This photograph holds a lot of personal emotion. I went out with no real goal, other than to work on composition. This was the third photo I took on a hot, still September afternoon. I had found shade amongst the sand, under this vibrant sandstone rock, and loved how it looked set against the deep blue of the sky.

Immediately following this photo, I herniated two disks in my back and started a lengthy recovery process that kept me out of the field for almost two months.

During that time, I yearned for the camera, to be back out in nature. But what I found in that yearning was a deep appreciation for the opportunity and ability to see all the beautiful places and things that I have seen. That appreciation and gratitude have stuck with me ever since.