"Ring of Fire over the Totem Pole"  Monument Valley, Arizona

Dave produces this piece as a true continuous-tone photographic fine-art print—not an inkjet. The image is printed from a digital master file onto silver-based photo paper, yielding the rich color and depth long associated with Ilfochrome/Cibachrome-style prints. After chemical development, the print is mounted to .063 aluminum for rigidity and flatness, then sealed under a UV- and scratch-resistant crystal-clear film for long-term protection. A Certificate of Authenticity is mounted on the back. Edition is limited to 100 and individually numbered.

Key details

• Printing: Continuous-tone on silver-halide photo paper (not aluminum inkjet)
• Look/feel: Similar in visual character to Ilfochrome/Cibachrome
• Mount: .063 aluminum panel
• Finish: UV/scratch-resistant clear protective film
• Certification: Certificate of Authenticity on back
• Edition: Limited to 100 (numbered)
• #3 of 100
• 29 1/2"w x 39 1/2"h Framed

I call this one of a kind image, "Ring of Fire over the Totem Pole" On Oct. 14, 2023 residents of the Western United States observed a rare celestial event: an annular solar eclipse also known as the ring of fire. It occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun and its angular size in the Earth's sky is smaller than the size of the Sun. Thus, it cannot completely cover the sun. Therefore, a ring of fire can be seen in the sky. Several months before the eclipse after long research as to where the path of the eclipse would be at totality, I researched more than 18 peaks and mountains in the Southwest. But knowing Monument Valley well, as I have photographed the area many times before, I knew the monument, Totem Pole would be one of the best possible subjects for photographing this eclipse. I planned everything using software such as Google Earth, Photopills and Photographers's Ephemeris down to the specific GPS coordinates as to where I should place my camera for this shot. I needed to be approximately 1000 feet from the Totem Pole when the eclipse goes into totality. The eclipse would be high in the sky at approximately 32 degrees above the horizon during totality and at about 131-degree compass heading from the Totem Pole. I made an accurate calculation of the time and location at which the Sun would pass thru the tip of the Totem Pole. Once the time came close to totality, I still ended up having to adjust my position to catch the perfect angle of the eclipse over the Totem Pole. On the morning of the eclipse I got up early well before dawn not knowing for sure if I could get the shot. But all worked out in the end of a very tiring and stresful morning. I hired a Navajo guide because the Navajo Nation closed Monument Valley during the 4-hour eclipse to all public except those few with a guide. My GPS coordinates were off a little but watching as the moon started to hide the sun I scrambled around and as the eclipse became totality, being exactly in the right spot , everything came together. The biggest issue I had was the exposure. I wanted detail of the ring of fire and detail of the Totem Pole. The moon covered the sun only at 97% which darkened the sky just a bit, but it was still too bright out to photograph with one exposure. With the sun high in the sky at 10:31a.m. and the high dynamic range, I had to make two exposures. Both exposures were made at the same location and then exposures blended together. One exposure for the foreground using no filter on the Totem Pole and one during totality using a 20-stop ND filter. The ability to take this shot during totality would be less than a 4-minute window of opportunity. One last concern I had was not to burn my lens or camera sensor from the bright sun. Fortunately, I was photographing at about 50mm which decreased the chance of hurting my gear and all worked out. I was the only photographer that photgraphed the eclipse in totality directly over this famous monument called the Totem Pole. There were a few other photographers in the vicinty but they were photgraphing another nearby monument called Yei Be Chei. It was a creative challenge that all came together. This annular eclipse would be the last annular eclipse to be seen in the United States until June 21, 2039 which totality will only be in Alaska. Other facts of the Totem Pole: Totem Pole is the tallest spire in the world at a height of 400' It is illegal to climb any of the monuments within Monument Valley, however during the filming of the 1975 movie, "Eiger Sanctions" with Clint Eastwood, he was allowed to climb the Totem Pole. Eastwood did his own climbing and stuntwork under dangerous conditions. He was the last person to climb Monument Valley's Totem Pole.