Navajo People

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Monument Valley is a Navajo Nation Tribal Park. Until recently I had assumed it was a National Monument or something similar. It is managed much like most national parks with a few differences. The visitor's center is open to all as well as a circle drive through the park. If you want to see more than those things you need to hire a Navajo guide. Tom Phillips was our guide for three days. See the link to his website on the main Monument Valley page. He not only showed us around the park, but tried to help us learn respect for the land and introduced us to several other Navajo's and showed us several ancient ruins.

Click on images below for enlarged view.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 51mm, ISO 100

Anasazi Ruins

We spent quite a bit of time in the rain, shooting these ruins. I liked this image best, with the ruins framed by the old tree.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 46mm, ISO 200

Sheep Drive

This was staged for us. It seemed quite appropriate for the place so many western movies have been filmed.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 70mm, ISO 100

Petroglyphs

The Anasazi either had to be very tall or used a ladder to make these inscriptions about 20 feet up the cliff.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 50mm, ISO 100

Navajo Weaver

This was Suzy. A spry but grizzled old Navajo who posed for us while weaving. It takes a lot of work to make even a small rug like this. My wife was especially interested in her jewelry.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L @ 400mm, ISO 100

Weaver Concentrating

You can't afford to make mistakes when it takes so long to undo a mistake. This image shows the character of this wonderful lady.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L @ 17mm, ISO 100

Ruins and Rock

Another ruin tucked up into an alcove below and arch.