El Capitan
Rising sharply from the desert floor near the Arizona-Utah border, this dramatic volcanic neck cuts an imposing silhouette against wide open skies, making it one of the most striking geological formations in the entire Monument Valley region. Pull off along Highway 163 and shoot from the roadside, where the peak towers over the scrubby desert foreground and you can use the road itself as a leading line pointing straight toward the spire. A wide angle lens works well here to emphasize the vastness of the surrounding landscape, while a longer focal length compresses the background and isolates the peak against distant mesas. Golden hour at sunrise or sunset is ideal, when warm light catches the red rock and long shadows add depth to the terrain. The location is easily accessible by car with no hiking required, and you have room to move along the highway shoulder to adjust your framing. (Monument Valley, Arizona, United States)
