Posted by Jack Garrett on February 7, 2012 at 10:22 AM
I have never shot this area and would like some tips on what to shoot and how to expose in these slots. I understand I won't get the light rays this time of year but hopefully I can still get good reflected light. I had someone tell me that I should shoot between 11-2PM for best light in Feb. What about multiple exposures and DOF multiples (which I've never done). Replies or separate emails welcome on this. Are there specific places I should concentrate on and what about the use of guides who keep people back while you shoot?
Thanks.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on February 7, 2012 at 10:53 AM
In Upper Antelope, you will need to use a tour guide. Do the photo tour instead of the regular tour. I have read where Carol Bigthumb's service is good (but i have not used her service).
For lower, the time is now limited. You do not need to be with a guide though.
I found a CPL beneficial. Some say to have a bag over the camera between shots especially in upper due to the thrown dust and dust blown from above on a windy day. I did not have any dust problems on my trip to lower a few years ago. I paid the fee, was taken to the entrance, and was then on my own until the canyon closed.
Posted by Bill Bean on February 7, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Hey Jack, I haven't been to Antelope for several years so my info on the guide situation is hopelessly outdated. Doug's tip about keeping the camera covered between shots is a good one and be especially careful when changing lenses or memory cards. The only dirty sensor problem I've ever had was during and after a trip to Antelope. Lower Antelope is by far my favorite since they tend to turn you loose and you're only restricted by time but both have their qualities.
Best advice I can give is monitor the weather reports very closely. Not a lot of storms coming in from the south but then we just had our first upslope storm in quite a while in Denver. If there's ANY rain or precipitation in the forecast don't go anywhere near the slots. I'll tell you a story Saturday at the shindig.
Couple of tips for Page: If you're a carnivore like me the Big Dam Burger at the Dam cafe is worth a trip. Also don't skip the chance to head south of town a ways and photograph Horseshoe Bend. Worth the trip.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 7, 2012 at 11:57 AM
You're going at a good time of year, Jack. Far fewer people, esp. if you can visit on a weekday. If you'll be with a non-photographer, their patience will be sorely tested. 'Chief' Tsosie's Antelope Canyon Tours for Photographers out of Page is a good choice for the Upper Canyon.
The hours you noted are correct for all year long there. As long as you don't have direct sunlight in the shot, a single long exposure will suffice. Can't hurt to bracket your shots.
When you reach the 'end' of the lower canyon, don't take the stairs out but walk back out via the canyon floor the way you came in for different light as the sun progresses. Be sure to look both ahead and behind you in the Lower canyon at all times. If the Lower canyon isn't crowded, they may cut you some slack on the new time limits.
Surprisingly, I find that wide angle lenses are too wide for the place. I use a 24-105 lens and find I never have to change it out while in there. Obviously, you don't want to waste time or money by entering on a cloudy/overcast day.
Best of luck and light to you there!
Posted by George Hager on February 7, 2012 at 3:18 PM
Strange as it may sound - beware of lens flare. A shower cap makes a good dust cover.
I haven't been there in a couple of years, so I can't give any recent information. The only thing I can add is that you want to wait for an absolutely clear blue-sky day. I'm not talking about rain and the risk of flooding... I'm talking about the light in the canyon. Any overcast, or even any high thin clouds, destroys some of the wonderful color.
Also, your brain is wonderfully evolved to account for color casts. But color casts is exactly the reason that you want to be down in the canyon. Set a fixed WB and keep shooting. Don't trust your own eyes while you're down there.
Enjoy!
Posted by Karl Buiter on February 7, 2012 at 8:20 PM
Hi Jack,
I used Carol BigThumb's guide service last October. Excellent guide. If you choose the half or whole day options, they have access to a few smaller side canyons as a good part of the complex is on their property.
One of the side canyons is Rattlesnake Canyon. You can get about an hour in there almost all to yourself. While the formations and lighting in there is less spectacular, its a good warmup to the main act. I did not get a chance to do Owl Canyon last time; and there is a Sheep(?) Canyon further south they can guide you to.
Beyond the incredible formations and lighting, the best way I can describe Upper Antelope is Mercenary Photography. You have exactly 58 seconds to drop your 'pod, set your shot, and take an exposure or two. Thats about all the time the guide can hold back the masses from other tours. Every one of the shots you will take will have an audience just out of range. Dont change lens, go light, go ready. And maybe you'll have a few moments to yourself. On the way back from the end I found a light shaft and got about 5 minutes to throw dust in the air while triggering my remote shutter. Bliss.
I have not done Lower Antelope - yet.
Now that I have done it, I'll be at it again - been thinking of doing it in a couple weeks on my travel to Durango (for the D&SNGRR shoots) and Moab.
One other item. If you are shooting professionally (photos for sale), you are supposed to get a Photo Permit from the Navajo Parks and Recreation group. It costs $50 and can be obtained via mail or direct at the Lechee Chapter office nearby (a trailer). They only take cash or cashier's check. Overnight takes two days (slow pony from Flag). Within the language of the permit, your photos can be used by the Navajo Nations for promotional purposes. You do need to be specific about what canyons or areas you are photographing. There is an after-the-fact permit for a higher fee. You can find this all on the Navajo Parks website.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 8, 2012 at 7:48 AM
"One other item. If you are shooting professionally (photos for sale), you are supposed to get a Photo Permit from the Navajo Parks and Recreation group."
Which nobody ever does, by the way. Not news you can use, in other words.
Posted by Jack Garrett on February 8, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Thanks John, I had already heard about the "pro" fee but I'll just tell em I'm an amateur with an F-stop bag, carbon fiber tripod, GPS locator and all the other stuff we amateurs carry...lol.
Thanks for the info so far..I'm also planning on Horseshoe Bend so if anybody knows best time for that, help is appreciated.
One other thing...Mark, you mentioned dialing in WB settings...should I just go for warmer settings...5,000-6,000 range?
Posted by Morris McClung on February 8, 2012 at 12:39 PM
I've never been there, so I envy your opportunity. Good shooting, Jack!
Posted by Peter Coskun on February 8, 2012 at 12:50 PM
I've only been in upper antelope canyon and went through overland canyon tours http://overlandcanyontours.com/ The prices were very reasonable and our guide was great. I went in mid march and found it to be very crowded even at the very first tour offered in the AM. We actually went on an overcast day with on and off rain in the canyon (watching the rain drops light up falling in the canyon was very interesting) but the colors were not at their best. If you go to horseshoe bend, go at sunrise and sunset. Sunrise you will get softer colors depending on the light, and sunset you can get a nice sunstar at the horizon. I wouldn't neglect lake powell either, there are some really cool spots by antelope point and along lakeshore drive. I might be heading up that way tomorrow if I'm lucky to shoot the bend at sunset and antelope on friday.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on February 9, 2012 at 11:50 PM
I've gotten some of my best results this time of year. Keep an eye out for strong highlights and expose for them or bracket a lot (+-2 stops). A lot of the best glow you'll get and some of the better shots will be shooting up the walls, toward where light is reflecting from an opposite wall or around a corner. I try to keep the sky out of the frame, helps with the dynamic range, but a lot of time there will be strong highlights on ridges, etc, close to the direct light.
Be prepared for some contortion as there isn't much room for your tripod in a lot of areas in lower, plus you'll use all the low angle and odd leg placement capabilities it has.
While you're in the area, check out Stud Horse point, Drive north up Smokey Mountain Road then take side roads to Lake Powell for great views (Gunsight Bay) for sunset. A detour down along the Vermillion Cliffs/Paria/Buckskin Gulch/White Pocket area is worthwhile. Also, Toadstool Hoodoo is close by and an easy hike.
I'm heading down there the first of March. I'll be interested to see what you come back with!
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 16, 2012 at 9:59 AM
If your tripod has metal spikes or feet, please try to cover them with some kind of rubber endcap to prevent scratching the walls of the canyon!
Discussion
12 repliesThanks.
For lower, the time is now limited. You do not need to be with a guide though.
I found a CPL beneficial. Some say to have a bag over the camera between shots especially in upper due to the thrown dust and dust blown from above on a windy day. I did not have any dust problems on my trip to lower a few years ago. I paid the fee, was taken to the entrance, and was then on my own until the canyon closed.
Best advice I can give is monitor the weather reports very closely. Not a lot of storms coming in from the south but then we just had our first upslope storm in quite a while in Denver. If there's ANY rain or precipitation in the forecast don't go anywhere near the slots. I'll tell you a story Saturday at the shindig.
Couple of tips for Page: If you're a carnivore like me the Big Dam Burger at the Dam cafe is worth a trip. Also don't skip the chance to head south of town a ways and photograph Horseshoe Bend. Worth the trip.
'Chief' Tsosie's Antelope Canyon Tours for Photographers out of Page is a good choice for the Upper Canyon.
The hours you noted are correct for all year long there. As long as you don't have direct sunlight in the shot, a single long exposure will suffice. Can't hurt to bracket your shots.
When you reach the 'end' of the lower canyon, don't take the stairs out but walk back out via the canyon floor the way you came in for different light as the sun progresses. Be sure to look both ahead and behind you in the Lower canyon at all times. If the Lower canyon isn't crowded, they may cut you some slack on the new time limits.
Surprisingly, I find that wide angle lenses are too wide for the place. I use a 24-105 lens and find I never have to change it out while in there. Obviously, you don't want to waste time or money by entering on a cloudy/overcast day.
Best of luck and light to you there!
I haven't been there in a couple of years, so I can't give any recent information. The only thing I can add is that you want to wait for an absolutely clear blue-sky day. I'm not talking about rain and the risk of flooding... I'm talking about the light in the canyon. Any overcast, or even any high thin clouds, destroys some of the wonderful color.
Also, your brain is wonderfully evolved to account for color casts. But color casts is exactly the reason that you want to be down in the canyon. Set a fixed WB and keep shooting. Don't trust your own eyes while you're down there.
Enjoy!
I used Carol BigThumb's guide service last October. Excellent guide. If you choose the half or whole day options, they have access to a few smaller side canyons as a good part of the complex is on their property.
One of the side canyons is Rattlesnake Canyon. You can get about an hour in there almost all to yourself. While the formations and lighting in there is less spectacular, its a good warmup to the main act. I did not get a chance to do Owl Canyon last time; and there is a Sheep(?) Canyon further south they can guide you to.
Beyond the incredible formations and lighting, the best way I can describe Upper Antelope is Mercenary Photography. You have exactly 58 seconds to drop your 'pod, set your shot, and take an exposure or two. Thats about all the time the guide can hold back the masses from other tours. Every one of the shots you will take will have an audience just out of range. Dont change lens, go light, go ready. And maybe you'll have a few moments to yourself. On the way back from the end I found a light shaft and got about 5 minutes to throw dust in the air while triggering my remote shutter. Bliss.
I have not done Lower Antelope - yet.
Now that I have done it, I'll be at it again - been thinking of doing it in a couple weeks on my travel to Durango (for the D&SNGRR shoots) and Moab.
One other item. If you are shooting professionally (photos for sale), you are supposed to get a Photo Permit from the Navajo Parks and Recreation group. It costs $50 and can be obtained via mail or direct at the Lechee Chapter office nearby (a trailer). They only take cash or cashier's check. Overnight takes two days (slow pony from Flag). Within the language of the permit, your photos can be used by the Navajo Nations for promotional purposes. You do need to be specific about what canyons or areas you are photographing. There is an after-the-fact permit for a higher fee. You can find this all on the Navajo Parks website.
Thanks for the info so far..I'm also planning on Horseshoe Bend so if anybody knows best time for that, help is appreciated.
One other thing...Mark, you mentioned dialing in WB settings...should I just go for warmer settings...5,000-6,000 range?
Be prepared for some contortion as there isn't much room for your tripod in a lot of areas in lower, plus you'll use all the low angle and odd leg placement capabilities it has.
While you're in the area, check out Stud Horse point, Drive north up Smokey Mountain Road then take side roads to Lake Powell for great views (Gunsight Bay) for sunset. A detour down along the Vermillion Cliffs/Paria/Buckskin Gulch/White Pocket area is worthwhile. Also, Toadstool Hoodoo is close by and an easy hike.
I'm heading down there the first of March. I'll be interested to see what you come back with!