Monument Valley at Sunset
Monument Valley, in northeastern Arizona, is one of the US Southwest's most iconic sights - having been used as a backdrop in several western movies. In 2012 I visited it for the first time, and took this wide-angle photo shortly before sunset. (July 10, 2012. Nikon D5000, exposure blending from a 3-shot bracketed exposure @ f/16, 22mm, ISO 200.)
The Wave
This natural sandstone formation - in northern Arizona's "Vermillion Cliffs National Monument" - is prized by photographers. However, it is difficult to reach, because access to the area is by permit only, and only a few permits are made available - by lottery - each day. After applying several times, I finally got a permit to hike here on July 11th, 2012. This turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year; temperatures during my 7-mile round-trip hike were around 110 degrees F (43 degrees C)! (July 11, 2012. Nikon D5000, 1/200s @ f/11, 12mm, ISO 200.)
Monument Valley, Arizona, at sunset
Goosenecks State Park (bends of the San Juan River), Utah
'The Wave', Coyote Buttes North, Arizona
Access to this area is by permit only, and only a few permits are made available - by lottery - each day. After applying several times, I finally got a permit to hike to this area on July 11th, 2012. (This turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year, with temperatures around 110 degrees F (43 degrees C)!) For more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wave,_Arizona
'The Wave', Coyote Buttes North, Arizona
Access to this area is by permit only, and only a few permits are made available - by lottery - each day. After applying several times, I finally got a permit to hike to this area on July 11th, 2012. (This turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year, with temperatures around 110 degrees F (43 degrees C)!) For more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wave,_Arizona![Scenery between 'The Wave' and the [37,-112] Degree Confluence Point](_data/i/galleries/Trips/Southwest-2012-07/DSC_4631-me.jpg "Scenery between 'The Wave' and the [37,-112] Degree Confluence Point (2116 visits)")
Scenery between 'The Wave' and the [37,-112] Degree Confluence Point
Sandstone patterns at 'The Wave', Coyote Buttes North, Arizona
Valley of the Gods Drive, Utah
'The Wave', Coyote Buttes North, Arizona
Access to this area is by permit only, and only a few permits are made available - by lottery - each day. After applying several times, I finally got a permit to hike to this area on July 11th, 2012. (This turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year, with temperatures around 110 degrees F (43 degrees C)!) For more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wave,_Arizona