In February of 2026 I took a road trip to Monument Valley on the Arizona/Utah border in Navajo County, USA with my good friend Matt Kangas. My specific goal was to photograph in Monument Valley with snow in it, and taking a little extra time to enjoy traveling along Route 66 seemed like a great way to get there. The trip was a trip of a lifetime! The weather was ideal for a road trip, the miles rolled by easily, and the time spent with Matt was as good as it gets.
We pulled into “The View Hotel” on the afternoon of Friday, February 20, 2026. Checked in, unpacked, and headed to dinner. Matt’s father-in-law, Jack Fraser, had been in and out of the hospital for the past few weeks, and just before we sat down to dinner, Matt got a call from his wife Karen. Jack had passed…
The night of February 20, 2026 was cool in Monument Valley. In fact, probably just at freezing.
The wind was calm, the air was crystal clear, and the sky was filled with stars. It was spectacular!
The camera was set up on a tripod and pointed east. At 9:28:56 pm, I pressed the shutter release. The shutter was open for 30 seconds. Perhaps in that time Jack did a fly by to say “bye” to Matt (and me) on his way.
In loving memory of Jack Fraser, this image is titled…
“Jack’s Crossing”
Capture Date: February 20, 2026 - 9:28pm (Local Time)