In 2004,
Max was working on the Prophecy album and came across some images of Monument
Valley. He immediately got the
idea to do a photo shoot and possibly later, a video shoot there. The panorama is so intense and it fit
the mystic vision Max was shooting for.
We packed
up Zyon, Igor and our new pup, Spanky and headed north. This was going to be an all day
excursion and we were very excited!
We drove
through Tuba City on the way and stopped for lunch and to visit some Indian
huts and attractions on the side of the road. The landscape was getting barren from trees, painted with
years of different layers of prehistoric stone and reflective. It was a beautiful drive, as if we were
being absorbed by nature.
Monument
Valley is one of Mother Nature's castles.
An amusement park for nature lovers?? God's personal fingerprint?? We could only breathe deep and allow the sights to pulse
through our very bloodstreams!
 |
| Zyon, Igor, Spanky, and Photog Max |
Max and I
got out and began to take photos of different angles and backgrounds. We found a white towel in our van and
draped it on Max to envision different poses. Besides getting work done, we also had a shizzle-ton of
fun!! The boys learned a lot of
interesting facts and by the time we went back home, we were all fully pooped
out and satisfied that we were on the right track. We knew we would return.
When the
time was right, we flew our close friend and badass photographer, Nick Steever,
out and made another trip to Monument Valley. This time we knew where to go and what type of images we
wanted to capture. It is one of my
favorite shoots Max ever did.
 |
| Me, Max and Spanky |
We
returned later to fulfill another of Max's dreams..to make a video on location,
in the heart of the monuments. My
good friend, Fred Davis, helped obtain permission for us to video
and....wait! That is another
story...
Class
dismissed....RIP Spanky