© David Muench

© David Muench

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MONUMENT VALLEY

(MUENCH VOICE OVER)

You'll be looking at a large scape — you know, a large landscape like this, and then it isn't quite as exciting, and so then all of a sudden you think, well, what do you do? And right at your feet is something interesting, something impressive.

Wet sand, and it's blown away — the dry sand — and the rest is cemented together, and it's caught it in that pattern.

This one little grass, as an anchor at the bottom. And then these ribs, its just classic — a real story in the wind.

But with me it's just been a real compulsion to express within — especially wilderness country, wild lands, the dramatic bold icons of the country.

I've always liked the wild, natural part of everything. This has always attracted me. I feel this is a part of us, we need this. You know, as part of us — to give us a sense of our well being. And by making the photographs, making the images look beautiful — make them powerful, it can really impress in people that this is important.

I just all of a sudden became fascinated with things that you walk on. You go out to a place, and the standard way to look at something is to stand and gawk at a landscape — you know, a distant thing — and maybe the middle ground gets in there a little bit, but I found that I had to get involved. So I started putting things in close, the eye really goes on a three-dimensional trip, where you have structure holding the distance, and very near, close. There might be just a small flower or a rock or a real delineated piece of juniper wood. Interconnectedness is really the thing that's come out of it.

BUS TRIP TO NOWHERE — MULEY POINT

Yeah this is down in ... this is like changing lenses. A little mud and a little digging out to get into the good country is always part of it.

WORKING ALONE

Yeah, I do work alone most of the time. Usually I don't have an assistant. I don't like to put anyone through the rigors and some of the things — the hours, the crazy things I do. Just to try to get the shot.

I've gone a whole day, for instance, without even thinking of eating anything, because it's so exciting. It's really a lot of fun and very intense. That's why I do it alone mostly.

It just brings you back, keeps bringing you back, the hidden places, the sometimes hostile things that are challenging.

Mean country! I mean, you know, cat claw, cactuses. They just mill in the whole stew of, you know, passion to work here. So you wonder what's in there, what's it all about, what's the wild element that you need? That just keeps pulling you back.

(VOICE OF STUDENT WALTER)

There is a small group of premier landscape photographers. David Muench is one of those.

He's always — I see him out here with some lens. I'd never try that lens! And he's out here, and God, that looks good! You know what I mean? No wonder he's where he is.

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