SHIPROCK, NEW MEXICO

The majesty of the American south-west is without equal and has been a canvas for artists for more than 100 years.

Early Hollywood directors, such as John Ford, were known for framing their characters against the vast, harsh and rugged terrain. Shiprock, New Mexico, is a towering, bird-like volcanic rock formation that can be seen for miles. It rises nearly 1,600 feet above the desert plain of the Navajo.

On a clear day, the light becomes suboptimal as little as 15 minutes after sunrise – it’s just too strong and Shiprock itself lights up like a bonfire.