"Sand Dunes/ West Mitten" - Monument Valley Tribal Park, Navajo Nation, Utah

This Fine Art Print was captured in the spring of 2006 at the Monument Valley Tribal Park in the Navajo Nation of Southern Utah.  This astonishing park (and surrounding countryside) has long been one of my favorite destinations for scenic photography and it seems that I am always discovering new and exciting photographic opportunities with each visit.  On this particular trip, I was blessed with dramatic clouds which can significantly enhance any image, whether printed in color or black and white.  As a black and white print, the contrast in the late afternoon sky combines with the delicate shadow detail of the sand dune to draw the eye toward the sandstone monuments that stretch off to the north.  As a color print, you get the same compositional appeal, and the contrast between the clouds and sky are still very much apparent, but the strikingly beautiful color of the orange sand dunes dominates the image and gives it a totally different feel.