Majestic
USA, 2013, Monument Valley, on the Navajo Reservation
Large prints of Monument Valley decorated the halls and rooms of our hotel in Kayenta, Arizona. I used them to get some ideas on photographing the Valley, just the way I sometimes use postcards to get ideas when I am in an unfamiliar place.
There was a print of the above rock formation in our room. There was something compelling about it, and I decided to shoot that very angle. I wanted more space around my rock and more sky. Luckily for me, fluffy clouds filled the sky the day I got my shot. I shot mine in midday, but so did the photographer who shot the one in my room. I didn’t like the dull, monochromatic look of red earth in flat light. I wanted a graphic look. I tried many different Photoshop techniques. I used my plug-ins: Nik Filters, Topaz, and Alien Skin. I used blend modes and I used my “prisms”. How I actually got this look, I can’t tell you. I don’t save my steps for future reference because each photo is different and requires different settings. It’s a matter of “playing”. Even the Photoshop experts tell you to “play”. It’s fun. I used a square format. It gives a different look to your image. It was in vogue a few years ago and I guess it still is.
Another thing to do is to go to galleries that sell photographs. I used to do that and I can remember certain images even after thirty years. I remember some large, square photographs of temples, black and white, shot straight on. Why were those good enough for a gallery showing was my question. I still don’t know the answer. But I do remember the square format.