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.)