Landscape and Star Photography at Monument Valley

[@MatthewSaville]

I'm glad to hear that someone else has the same urge to "get to know a place better" ...Instead of always moving on and never looking back to the same place twice. I think I could spend a year in Monument Valley just getting to know the place. Love the Southwest...

[@dallinski]

Next time you make it to Monument Valley, get a Navajo guide. Then you can visit places restricted to the general public like Big Hogan, Eye of the Sun, and Moccasin Arch. They are probably my favorite places in Monument Valley, especially since you get away from the crowds and have the place all to yourself. Another benefit of being with the guide is you can usually stick around later than public access, letting you get some sunset pics or astrophotography from within the park, not just from the parking lot. Also, Mystery Valley is working checking out.

[@acehanson7231]

great advice. thanks

[@pfcjev]

You can't go to the Eye of the Sun without a guide? Isn't that the one with the petroglyphs? (planning a trip there next year)

[@scottheaneyphotography]

I kinda love the time lapse at 10:37 ....definitely a cool unique way to show the stars in motion

[@tonyjohnson3752]

how awesome an image with just one lit up...way too many images have all of them in magic light so this is wonderfully different! Thank you for sharing your adventures!

[@michaelg61420]

I love how just one of the three was lit up! How unique!

[@rosewaldeier5301]

Brendan, thanks for this video. I know exactly what you mean. In the past few years, my husband and I have been fortunate enough to visit some beautiful, beautiful places. We haven't seen nearly everything, but there are places I want to return to for a deeper experience. We're headed to New Mexico, and are going to be driving through Monument Valley. I really want to grow my landscape photography tutorial, and this was so, so helpful. Photography is really a dance between planning and spontaneity. Rules are meant to be broken once you understand the rules and why they're there. Great shots, and way to make the best of the light; when you're making "whistlestop" trips, that's all you can really do. :)

[@tpalen20]

Really like the time lapse of you setting up the astro shots.

[@simonealexander7313]

Yeah the Valley loop drive is a must do. OK in a 2WD if you're careful but I did it in May so no water on the road.

[@prburley]

EPIC basics of photography on this US trip... THANKS for the "tip of the day" yesterday.

[@BrendanvanSon]

+Paul Burley no worries, Paul! Thanks for watching!

[@RalphGoldsmith]

Great video again. Loved the star time lapse towards the end and some great shots overall. Always nice to be reminded to break the rules when it feels right

[@anthonysalas9167]

Great video Brendan. Hopefully going to Monument Valley this year.

[@davidnassur7202]

Fantastic stuff sir! Keep them coming!

[@WanderlandTravelers]

Hey thanks for sharing this great spot. Was researching best places to watch sunset in Monument Valley and came across your blog. Caught a great sunset there last night ✨👌😊💥Really enjoyed your video style, we subbed and look forward to more fantastic videos!

[@BrendanvanSon]

Glad it worked out for y'all!

[@stoettingerphoto]

Perfect spot, definitely on my bucket list!

[@El-Tel63-Terry.]

Really enjoying this road trip......in fact the whole channel. 👍

[@JeanLucCoulon]

Very nice pictures. And very well done waiting for the light you expected! BTW, you have some dust on a video camera / sensor... (i.e. @2:41 and @4:03).

[@BrendanvanSon]

Yeah, it's actually a scratch on the sensor. I'm going to have to replace it soon.

[@chrisstark8136]

Really don’t know where you get your energy from awesome as always!!

[@allansisson355]

As soon as i saw the reflectio in the water, that's a shot. Then you showed it. haha John wayne and John Ford were made for that valley. Your out West, you don't No Stinking Rules. Blazzing Saddle. Looked like you were freezing. Suffering for the art, thats what we do. Great camera work, in a great place.

[@landscapesbyzalmanwainhaus9635]

Great video, Brendan, love that area of the Southwest. That post-sunset shot was killer. Now I see why the front of your car looked so terrible at our meet-up lol. If you want to get amazing night shots at Monument Valley, go back in the spring when the Milky Way is rising in the east over the 3 rock formations.

[@BrendanvanSon]

+Landscapes By Zalman Wainhaus yes! That would be killer!

[@paultrunfull3324]

Nice vid Brendan, some great shots mate.

[@Meum46]

Very beautiful !

[@LEXPIX]

Great shots and video. I'm surprised at the amount of skyglow or light pollution there considering that it is out in the middle of nowhere. .

[@aniruddhavidwans3626]

Thanks for a great video. I am going to Monument Valley in 2 weeks so I am glad I found this video. Can you recommend a place should I go to in Monument valley for Milky Way photos? I've never been to a dark sky place (I live in Northeast) so I am hoping to get a couple of print-worthy photos.

[@gregorsnell]

Such an iconic spot!! Another awesome vlog BvS. Man that timelapse sunset light and the start timelapses as well were dope. I'll be sure to get some of those in the for Broll in the Philippines and Patagonia. Noice work dude!!

[@BrendanvanSon]

+Greg Snell looking forward to it, man!

[@raymondmendoza4715]

Nice shot of the three monuments, where was your focused?

[@johndunlop5194]

Great Vlog, Definitely one for the bucket list :-)

[@Joel4JC]

I know it has been a while, but do you remember what type of room you had with that awesome view? Which room would I rquest?

[@tysonator5433]

Hello Brendan, I like your horizon photo, though I would have had a little more fore in the shot,.. ! Still a cracking photo though. What time laspe interval did you use on the stars moving around the centre rock formation as I would love to try that my self ! ?

[@add3449]

Awesome shots and time lapses! I'm headed there in June and cant wait to photograph Monument Valley! Also, how did you shoot the time lapse at 10:54, and how did you light yourself and the camera up? Thanks for the awesome video!

[@BrendanvanSon]

Was using the Sony time lapse app on my sony a6300 with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. I was lit by some ambient light coming from the hotel near by. :D

[@AmyProctor]

You should see the view from The View Hotel in Monument Valley. It's the BEST imo.

[@YannOnEarth]

how do you make the video look like 10:53? like what setting was that? thanks!

[@Andrea-sj4rz]

That was amazing!

[@BrendanvanSon]

+Andrea V glad you liked it!

[@theresarice7289]

One of my favorite photos from last year's epic road trip was taken from inside a moving vehicle. It was also one that couldn't be taken from anywhere else simply because there were no viewpoints that showed both sections of the Hanging Highway (a US destination that is not so well known, so you may want to check it out). Peace!

[@jordanbolst4543]

Brendan when are you coming to Australia? You should check out Sydney

[@BrendanvanSon]

+Bolstarama hopefully some time in 2018 or 2019

[@Dunlaper]

I'm so glad I found this video. I'm heading to Tucson next week and was going to stay at the same place. Does it seem like they always have rooms or should I call ahead?

[@randysmith3938]

What Tripod are you using? I like your setup, and you shoot how I shoot. Good to know Im not the only one!

[@tonytwyman]

Rules are made for breaking... No.1 golden rule sir 😎🔆

[@panda10219]

Great video! When you went to take pictures at night did you go back to the parking lot you shot during sunset? I was thinking of going to see the sunrise but wasn't sure if we are allowed since I think the entrance tolls open at 8AM

[@BrendanvanSon]

Hey! Yeah, you can totally enter at sunrise. The gate is open. At least it was the last time I was there.

[@scotty4418]

great episode again Brendan and loved the images. You're a one man tourism rep as these episodes from the South West are awesome and really make this a must see place. Can I ask a question about an app up mentioned previously (think it was in one of the Thailand vlogs) and it was the Model Release app you use.

[@BrendanvanSon]

+scotty4418 yup, it's called "Easy Release"

[@scotty4418]

Thanks....much obliged

[@wojtekgrabowski1]

from now on - jodie = master of second plan

[@znakeEyes47]

You should come to Jackson Hole sometime. It’s amazing.

[@BrendanvanSon]

I NEED to. I passed through 3 years ago, but got hammered by a blizzard and had to bail out. But, yeah, I have to get back.

[@TomCooper]

The rules of composition should be thought of as the "rules of composition analysis," because most masters don't even think of them when shooting. The "rules" only get applied after-the-fact by someone analyzing the image.

[@grecoschwabe]

Speaking of spots......i count at least three at your sensor (1:44).... ☺

[@00_Ryan_00]

Any visuals of AirWolf?

[@lIllllIllllllIl]

The 6D doesn't have bulb mode? @7:16

[@BrendanvanSon]

It does, but it doesn't have a mode where I can set the exact time. The bulb mode on the 6D is one where you click it to start, and then click again to stop it. On the 5d Mark iv, I can choose for it to shoot for 32 minutes, go to sleep, and when I wake up it's done.

[@vtanzi]

Would you recommend bringing a 70-200 or 100-400 on a 5DMIV?

[@BrendanvanSon]

Probably a 70-200mm. But, that said, I think I prefer the 100-400 overall. Just that 70mm seems to be a better focal length than 100 at Monument.

[@vtanzi]

Brendan van Son thank you so much. Love your videos. We are taking an antelope canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Monument Valley trip in a few weeks

[@MagnitudeReviews]

Hey Brendan, you gunna at least try to get a chance to shoot photos in “The Wave”?

[@BrendanvanSon]

I put in for the lotto 4 times and never got it. :(

[@SimonMatin]

960 sec with no star trails? on the second pic!

[@BrendanvanSon]

+Simon Matin oh! A mistake. That was 30 sec

[@mlevesque33]

Are you gonna come back to Canada one day?

[@BrendanvanSon]

I go back every year to visit old friends and family.

[@mlevesque33]

I hope you'll make more videos there at the same time. :D

[@PNWZach]

rip the fuzz on the sensor

[@dasheddub]

Great video, great photography. One recommendation. Leave some of the shadows in the image in post processing. Specifically the last image of monument valley. I do the same thing in post and am learning that I shouldn't remove all the shadows. It's ok if the foreground and midground are in shadow.

[@MatthewSaville]

Love that vertical night shot. But yeah, it's hard to shoot nightscapes from there, a lot of haze and the light pollution from the hotel really hits it too. Hey, at least you didn't photoshop the Milky Way core into the middle of classic Monument Valley view, like some idiots do. And then they wonder why I am so certain their image is faked. Umm, it's called astronomy!

[@samanthareimerart4627]

Rock Safari LOL Jodie.

[@BrendanvanSon]

+SamanthaR haha. Genius, right?

[@samanthareimerart4627]

She's a smart cookie and it's always good to put things in perspective and have a laugh when it comes to the 'very serious business' of finding that perfect foreground.

[@davidsworld5837]

are you not worried that jodie's pics not going to be better than yours and if they are is she ever going to let you forget