Antelope House Ruin Overlook
Along the theme of last month’s story, a return to Canyon de Chelly just this past June 22nd would required a refresher on the potential of the area. This image is of Antelope House Ruin was made from one of my two visits back in the 1990s. There is only one “public” access to the lower canyon, all other access requires a Navajo guide. So, this image was made from an overlook appropriately titled Antelope House Overlook. Strangely enough I don’t recall which visit or the specifics of a Story Behind, over the years the image has received very generous feedback on social media.
So, given the fact that I am in the middle of traveling the Southwest for a month I am linking a previous Story Behind Every Photograph below. Canyon de Chelly is home to White House Ruin seen below. Ansel Adams put Canyon de Chelly on the map with his iconic image made in 1942, and detailed in the following Story Behind. Linked below is the back-story contrasting 3 different visions and results, 2 made by photographic royalty by all accounts, the other seen below by yours truly. It is amazing to see essentially the same compositions with decidedly different light conditions change the entire dynamic of the end result. Check the back story out by clicking on the image below, or the Blue Link to a previous Story Behind Every Photograph.
White House Ruin
Nice parallels drawn. Striking imagery as always.
It is always a pleasure to receive you work Steve.
The Antelope House Ruin Overlook has so many dimensions. Kind of looks like a painting at first where someone may have used mud in a few places.
I can only imagine how special you felt being at the same location as some great photographers. As you are indeed.
On the other story I also wonder what lies beneath all that rock. The Navajo reservations has so much history then and now. Be interesting to be a Geologist and dig. What we might unfold.
Seems like only you could be at the right place at the right time to capture that fabulous photo.
It amazes me how these great photographers can all see the same image, take the photo but reflect so differently.
This was a first time great read. Thanks for sharing both and I’m sure you have many more in store.
Thanks SS
D
Many years ago i was with a small group of photographers. We parked across the river from the ruins, waded across and were allowed about an hour to photograph as we pleased.
The road, parking area and trail we used are now closed to everyone due to non-thinkers who went in after us and defaced the property with fake native American art.
Will Americans ever learn to respect our history?
We went to Canyon de Chelly one time in the mid 80’s. It was a very interesting trek. We hired a Navajo guide to guide us in. We were driving my 1980 Ford Bronco, and because it was 4WD we could drive into the Canyon. We were driving along and saw a piece of light blue metal sticking out of the ground. The guide nodded her head toward it and said in a very muddled word, cherokee. My wife explained to me Cherokee. The week before a party, driving a Jeep Cherokee, with a guide, stopped in an area of active water flow and stalled the vehicle. By the time he got it restarted the Jeep was in sand up to the top of its tires. By the time a tow truck got there from Chinle it was stuck halfway up the door panels and was considered unrecoverable. We have a picture of our son, who was between his sophomore and junior year standing on the corner of the roof that was protruding out. Southwest is a lovely area, but can be brutal and unforgiving.