In October of 1996, I lead a workshop to various photographic locations within the Arizona Strip. One of those locations was Monument Valley, which is entirely within Navajo land and operated by the Navajo Nation. I had learned from previous workshops that one can take an unguided “driving tour” of Monument Valley without a Navajo guide, however, if you truly want to experience the Valley then contracting with a Navajo Guide is essential.
I had the good fortune to contract with Fredrick Cly’s Photo Adventures. We arranged for a 1 pm departure and we included an evening “backcountry” campfire dinner hosted by Mr. Cly, his wife, and children. The only way to truly see the wonders of Monument Valley is to hire a Navajo guide who has access to the many incredible rock formations that make up the wonder of the Valley. We saw and photographed a number of incredible landscapes and erosion formations that day. Tear Drop Arch, seen above was the last stop of the day and rightfully so. As a point of reference, the top of the Arch’s opening is approximately 15 feet high and 8-10 wide at the bottom, a product of the incredible sandstone erosion in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. The actual location of the Arch is across highway 163 and looking through the Arch you actually see some of the more prominent pinnacles of Monument Valley itself.
While the photography during the tour was breathtaking, the highlight of the day did not appear until evening time, we just finished a campfire dinner prepared by the Cly family and darkness was setting in, rain was starting to fall and the students had retreated to the van. As I was saying goodbye to Fred Cly, an incredibly soft-spoken man he shared with me as a young boy his father would take him along with some of the most famous landscape photographers to ever go through the Monument. The rain was beginning to come down quite hard by now and whether it was out of respect for Fred or being immersed in conversation about his adventure with Ansel Adams as a youngster I made no effort to get out of the rain and when I finally did get in the van I was soaked head to toe. It is a story that has stayed with me for over 20 years and I have all fond memories for Fred and his family.
During the workshop, the guide took us to an actual Navajo Hogan deep in the Navajo land where Susie Yazzi and her daughter Effie live and saw a demonstration of Navajo Rug weaving by the iconic Navajo elder.
Take a visual tour of Monument Valley & meet Susie Yazzi in this 3-minute video Nat Geo video
Tear Drop Arch is exposed with a 5” X 7 “ Deardorff Camera serial # 901, circa 03 / ‘67. A 12″ Goerz Dagor lens with Tri-X 320 ISO film and processed in HC 110 Developer.
Several years ago I went to MV and did the car self tour. The only Navajo tours I saw were the group tours in the trucks and they were too expensive for a non-personal tour, which any photographer would prefer to have. I thought the only way to get some personalized tour was to know somebody that could hook you up. I still don’t know how to get a personalized tour.
Thanks for reaching out Stephen, as I remember we paid $65.00 per person which include a terrific campfire dinner. There were 8 in the workshop so we had to use the workshop vehicle as well as the tour guide’s Jeep, we switched off students getting a ride with the guide in the Jeep. Seem to remember the only vehicles back then were Jeep CJs which could only seat 4 counting the driver. Possibly with the power of the internet now a days you could arrange a meet up with several other photogs and share costs. I highly recommend the Navajo guided tour, the one disappointment was at Mystery Arch, long ride to get to it and almost impossible to photograph.
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Again SS how great it is that you were able to be with Natives of the land. Navajo Nation is a land that is forever engraved in history. For me the photo you captured is an eye to that history. You see it, feel it and most importantly share it. Thank you 💕D💕
Thanks very much for checking out my Back Stories. I love the Southwest, particularly the Navajo land and their people, such gentle souls contrasted by some of the most rugged landscape on earth !! SS