Sunrise at the Totem Pole, Monument Valley - Julian Sansum

Year:  2025 Medium:  Archival Giclee Print Size:   114cm x 57cm This Print and this Certificate are each certified through a hologram carrying a unique number. This Archival Giclee Print is part of a limited edition of 25 114 cm x 57 cm prints plus one artist’s proof all signed by the artist. The artist reserves the right to use the image in other forms and other forms of media, including but not limited to online, competitions and books of collections. Released in April 2025 on Hahnemuhle FineArt Baryta Satin 300 gsm paper. Printed using pigment ink from Canon on a Canon printer. In the artists words: I got up at 4 am, I was meeting our group at the 4x4s at 0430. We were then meeting our Navajo guides at 0500 to take us to an area of rock formations in Monument Valley made famous by the Totem Pole. At 381 feet tall, the Totem Pole is more than twice the height of Nelson’s Column (169 feet). It was climbed by Clint Eastwood in the Eiger Sanction and together with his crew, they are the last group to climb it. As part of the deal to climb, Clint had to agree to remove all pitons and other climbing aids that had been left by others on the rock. We arrived in pitch black – typical for landscape work! We wanted to catch the sun as it rose, which would make a nice picture. I noticed a couple of small holes in the rock to the right of the Totem Pole and wondered if it might be possible to see a sunburst as the sun passed the spot. The sunburst, or starburst, is created when light passes through a small aperture and then bounces around the aperture blades inside the lens. I set my camera so I could see where the brightest area was starting to appear – I assumed that must be the sun – and then positioned myself with camera on tripod to catch the sun breaking through. The group I was with started to move off but I was convinced that a sunburst would appear. I chatted with the Navajo guides and they confirmed that they thought so too. The sun moved up a fraction and one of the Navajo shouted for me to run over to him. I grabbed the tripod with camera on top and ran the 50 yards or so to him. Put the camera and tripod down and immediately started shooting. I had already set the focus before moving and I was far enough away that it would have to do. I managed three shots where the sunburst is visible and then it was gone. The sting in the tail? I think running with the camera caused sand to fly up and get in the lens. I had to spend hours getting rid of sand spots from that photo and the other one shown later of Monument Valley!