Steve's Photoblog
Totem Pole and Yei Bi Chei
Posted by Steve Rice (Olympia, United States) on 16 July 2008 in Landscape & Rural.
The formations in the early morning light.
Part of The Great American West series.
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
The colors, shapes and textures are beautiful. Well done!
16 Jul 2008 5:32am
Hooman from Mashhad, Iran
wowow!!!! steve u are have a very nice photos... this also is a great shot.tnk u steve!
16 Jul 2008 11:13am
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
Awesome - definitely reminds one of the Wild West!!! Beautiful tones
16 Jul 2008 12:27pm
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Beautiful shot Steve, those rocky shapes look like an ancient city (on Mars). Is this an isolated place - are there towns nearby......?
16 Jul 2008 2:37pm
@Observing: This is indeed a fairly isolated place. It's on the huge Navajo Reservation the bulk of which is in Arizona but which spills over into Utah and New Mexico. Having said that, Gouldings Lodge is close by but difficult to get reservations at during busy times. Some small towns like Mexican Hat, Utah, where we stayed, are about 30 miles away.
The above photo was taken in a place remote to most visitors to the tribal park because you cannot enter it without a native guide. This seems to be a good idea to me for at least three reasons. First, it helps protect the fragile desert landscape. Next, it protects the privacy of the Navajo who live in the park. Finally, it provides much needed income for the native people. Casinos have sprung up like weeds on many tribal lands in the U.S. However, the Navajo Reservation seems to be far enough from population centers that it does not, to my knowledge, have any of them to bring in revenue.
don from spokane, United States
I like the beautiful rippling in the rich, colored sand. The skyline is fabulous too. It's reassuring to hear that some natural places are being protected well and still available to be enjoyed.
17 Jul 2008 3:10am
Anita from West Nottingham, United States
Beautiful light and color. I'm enjoying looking at your Great Americn West series. It is the country my Father loved. Thanks for sharing.
31 Aug 2008 10:32am
