Images from Monument Valley have always been awe-inspiring, but it's one of those places that photos don't do justice. Awe-inspiring monoliths so huge that you can't really comprehend their size until you drive up to the base and try to bring it all into focus.

This hot air balloon floating next to one of the monoliths begins to show a sense of scale:

This is a popular shot on the way toward the North Window.

This shot was taken just down the hill from the monument valley campground, a great place to shoot sunrise and pre-sunset.

Mid-day with thunderbird mesa in the background and valley drive road in the foreground:

A century plant flower with Rain God Mesa in the background:

This was my first shot of the valley, taken from my campsite. The sky was perfect, and the image is what I had envisioned when setting out on this trip - so it has become my favorite.

We only spent one day in Monument Valley because the sky turned stark during that day and the forecast showed more cloudless skies. It turned out to be a great decision because we found an unnamed area that was some of the best shooting of the trip and still had plenty of time to scope Canyon de Chelly before meeting the designer and model on Friday.