Route 66

This image didn’t just capture the beauty of Monument Valley; it also marked the end of my Nikon's pristine sensor.

While neither Monument Valley nor the iconic Mitten Butte directly caused the damage, the red clay dust from the area played a significant role.

After a day of exploring and photographing Monument Valley, I returned to my hotel room feeling accomplished. I proceeded to clean my equipment, only to discover that the camera sensor had several stubborn dust spots that my Rocket blower couldn't remove. I wasn’t concerned, as a wet swab usually does the trick.

However, I was unaware that the dust from Monument Valley was in actuality red clay. When my wet swab came into contact with this clay, it turned into an abrasive substance, resulting in a large scratch across the sensor.

The repair cost was $250. The lessor learned priceless.

This image didn’t just capture the beauty of Monument Valley; it also marked the end of my Nikon's pristine sensor.

While neither Monument Valley nor the iconic Mitten Butte directly caused the damage, the red clay dust from the area played a significant role.

After a day of exploring and photographing Monument Valley, I returned to my hotel room feeling accomplished. I proceeded to clean my equipment, only to discover that the camera sensor had several stubborn dust spots that my Rocket blower couldn't remove. I wasn’t concerned, as a wet swab usually does the trick.

However, I was unaware that the dust from Monument Valley was in actuality red clay. When my wet swab came into contact with this clay, it turned into an abrasive substance, resulting in a large scratch across the sensor.

The repair cost was $250. The lessor learned priceless.