While the mittens at Monument Valley are the instantly recognizable features of the landscape there, the sky at sunrise is what really gives them star billing. No matter if there are bald skies or monsoon clouds, the intense colors of the sunrise make anyone seeing this phenomenon stare in wonderment. I’ve been to Monument Valley twice; on my first visit, there were bald skies but I watched in awe as the orange orb of the sun rose and appeared to rest briefly atop East Mitten’s thumb. (Click here) to see that shot that appeared in this blog in 2021. This past August, there were monsoon clouds and the colors at sunrise were magnificent. Click here to see a double starburst that appeared on either side of East Thumb’s thumb. In this image, taken just 8 minutes prior to the double starburst, the sky is more intensely red and the sun is still beneath the horizon and the sky steals the show from East Mitten.