This is another perspective of the popular scene in the movie "Forrest Gump". Not only do you get the feel for the open distance of the highway, but you also get a feel for the wide expanse of Monument Valley.
Route 163, Near Monument Valley, Arizona.
Photo # IM7_0989-92bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
Ear of the Wind is a 134-foot-tall arch located in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.
This photo, with people included, shows just how large this monument is. The reason you don’t see any pictures from the other side of the arch is that it isn’t visible; the arch opens upward, which is why it is called an ear.
Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, Arizona.
Photo # K04_4684-89h.
(c) Kelly Shipp
This is during the totality of the 2024 solar eclipse. This one was a longer exposure to capture more solar flares. If you look closely, you can also see solar flares at around 10:00, 4:00 and 6:00 (clock positions), with the largest at 6:00.
(c) Kelly Shipp
April 8, 2024. Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # K04_8424-8430c.
Clouds rolled in over central Ouachita Mountains on the day before Easter.
I've photographed many panoramas like this one, but I found the number of beams of light astonishing on this day.
Even on the cloudiest day, the light from the sun can easily be as beautiful as a sunny day.
Ouachita Mountains (central Arkansas; Mt. Nebo is just right of center of this panorama).
Photo # IM7_2479-2488bw3s.
(c) Kelly Shipp
Ear of the Wind is a 134-foot-tall arch located in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.
I like how sunrise strongly divided the landscape visually and adds more depth to the photograph.
The reason you don’t see any pictures from the other side of the arch is that it isn’t visible; the arch opens upward, which is why it is called an ear.
Monument Valley used to be submerged in an ancient sea. After millions of years of sediment being deposited, tectonic forces pushed these layers up. Erosion via wind, water, ice, gravity, and other forces of nature slowly chipped away at the rock. This is how Ear of the Wind was formed in DeChelly sandstone; the soft interior rock was eroded, leaving just the hard exterior rock.
Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, Arizona.
Photo # IM7_0371-377bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
The sun peeks through the snow storm clouds to give light to this mountain range.
It was actually snowing while I was photographing this scene. The wind was gusting so much, I had to keep one hand above the lens to keep the snow from the lens. The tree trunk (far right), being used as a fence post, stood out to me in the landscape.
Kayenta is the only "township" existing under the laws of the Navajo Nation.
Kayenta, Arizona.
Photo # IM7aa_0058-64bbwg.
(c) Kelly Shipp
Can waterfalls have personalities? One may argue this when looking at this group of waterfalls. Each one seems to have its own flow, behavior, noise, and brightness.
Cornelius Falls creek, Heber Springs, Arkansas.
Photo # K04_6962m1cbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
For some, nature's sounds are quiet sounds. The sound of water can be so peaceful that it tends to go silent.
Cornelius Falls is a nice waterfall that is approx. 40 feet high. This is a peaceful place since the hike here is a little challenging to get to, so it keeps some of the footprints lesser. Like most waterfalls in Arkansas, the water level varies during the wet season, so the experience can vary as well.
Heber Springs, Arkansas.
Photo # K04_6942-47h3bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
I found myself mesmerized by the small white clouds that seemed to be floating on their own. To the right, there were rain and sleet storms that had passed earlier. To the left is a snow storm coming. You can see snow-capped mountains in the background.
The back highways, somewhere near the Colorado and Arizona borders.
Photo # K04_5516-39bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
A snow storm approaches (from the left) as wild/range horses graze. The white horse, presumably the alpha, chases another keeping others in line. He would occasionally stop and look directly at me.
Near Arizona/Colorado border.
Photo # K04_5451cbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
One thing I discovered while exploring not only these Lower Antelope Canyons but also much of Monument Valley, is that there are faces personified in almost everything I see. Even as I viewed this scene through my viewfinder, I could see multiple faces extending from the canyon walls. Again, the colors that dance from these walls are amazing.
Lower Antelope Canyon, AZ.
Photo # K04_3208ac.
(c) Kelly Shipp
The light can be so amazing in the slot canyons. This photograph shows how soft and textured the light can be on the stone as the light bounces through the canyon.
Lower Antelope Canyon, AZ
Photo # K04_3522.
(c) Kelly Shipp
A natural formation eroded in sandstone, located in the far south-east area of Monument Valley, is known as the "Sleeping Dragon".
Starting at the far right of this photograph, you see the body of the dragon, and if you follow the body, to the left, as you near the center of the photograph, you'll see a dip and narrowing through the neck, and the head is near center ending with the nose.
Sleeping Dragon Butte, Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # IM7_1065-74bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
Half-way during my 4-mile desert hike, I paused to view the north side of the East Mitten Butte and take a break. It was an extremely windy day where the wind was blowing over 20mph from the east-to-west direction (left-to-right in this photograph). What worried me was the rain storm, from the East, being carried by this front. At the time, I estimated that it was going to run into me before I finished the 4-mile hike. What I didn't know is that the wind was already changing direction, to the North. While resting, I decided to take a long-exposure photograph of my view. Soon afterwards, as I continued my hike, I then realized that I was walking against the wind - it indeed had changed to the North, moving the threatening rain around my return path. I was so happy and relieved that I wasn't going to walk into that storm.
What surprised me about this photograph is that it accurately shows the change in the wind direction. You can see on the left-hand side of the photograph how intent the wind was moving left-to-right, but the right side began to move more south-to-north, almost mid-point over the monument.
Being over 1,000 feet high, the summit of East Mitten Butte is 6,226 feet in elevation.
East Mitten Butte, Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # K04_4989-5037hdrbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
Traveling the back highways of Colorado, it was easy to run into snow storms in the high passes. If you look closely, near lower-center of the photograph, you can see three wild/range horses.
Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado.
Photo # IM7_2398bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
You can see the dramatic mix of clouds and sky in this photograph. I braved the 4-mile desert hike in sustained 20 mph winds, gusting to 40 mph, all while praying the rain wouldn't reach me during the hike. Over a mile into the hike, the sun broke through the clouds and provided a wonderful, dramatic view of the East Mitten Butte.
Being over 1,000 feet high, the summit of East Mitten Butte is 6,226 feet in elevation. The rocks of the valley are mostly sedimentary, dating from between the Permian to the mid-Jurassic.
East Mitten Butte, Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # IM7_1526-36bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
This part of Utah and Arizona offer many infinity highway views. This particular location may be recognizable from the Forrest Gump film. It's surprising how long it takes to travel these distances as they appear closer than they are. The monuments in the distance are those on the Navajo Nation Reservation, in Monument Valley.
Route 163, Near Monument Valley, Arizona.
Photo # IM7_0980a.
(c) Kelly Shipp
There are many views of Monument Valley from higher elevations, but the view from the valley floor is impressive. The sense of wide expanse seems to be even stronger. The rain was chasing me this day on a very windy, 4-mile hike, as you can see from the sun striking the distant monuments. If you look closely, you can see the snow-capped mountains on the horizon.
Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # IM7_0648-59bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
The light in slot canyons are constantly changing and are often very mesmerizing. There were moments I just had to pause and enjoy the view as it would soon change.
Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona.
Photo # K04_3480r.
(c) Kelly Shipp
I could spend days here. This is a dramatic photograph of the formation called "Lady in the Wind". If you look near-center, you can visualize a profile of a lady, facing right, with long hair flowing behind her. Her curves all follow the same flow. The lady formed by millions of years of exposure to wind and water stands beautiful and strong, yet full of soft curves and detail.
Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona.
Photo # K04_3632.
(c) Kelly Shipp
As I was traveling the back highways of Colorado, near the New Mexico border, I found these wild/range horses as I was photographing the area. Snow and sleet was just off to the West (right of this photograph) and coming this way. The horse in the foreground is the same as in my previously posted photograph. This horse was very curious of me, as the others kept their distance.
Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado.
Photo # IM7_2428bwsk.
(c) Kelly Shipp
I was traveling the back highways of Colorado, near the New Mexico border, as a snow storm was approaching. I found some wild/range horses and one of them approached me as a was photographing the area. The monuments at Ute Mountain Reservation are impressive alone, but shrouded by snow, rain and sleet, provide such a mysterious perspective. In my back road travels, it was rare to get up close to these horses.
Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado.
Photo # IM7_2412bw
(c) Kelly Shipp
An iconic view of Monument Valley. I took some time to shoot this panorama with the ever-changing weather this time of year.
Comments welcome.
Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # K04_4079-95.
(c) Kelly Shipp
Arizona skies are amazing at night. On this particular night, I was photographing the Milky Way Galaxy (on the right) as it was rising and moving more south. At the bottom-left, you'll see Right (East) Mitten and to the right of that, you'll see Merrick Butte. The rare moment of this photograph is the random meteor that came over the Milky Way Galaxy (lower-right).
Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # K04_4302cbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
Slot canyons are mesmerizing to the creative eye. As I previewed this perspective through my lens, I was swept away. Some of you may ask - why isn't this in color? When I was shooting the canyons, I photographed some perspectives in color and some in infrared. What you're seeing in this photograph is a slot canyon that appears as an other-worldly landscape. The infrared captures tones and textures that are above and outside the visible spectrum. The textures and color gradations are impressive. Hope you enjoy.
Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona.
Photo # IM6aa_0123bw2n.
(c) Kelly Shipp
I found this perspective to have such a wonderful mix of light, color and texture - all in one frame. What appears as a cut-out at the top is actually an overhang on the opposite side, hence the dark shadow under it not receiving any reflected light.
I could have spent days there and still not capture everything I wanted to. The light changes so fast and so dramatically, each angle and time of day varies the mood and color.
The lower canyon is about 1,400 feet in length and the depth is about 120 feet. The hike isn't too difficult but does have steep staircases and ladders that descend over 100 feet.
Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona.
Photo # K04_3609.
(c) Kelly Shipp
I was cold and crisp on this morning waiting for the sun to rise. As soon as the sun began to rise, the warmth made such a wonderful difference.
On the immediate right, you'll see "The Cube", which is an almost-square boulder about 70 feet high. To the left (near center) are the spires known as "Totem Pole" (approx. 450 feet high) and "The Yei Bi Chei".
Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # K04_3824-39h2.
This is the Spearhead Mesa at sunrise. This mountain approximately 750 feet high. The large square boulder in the foreground is referred to as "The Cube", which is approximately 70 feet high. These mountains and stone structures are worth the respect in person. What I found interesting in this composition is the near-alien landscape and impressive perspective.
Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # IM7_0331-43_2s.
"Window Dressing"
One aspect of retail that continues to be underappreciated is the retail window displays. It often doesn't take much to add just enough interest to capture the eyes of the passerby. The colors and nostalgia captured my attention of this storefront in Eureka Springs.
More to come - comment if you'd like to see more. :)
Crescent Moon Beads, Eureka Springs, AR.
Photo # K04_2654a.
(c) Kelly Shipp
"Curiosity"
Early morning fog seems to calm these White-tailed Deer and peak their curiosity.
Private land, central Arkansas.
Photo # IM7_9943cbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
A male, Eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus), is a striking bird of white, brown and black colors. It is a large bird for the sparrow kingdom, with a length around 8 inches and a wingspan of 11 inches. As its name implies, it's more common in the eastern U.S.
Photo # K04_0426a.
(c) Kelly Shipp
"Snow-capped Flight"
A Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) flys through the snow.
These small birds are friendly once they get used to you. They have quite an extensive language for small birds, have great memories and can handle very low temperatures. They tend to nest in small natural cavities, nesting boxes, and abandoned woodpecker cavities.
Photo # K03_9274m.
(c) Kelly Shipp
There's just something mesmerizing about waterfalls, but when you experience a wall of them, you become elated. This particular season, there was a large tree that had been lodged in the waterfalls. As photographers, we often have unexpected challenges. I used the tree as an anchor for the far side of the panorama. Comments welcome.
Natural Dam, Van Buren, Arkansas.
Photo # IMG_7537-8bws
(c) Kelly Shipp
"Artistic Layers"
Nature has many seasons and layers. Each layer has its own time in style and art. Change allows this to happen.
Reed detail, Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # K03_8112mod
(c) Kelly Shipp
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