Shaped by time – Monument Valley

by Frank Schröter Photography

A weathered tree stump lies in the foreground of Monument Valley. Its light-coloured wood grain, deep cracks and twisted surfaces are clearly defined. Behind it, two striking table mountains rise above the red desert floor. Small shrubs are scattered between the nearby wooden forms and the distant rocks. The blue sky fills the upper part of the portrait format, lending the landscape a sense of tranquillity.

The wood initially guides the eye through fine lines and varied surfaces. A fractured section rises up on the left, whilst a longer, curved surface points to the right. The more distant rock formations appear softer and provide a spatial contrast to the nearby structures. Warm brown and ochre tones link the foreground with the ground and the table mountains. Between the large forms, small plants and open spaces remain visible, lending depth to the composition. The photograph was individually developed and retouched. As a wall hanging, it combines the subtle traces of weathering in the wood with the grand forms of a desert landscape. Depending on the viewing distance, either the close-up details or the sweeping perspective of the landscape come to the fore.