Follow along with me as I photograph Monument Valley! The video above, Monument Valley with Fuji X Weekly, is a behind-the-scenes look at my photographic adventure to the incredible desert formations of southern Utah and northern Arizona on the Navajo Nation. It was a thrill to experience Monument Valley. It really is an amazing place!
This was my last trip before the worldwide pandemic shut down all of my travel plans. So far I’ve had to cancel two trips, and there’s likely one or two more that won’t happen. I hope that this video will bring you some joy. I hope that it reminds you of some recent travels that you’ve done. I hope that it inspires you to dream of where you’ll go and what you’ll photograph when you can once again go places.
My wife, Amanda, and I created this video. Actually, she did the majority of the work. Amanda recorded the clips. She did all of the editing. She coached me through the narration. I have a face for radio and a voice for print, yet somehow she made the video look great! Her vision, her storytelling, and her talents are what made this happen. Thank you, Amanda!
Evening at Monument Valley – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Rokinon 12mm
The photographs in the video were captured using a Fujifilm X-T30 and X-T1. I used four different lenses: a Fujinon 100-400mm, Fujinon 90mm f/2, Fujinon 35mm f/2 and Rokinon 12mm f/2. Amanda recorded the video using a Fujifilm X-T20 with a 16-50mm lens and a GoPro Hero 8 Black. The film simulation recipes used on the X-T30 were Velvia, Kodachrome 64, Analog Color, Dramatic Monochrome and Agfa Scala, and Velvia and Monochrome were used on the X-T1. Amanda used PRO Neg. Hi on the X-T20.
This article marks a significant milestone that I wanted to point out to you. This is the 500th post on Fuji X Weekly! Many blogs never make it to 500 posts, either because they publish too infrequently or they simply give up before it’s reached. What it means for you is that there’s a lot of content on this blog! If you haven’t been following Fuji X Weekly since the beginning, there are a ton of articles that you might have missed. There are perhaps many posts that could be helpful to you and your photography that you’ve never seen. I invite you to explore the older articles. The best way to do this is click the four lines on the top-right of this page, and either search a topic or browse the archive. Anyway, thank you for being a part of Fuji X Weekly! Without you, the 500 Posts milestone would not have been reached. You are appreciated!
Be sure to follow Fuji X Weekly, so that you don’t miss anything! I invite you to follow the Fuji X Weekly YouTube channel, as well. If you liked the Monument Valley video, I invite you to give it a thumbs-up, comment and share!
See also: Monument Valley – A Monumental Landscape
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Hi Ritchie, congratulations to you and your wife for this great video. Reminds me that Monument Valley still is on my “to do”-list. And of course special congratulations to your post # 500. I follow your blog just since a few weeks because I’m in the conversion phase from being a Canon boy to become a Fuji fan, but in this short time your blog became already one of my favorit source of information and inspiration what to do with my X-T30.
All the best, stay safe and healthy and best regards from good old Switzerland,
Udo
Thank you, I appreciate it! I’m sure you will enjoy your X-T30. Switzerland always looks so beautiful in the pictures I have seen, I would love to see it in person someday. You stay safe, too!
Congratulations on your 500th Post! Your site has been a great source of information and inspiration to me.
I appreciate the feedback!
Hello Ritchie,
It reminds me of great souvenirs, when I was there in August 1995, 25 years ago.
From 1995 to 2005, I have visited 28 US states among 50, some of them several times. That makes me think that I might know the States better than… US citizens.
I hope I could come again for another long trip in the West, which is the land I prefer in your country. At least 4 weeks.
As I always say, US West is one – if not the most – memorable voyage anyone can do in his life… and this is a Parisian who says that, can you imagine ?
Take care.
Denis
(Paris, France)
That is amazing! You probably have visited more of this country than many from this country. The west is my preference, too, and I’m fortunate to live where I do. I would like to see Paris, and other places in that region. When I can internationally travel someday, that is….
I was born in Paris in 1964, very close to Notre-Dame, in the very historical center, that’s to say L’Isle de la Cité : Lutetia (more than 2,000 years of age).
I live and I work in Paris, on the Left River bank (la Rive Gauche).
So I am an actual Parisian : Paris is my blood and my soul.
As I have traveled worldwide, I may say that I know many places around the globe.
But, my heart is in the US as well. I always came back – and still want to.
The first time I landed at JFK and that I walked NYC streets, I actually felt at home, like anywhere else in the US.
Sure I’ll come back… and you’ll travel worldwide too.
I was born in Paris in 1964, very close to Notre-Dame, in the very historical center, that’s to say L’Isle de la Cité : Lutetia (more than 2,000 years of age).
I live and I work in Paris, on the Left River bank (la Rive Gauche).
So I am an actual Parisian : Paris is my blood and my soul.
As I have traveled worldwide, I may say that I know many places around the globe.
But, my heart is in the US as well. I always came back – and still want to.
The first time I landed at JFK and that I walked NYC streets, I actually felt at home, like anywhere else in the US.
Sure I’ll come back… and you’ll travel worldwide too.
Very beautifully said!
Congrats on this milestone and on your site, which is an inspiration to so many of us. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Hi Ritchie, I think your wife is quite talented. Congratulations on the blogging milestone. Only 6000 more to go. 😃
This video reminded me of the weekend car trips that my dad would take us on when we were your kids’ age. I can assure you, good memories are being created. Keep that up.
Other than a week spent in Salt Lake City visiting my dad, I’ve not seen any of the west and very little of the mid-west (I lived in Ann Arbor for three years). With the exception of New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine, I have travelled to every state on the East Coast (Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida) and a few of the border states (West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Vermont) and southern states (Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee).
Before the pandemic, we had planned on doing more travelling across the USA in 2020.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind words and feedback.
I haven’t spent nearly enough time on the east coast. Many years ago I visited the New England area. I’ve been to the south a little, too. But mostly I have been out west. I hope to travel more, you know, when things get back to normal.
the video is so darn lovely… but the most lovely thing is that what I used to read is become a voice 😉
stay safe,
I appreciate the feedback! I just hope my voice doesn’t scare anyone off, lol!