Sleeping overnight at the top of Hunts Mesa to the south of Monument Valley is a bridge too far for almost all who enter the Navajo Nation Reservation. It very much requires the collaboration of The Navajo. At 27,000 square miles, this is by far the largest of the Native American Reservations, indeed it’s bigger than 10 US States. There are 140,000 tribal members living in the area and this photograph required the help of about a dozen of them: whether that came in setting up camp; riding the mustang horses up almost vertical cliffs or driving us up the most challenging of terrains. Logistically the execution of this creative concept was a challenge for my team and we were so fortunate to have the partnership with truly excellent locals. Without their help, there was no chance.

I like to think we emotionally invest in people with whom we work and there was great camaraderie around the campfire that night. The following morning, I think we had about 10 minutes of ideal light in which to take the picture. As soon as the sun really showed its glory, the light became too intense for the mood I was looking for. Equally, to have shot too early risked compromising the aesthetic.

I really believe that I was looking out towards one of the great vistas in the world that morning; I don’t think I have ever woken up to a more spectacular sunrise - and I have seen a few. All we had to do after breakfast was get down the mountain - but that’s another story.