The spring morning was crisp and quiet, as only the mornings in the desert can be. Although there were, perhaps, distant storm clouds cresting the horizon, they remained a tease more than a threat. The storm clouds made a meager and ill-fated attempt to appear ominous, then decided that was ineffective. The solitude of the sands remained undisturbed. Valley Spirit was yet to be made.
Except for the distant sound of hooves drumming on the sand, that is. The gentle nickers and snorts of the horses, whom the hooves belonged to, wove into the tapestry of the morning, the drumbeat quickly growing louder and more intense. Finally, the horses themselves appeared, cresting a low dune, running toward whatever destination they had in mind. They ran wild and free and ran for the sheer joy of running. Manes and tails splayed out behind them, and they left a small dust cloud in their wake. The horses tore across the valley, emblazoned with, truly, the spirit of the west.
Monument Valley is an iconic location. It has represented the archetype of the American West throughout the years in countless movies and photographs. Towering buttes, jutting one thousand feet straight up, rise from the valley floor. The contrast between the sands and the sandstone rock is hard and striking, yet it also weaves into the fabric of Monument Valley’s mythology.
Yet, it is the horses, running wild, free, and with the spirit of the west, that capture the essence of the valley.
Before long, their run took them over another dune and out of sight, leaving only the echoes and memory of their headlong dash into freedom.
The Backstory
Great story, right? Hopefully, the photograph Valley Spirit and the story bring to life what you might imagine the American West is. And truly, the scene and the story are precisely what happened. I’m thrilled to have made this photograph, and throughout my career, it remains one of my all-time favorites. It has stood, and will continue to do so, against the test of time and succeeded.
But there’s just a little more to this particular photograph and story. This photograph, although it accurately represents a fantastic moment, is an illusion. Here’s how it came to be.
One fine day I was wandering through Monument Valley, exploring its nooks and crannies. I was searching for just the right place where I could create a wonderful photograph that you don’t see every day. To achieve that, I wanted to find a place where few photographers go in the valley. I wasn’t successful in that quest, but while searching, I was thinking about all the western movies filmed here. It didn’t take me too long to think about horses and how awesome it would be to photograph wild horses in the valley.
As it turns out, there aren’t any wild horses in Monument Valley, nor, for that matter, anywhere close to the valley. So, my dream photograph wasn’t going to happen by chance. I was going to have to make it happen. I figured if the movies can do it, then so can I. Maybe.
There are a few families who live in the valley, and one of them owns horses. It took some effort and some explaining, but eventually the plan came together nicely. Horses and wranglers would be hired. The major hurdle was no more.
With the basic “how it was going to happen” sorted out, we led the horses over to the far side of the valley in a single group. The theory, which turned out to work, was that once prodded, the horses would head back to their home. I positioned myself where I thought the horses might go, gave the signal, held my breath, and waited. The horses were on their own now.
The horses knew where to go, and, luckily for me, they went; they decided to run—and conveniently right in front of where I positioned myself. Valley Spirit was made.
As for the illusion, what you don’t see are the wranglers just behind the horses, nor everyone supporting the effort. It simply appears as the horses happened to be running by, and I happened to be there. By carefully framing the image, I was able to create the vision of the horses being alone in the valley. Photography is often the art of illusion, in the end. As a photographer, I decide what to include, and importantly, what not to include in the image. This lets me tell the story that I see and want to present.
As for the reality, at that moment, the horses were indeed wild and free, running with abandon, seemingly for the joy of running. Perhaps, then, Valley Spirit isn’t fantasy, but rather, represents the inner spirit of the horses.
The Future Story
There was a time when wild horses were indeed running free in Monument Valley, but that time has long passed. Today, society is far less tolerant of wildlife in general. We remove horses whenever we can, lest they spoil the forage for other livestock, such as cows or sheep. We round them up and corral them. A few lucky ones find new homes. The rest, well, their stories end.
We can change this. It is never too late to find tolerance and to enjoy the spirit and the freedom that only a wild horse can bring. The drumming hooves pounding on the desert sands, the braying in the distance, can once again be a part and parcel of the west. We can let it be wild again if we have the will. It’s up to us. All of us.
Bring Valley Spirit Home
If Valley Spirit calls to you, and I hope it does, you can bring the adventure home. Here on the website, you’ll find Valley Spirit in a couple of standard sizes. If you have specific requirements, I can make a custom piece just for you. I can create a special version that matches your space and can create it in custom sizes. I can even create a custom-framed piece that will be spectacular. So, if the standard options don’t quite fit your needs, contact me, and we’ll create something just for you.