Shiprock (Navajo: Tsé Bitʼaʼí, meaning ‘rock with wings’ or ‘winged rock’) is a monadnock that rises nearly 1,583 feet (482.5 m) above the high desert plain of the Navajo Nation in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States. Its peak elevation is 7,177 feet (2,187.5 m) above sea level. Shiprock is located about 10.75 miles (17.30 km) southwest of the town of Shiprock, which is named after the peak itself.
Governed by the Navajo Nation, the formation is situated in the Four Corners region and holds significant cultural importance in Navajo religion, mythology, and tradition. It lies near the center of the area once occupied by the Ancient Pueblo People, a prehistoric Native American culture in the Southwest United States, often referred to as the Anasazi. Shiprock is a popular destination for rock climbers and photographers, and it has appeared in several film productions and novels. It is the most prominent landmark in northwestern New Mexico. In 1975, Shiprock was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.
This was my first visit to this location in many years, and I aimed to capture a composition that showcased not only the massive rock but also the surrounding environment. In addition to the rock, wall-like sheets of Minette, known as dikes, radiate outwards from the central formation. I decided that these long lines of Minette sheets would create a strong leading line toward the rock. To achieve my vision, I spent a considerable amount of time flying my Mavic 2 Pro drone to find the best vantage point. Ultimately, I chose the location shown in the image. Now that I had identified the spot for my photograph, all I needed to do was wait for sunset.
I view photographing with my drone as just another tool for creating images. The primary limitation of the drone is its battery life, which lasts about 15 to 18 minutes. This motivated me to work hard to find the perfect composition before sunset.
