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Monument Valley Surprise · **2 Likes**

We spent a lot of time in Monument Valley exploring the area and taking way too many photos on our 20 mile bone jarring drive through the valley. I had stopped to take a landscape photo of the formations and Terri noticed this Indian pony feeding in the area. As luck would have it, it came into frame making this a complete composition of the land that John Ford and John Wayne made so many movies.

GeoJerry · 08-22-2014, 11:42 PM

Woo hoo! Congrats Bob, a classic shot!

Dewman · 08-23-2014, 01:54 AM

Remarkable! A shot for the ages. The colors are unreal.

Dewman
SW Idaho

TonyTurley · 08-23-2014, 05:23 AM

Very, very nice, Bob.

**eaglem** · 08-23-2014, 05:42 AM

Very well done..........

falconeye · 08-23-2014, 06:06 AM

Great shot.
I would reduce the post processing a bit though.

**wtlwdwgn** · 08-23-2014, 07:21 AM

I agree. It looks a bit HDRish to me. Otherwise a classic MV shot. It'll look great on a wall.

Dewman · 08-23-2014, 12:46 PM

I rather like the effect of the heavy-handed PP. It imparts a very 3-D effect. The skinny horse looks like it could literally walk out of the picture. And, the composition is great. Quadrant subject placement at it's finest!

Dewman
SW Idaho

**Kerrowdown** · 08-23-2014, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by First Poster

Monument Valley Surprise

When I saw the title I wondered...

It would have more of surprise if it had been a giraffe or an elephant, so I'm a little disappointed just now.

**Bob Harris** · 08-23-2014, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by GeoJerry

Woo hoo! Congrats Bob, a classic shot!

thanks Jerry, not sure if you have visited here, but even so it is worth a revisit.

**volley** · 08-23-2014, 01:19 PM

What a great scenic shot! Excellent, Bob.

**Bob Harris** · 08-23-2014, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by Dewman

Remarkable! A shot for the ages. The colors are unreal.

Dewman
SW Idaho

this is one of our favorite places to visit, with the clouds coming in and passing it changes the color of the sandstone. One minute it is drab and the next the reds come out and shine.

---------- Post added 08-23-14 at 12:21 PM ----------

Originally posted by TonyTurley

Very, very nice, Bob.

thanks so much Tony, your comments are always appreciated. .

---------- Post added 08-23-14 at 12:23 PM ----------

Originally posted by eaglem

Very well done..........

thanks EM, coming from you that is quite a complement.

---------- Post added 08-23-14 at 12:30 PM ----------

Originally posted by falconeye

Great shot.
I would reduce the post processing a bit though.

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

I agree. It looks a bit HDRish to me. Otherwise a classic MV shot. It'll look great on a wall.

I do the majority of my editing in camera and preset the camera filters. The saturation was set high and I did add a bit of HDR in editing in camera for the effect. I toned it back a bit and posted the image as corrected. Thanks for the constructive criticism. No walls left in the motorhome, so I'll just have to save this once we get off the road.

---------- Post added 08-23-14 at 12:36 PM ----------

Originally posted by Dewman

I rather like the effect of the heavy-handed PP. It imparts a very 3-D effect. The skinny horse looks like it could literally walk out of the picture. And, the composition is great. Quadrant subject placement at it's finest!

Dewman
SW Idaho

thanks so much for the kind review, I'll tell you I was excited when the pony came in frame and I was looking for a special photo and am very pleased with the results on this one. I checked the camera that I did get a photo, there have been times when I have messed up a great shot just by not paying attention.

**Bob Harris** · 08-23-2014, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

When I saw the title I wondered...

It would have more of surprise if it had been a giraffe or an elephant, so I'm a little disappointed just now.

coming around one of the corners I spotted figures in the distance which appeared to be long necks, possibly giraffes but getting closer I realized it was the formation called "Totem Poles" that I was viewing. They were featured in the Eiger Sanction with Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy climbing them.

**Fries** · 08-23-2014, 03:03 PM

That pony looks like it could use a snack. (And wouldn't be very useful as snack...) but that is beside the point Bob. The point being that if you take lots of photographs once in a while you will be rewarded with occurrences like this that turns a nice picture into something special.

**Bob Harris** · 08-24-2014, 07:16 PM

Originally posted by volley

What a great scenic shot! Excellent, Bob.

thank you Norbert, a little bit different landscapes than you have but you can't drive a sports car here, terrible roads.

---------- Post added 08-24-14 at 06:18 PM ----------

Originally posted by Bob Harris

coming around one of the corners I spotted figures in the distance which appeared to be long necks, possibly giraffes but getting closer I realized it was the formation called "Totem Poles" that I was viewing. They were featured in the Eiger Sanction with Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy climbing them.

I'm not sure but this looks like one of mine years back. No giraffes spotted that trip either.

---------- Post added 08-24-14 at 06:22 PM ----------

Originally posted by Fries

That pony looks like it could use a snack. (And wouldn't be very useful as snack...) but that is beside the point Bob. The point being that if you take lots of photographs once in a while you will be rewarded with occurrences like this that turns a nice picture into something special.

Well said Remco, I think you know the feeling that I got. Someone told me when the horses get older they are released in the wild by the Navajo Indians, I can't validate that though.

Bob Harris
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08-22-2014, 11:42 PM	#2
GeoJerry Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,158	Woo hoo! Congrats Bob, a classic shot!

08-23-2014, 01:54 AM	#3
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492	Remarkable! A shot for the ages. The colors are unreal. Dewman SW Idaho

08-23-2014, 05:23 AM	#4
TonyTurley Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Scott Depot, WV Posts: 1,240	Very, very nice, Bob.

08-23-2014, 05:42 AM	#5
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,166	Very well done..........

08-23-2014, 06:06 AM	#6
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Great shot. I would reduce the post processing a bit though.

08-23-2014, 07:21 AM	#7
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,853	I agree. It looks a bit HDRish to me. Otherwise a classic MV shot. It'll look great on a wall.

08-23-2014, 12:46 PM	#8
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492	I rather like the effect of the heavy-handed PP. It imparts a very 3-D effect. The skinny horse looks like it could literally walk out of the picture. And, the composition is great. Quadrant subject placement at it's finest! Dewman SW Idaho

08-23-2014, 12:57 PM	#9
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by First Poster Monument Valley Surprise When I saw the title I wondered... It would have more of surprise if it had been a giraffe or an elephant, so I'm a little disappointed just now.

08-23-2014, 01:17 PM	#10
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477 Original Poster	Originally posted by GeoJerry Woo hoo! Congrats Bob, a classic shot! thanks Jerry, not sure if you have visited here, but even so it is worth a revisit.

08-23-2014, 01:19 PM	#11
volley Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Springe Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,693	What a great scenic shot! Excellent, Bob.

08-23-2014, 01:20 PM	#12
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477 Original Poster	Originally posted by Dewman Remarkable! A shot for the ages. The colors are unreal. Dewman SW Idaho this is one of our favorite places to visit, with the clouds coming in and passing it changes the color of the sandstone. One minute it is drab and the next the reds come out and shine. ---------- Post added 08-23-14 at 12:21 PM ---------- Originally posted by TonyTurley Very, very nice, Bob. thanks so much Tony, your comments are always appreciated. . ---------- Post added 08-23-14 at 12:23 PM ---------- Originally posted by eaglem Very well done.......... thanks EM, coming from you that is quite a complement. ---------- Post added 08-23-14 at 12:30 PM ---------- Originally posted by falconeye Great shot. I would reduce the post processing a bit though. Originally posted by wtlwdwgn I agree. It looks a bit HDRish to me. Otherwise a classic MV shot. It'll look great on a wall. I do the majority of my editing in camera and preset the camera filters. The saturation was set high and I did add a bit of HDR in editing in camera for the effect. I toned it back a bit and posted the image as corrected. Thanks for the constructive criticism. No walls left in the motorhome, so I'll just have to save this once we get off the road. ---------- Post added 08-23-14 at 12:36 PM ---------- Originally posted by Dewman I rather like the effect of the heavy-handed PP. It imparts a very 3-D effect. The skinny horse looks like it could literally walk out of the picture. And, the composition is great. Quadrant subject placement at it's finest! Dewman SW Idaho thanks so much for the kind review, I'll tell you I was excited when the pony came in frame and I was looking for a special photo and am very pleased with the results on this one. I checked the camera that I did get a photo, there have been times when I have messed up a great shot just by not paying attention.

08-23-2014, 03:03 PM	#14
Fries Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gauw Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,582	That pony looks like it could use a snack. (And wouldn't be very useful as snack...) but that is beside the point Bob. The point being that if you take lots of photographs once in a while you will be rewarded with occurrences like this that turns a nice picture into something special.

08-24-2014, 07:16 PM	#15
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477 Original Poster	Originally posted by volley What a great scenic shot! Excellent, Bob. thank you Norbert, a little bit different landscapes than you have but you can't drive a sports car here, terrible roads. ---------- Post added 08-24-14 at 06:18 PM ---------- Originally posted by Bob Harris coming around one of the corners I spotted figures in the distance which appeared to be long necks, possibly giraffes but getting closer I realized it was the formation called "Totem Poles" that I was viewing. They were featured in the Eiger Sanction with Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy climbing them. I'm not sure but this looks like one of mine years back. No giraffes spotted that trip either. ---------- Post added 08-24-14 at 06:22 PM ---------- Originally posted by Fries That pony looks like it could use a snack. (And wouldn't be very useful as snack...) but that is beside the point Bob. The point being that if you take lots of photographs once in a while you will be rewarded with occurrences like this that turns a nice picture into something special. Well said Remco, I think you know the feeling that I got. Someone told me when the horses get older they are released in the wild by the Navajo Indians, I can't validate that though.

Landscape Monument Valley Surprise

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