Sunlit Monuments

I arrived in monument valley in late afternoon, September 2021. It was a little stormy and after a long drive I wanted to get to my campsite, but I decided to go check out the view inside the park for sunset. I wasn’t sure if I’d make it or what I would see because the sky was mostly gray and overcast, but just before the sun fully set there was a razor thin break in the cloud layer just above the horizon, so the sun peaked through and really lit up the monuments and clouds with a beautiful glow. What a way to be welcomed to this magical place! The desert isn’t just beautiful to me - as someone suffering with chronic environmental illness, the clean, warm, dry air is part of my health and recovery. It’s actually becoming my lifestyle, and spending time out here in remote desert areas will hopefully help give me my life back. I have turned to photography as a way to document my journey, capture the magic of these beautiful places, and share my story. I got lucky with this photo!