Monument Valley 2005

This was my first trip to the USA, I wasn't too sure where I was going to go but I did know that I wanted to see Monument Valley in Southern Utah. I'd even bought a John Ford biography at the airport before I left so that I could sort of get into the cinematic history of the place.
When you get to Monument Valley on highway 163 you arrive at a crossroads. Straight on for Mexican Hat and the four Corners, right to the Valley itself and left to the trading post by the air strip about a mile away. I was hungry so headed left to the trading post and bought my first corn dog.
I'd noticed some old cars parked up about a hundred metres from the road and on the way back I slowed down and contemplated taking a picture which would inevitably mean sneaking onto someones property and this is Navajo country.
I didn't see a no tresspassing sign so I decided to go for it. So full of corn dog I headed into a Navajo Indians back yard with the camera and shot about three rolls of film.

Two years later I returned to this site, the cars had since been cleared out. I did however have more knowledge about land laws in the area. If you're looking to go off the road or down an unsigned road and the map tells you that you're in an Indian reservation then you need to get a permit from the relevant authorities otherwise you could end up in jail for the night.

I've not had another corn dog since taking this shot.

Location: Monument Valley

Photographer: Christopher Hartford

Buy this print online:

up to A2+ - £80.00 Up to A3+ - £45.00 Up to A4+ - £30.00 Small Clip Frame - £8.00