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It is late January here in the Northeast, I am not a snow person and stay cooped up inside working on my photo files cataloging and sorting all that I have shot over the summer and fall. I always get the itch on the bottom of my feet at this time of year to ”get outta Dodge “ as they say in the old western movies. I knew that as sure as spring will follow winter that this is going to happen so in December I booked a flight 30 days in advance and for a Thursday morning to Phoenix Arizona. I have found that shipping my photo gear ahead eliminates the hassle and worries of getting them through airport security. That booking the flight 30 days in advance and flying on a Tuesday or Thursday is the least expensive.
This is a perfect time of year to visit the desert of Arizona. Picking up a rental car I head north towards Flagstaff this is a great drive as you go up in altitude and watch the cacti species size and variety change. At Flagstaff you head to the Grand Canyon or the Navajo Tribal Park, Monument Valley, my destination on this trip.
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Jim Hoffman
A Natural Sight
The Fuzzy Mind
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You travel for miles upon miles without seeing another person as you head up through the Painted Desert to Kayenta.
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Here you can find motels and gas stations and stores, and guides as well as Navajo products for sale.
Driving out of Kenyata north toward the park you pass a monolith named El Capitan by Kit Carson. This is really the remnant of a volcano is a plug of lava. It is truly amazing in the late afternoon light.
At this time of year the tourist population is very small and you can usually find a room at
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Goulding’s Lodge where John Wayne and John Ford stayed while filming movies such as Stagecoach in Monument Valley.
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Before you set out I need to tell you that the Navajo are a sovereign nation with their own legislative body and judicial system completely separate from the United States. If you are planning on using your shots for commercial purposes you need to contact the Navajo Film Board to obtain permission. It is best you do this several weeks before your visit. I strongly suggest hiring a guide and planning on shooting from sunrise to sunset.
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There is a dirt 17 mile drive that you can take on your own but is often a difficult trek for a car. Much of the valley is grazing land with leases held by various families. You need their permission to go on their land and your guide will have these and you will get to shoot many places off the beaten path. I hired Orville Sisco who is a location scout for companies wanting to film in the Tribal Park. He knew just where the sun would be on the various locations at what time of day for your shooting.
A day spent with Orville is a great educational experience.
Orville met me just before dawn and we set off in his four wheel drive truck for my first location. Merrick Butte at dawn is a powerful image especially after Orville explained the name to me. I’ll let you learn this on your own. I’ll just tempt you. It involves the search for a secret Navajo silver mine.
 
As the morning mists lift we were back in the valley past the Three Sisters, the Elephant and Camel Buttes.
Farther back along some dirt paths I came upon this shot back through the valley. The Red butte is known as the Hub.
 
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The Totem Pole was once a rock climbers ultimate challenge. The Navajo have since banned all rock climbing in the valley and had to remove many dangling ropes from the spire. The Park Police must patrol heavily on nights of the full moon to stop climbers who are will to risk their lives by moonlight.
8000 year drawings are found far back and only accessible with a guide. These were made by the Anasazi or ancient people. There are about 50 sites that have been cataloged by the University of Arizona with these pictographs.
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If the vista’s of the high desert now tempts your lens, book a trip to the Navajo Nation and the Navajo Tribal Park, Monument Valley. Remember you have crossed a border and now are a guest in their land. Treat the land and people with the utmost respect that they deserve.
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