: dreed on December 02, 2012, 01:09:23 am
A question about PODAS and Monument Valley: did the tour group receive permission from the Indian tribe that "owns" that region to use their photographs taken there for commercial purposes or must that be done as a one on one interaction?
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: tim wolcott on December 02, 2012, 12:20:13 pm
Yes of course they did.  They made money from the guides and hotels, food and everything else.  You can't do anything there without them knowing about it.

Having a workshop there really isn't deemed commercial.  Its just a workshop so you hire a guide service.  By the way the professionalism of the guides has raised immensely since the mid 80's.

I was very surprised and really enjoyed them.  They do try to run you thru what they think is a good photograph times and locals, but that's why knowing the area is beneficial.

I highly recommend both places.  But in slot canyons some are great some are Mediocre.  They are all amazing to see but some really are amazing for photography.

Sam interesting where you shot your image, mine is from a slightly different point of view.  I moved a little forward and to the left.  T 
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Kevin Gallagher on December 02, 2012, 05:00:57 pm
  Tim, your top shot there is the formation also known as "The Bear" , starting at the top it is a profile of a bear facing left.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: tim wolcott on December 05, 2012, 02:00:26 am
Kevin, I keep looking for the bear, but I see a horse like of square faced dog.  BUt thanks for the info.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Kevin Gallagher on December 05, 2012, 05:49:02 am
  Hi again Tim, if you start at the very top, it's the bear's ear kind of raised up like a dog's moving down and to the left is the snout.  :)
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Patricia Sheley on December 05, 2012, 09:28:05 am
  Hi again Tim, if you start at the very top, it's the bear's ear kind of raised up like a dog's moving down and to the left is the snout.  :)

Hi Tim. From within the chamber (Sand Fall Canyon), looking out to the light (the negative space/yellow/orange central in the image), the full opening informed by the structures outside composes the ephemeral bear...his full structure facing left...
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: tim wolcott on December 10, 2012, 07:44:51 pm
Patricia, I have tried to see this Bear for a while.  It wasn't till I made a print of it and I set the print upside down that it finally revealed the Bear.  It sure looks like a Bear.  Thanks Tim Wolcott
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Patricia Sheley on December 10, 2012, 09:59:21 pm
God, what incredible skies you had over you this trip! I noted the BW of Totem Horsetails earlier...glad to see the color...I'm sure the BW was a quick conversion because I can see you have dynamite to work with...just need more parallel lives :-) I still have your gorgeous prints in the studio which you included with the book. Nothing like a lush print short of being there, breathing it in. I keep remembering  a middle of the night phone conversation we had while I was being mercilessly chewed by mosquitoes moving through long exposures. What I most remember from that night is your remark about how long you circle "the prey" to find the light so as not to have it messed with by filters. I hear that conversation often in the field alone and thank you for it.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Walt Roycraft on December 13, 2012, 07:46:58 am
how long you circle "the prey" to find the light so as not to have it messed with by filters. I hear that conversation often in the field alone and thank you for it.

Oh, I love this!
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Piboy on December 21, 2012, 09:33:11 pm
Tim I was there in early Oct 2010 so the angle of light was different. The opalescence of the walls when the light was dancing is what I found incredible.
I agree about the guides. I used one of the Bigthumbs. Gabriel was great and beside knowing how to chase the light had a great spirit.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: haefnerphoto on December 23, 2012, 04:47:32 pm
Patricia, I have tried to see this Bear for a while.  It wasn't till I made a print of it and I set the print upside down that it finally revealed the Bear.  It sure looks like a Bear.  Thanks Tim Wolcott

Tim, Here's what I think looks like a bear.  It's in the upper canyon.  Jim
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: tim wolcott on December 28, 2012, 12:23:09 am
I found it.  I was looking at the wrong image and it sat right in front of me until I was showing the print to a buyer and saw it upside down.  Its the lighted area in the back.  Its the profile of a bear standing up.  Tim Wolcott
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 28, 2012, 07:47:59 am
Yup, That's the one.
Title: Re: Podus Monument Valley and Slot Canyons
Post by: Kevin Gallagher on December 28, 2012, 07:58:49 am
Halleluja!!    :D :D ;)