Do You See What I Didn’t?

Red Rock, The Moon, and The Horse Corral

Red Rock, The Moon, and The Horse Corral © 2008 Bo Mackion

I had to photograph most of Monument Valley while being held a car-captive-passenger by a wild driver intent on making camp before dark. It was my fault – I designated a fair number of miles to travel on the day we left Arches National Park in Utah, never anticipating that once we crossed into Arizona, we would dally half the day away at Hovenweep National Monument. And so when we drove through Monument Valley, there weren’t enough hours left in my day to stop wherever I wanted.

Every time I tried to hang my head out the window to check out a new crop of rocks, the wild driver would utter unspeakable words in my general direction. So I learned to be quick about my not-so-stealthy maneuvers.

The moon was hanging over this red rock butte, and I aimed for the shot on the move. I got my moon, I got my red rocks, and later when I looked at the photo, I got a little extra. Tucked in the corner, there was a very small corral dwarfed by the surrounding landscape. But it’s a great corral.

A corral with a view.

About Bo Mackison

I'm a photographer, book-artist, traveler, naturalist, and creator of the Contemplative Creatives Journey, An Online Workshop and Community and Desert Wisdom Cards and Workshops. Though often not well known, I find the desert a welcoming place - a healing space. Its mysteries and gifts transformed me several years ago. Since that first encounter, I return again and again to fill my well in what most people think of as a desolate region. I'd love to share my desert discoveries and wisdom with you. Please subscribe to receive my five part mini email course The Gifts of the Desert. It's my gift to you.

Comments

  1. Beautiful capture Bo.

  2. Either you or your camera has great instincts! That turned out great!

  3. This is gorgeous, and what a nice surprise to find the corral, when you saw your image later! I agree what a view!!

    I hope you had a wonderful TG Day!

  4. Very nice Bo. Great textures.

    R(etc… )

  5. I’m fascinated by the way boulders and gravel fan out a the base of the bluff. very interesting shot.

  6. Wonderful capture, Bo. How nice to find the corral! I always enjoy finding those little extras when I finally get to see my photos on the bigger screen of the monitor.

  7. Don’t think you could have done any better if you’d set up camp and waited for this particular moment to happen. Stunning image. The surprise is always in the details!!!

  8. My first visit here. Wonderful catch. I remember this corral and butte. Fortunately for me, when I visited Monument Valley, I was with a patient driver who pulled over whenever I gasped (as a result literally dozens of photos, but regretfully, none with a moon!). We visited just before dusk, so the long shadows of the day enhanced the ruby rock.

  9. Hard to believe you managed to get such a sharp, clear shot when travelling at speed. Destined to be, I suppose. Absolutely beautiful.

  10. Helps that I have a really fast camera and that I can shoot at high ISO and without too much noise (unwanted grain). It is pretty great to get decent photos moving fast, at least some of the time.

  11. congrats mom… can’t wait to see your pictures in print

  12. Well it is a beautiful shot here for certain.

  13. At least you weren’t driving and shooting photos, like some people I know.

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