Posted by Patrick Nixon on March 15, 2013 at 4:43 PM
On May 28-29 I will be visiting Bryce Canyon National Park for the first time. We will drive from Las Vegas one day, stay overnight at Bryce Canyon Lodge and return to Vegas late the second afternoon. Unfortunately I will be tied to drive-in viewpoints and the Rim Trail and time will be short. I will have all the standard gear with me including Nikon D300 (APS-C sensor), tripod, 10-20 and 18-200 lenses, split ND filter, polarizer, lens hood, etc.
Are there any tips re location/time or anything else that any of you would care to provide --particularly any time/location I should NOT miss? I've been doing some research on the Internet, and so far it seems that Bryce Point after sunrise (how much after?) at both 13-17 mm and 150-200 mm seem essential. Thor's Hammer looks attractive too.
Can I get away without the tripod by using IS lenses?
Should D-lighting be used? If so, at what time(s) of day?-
This trip will probably become the warm-up to a later week long trip (Sep?) solely for photography during which I will be free to hike below the Rim.
Patrick Nixon
Canton, MI
NPN #2607
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 15, 2013 at 6:05 PM
Patrick,
I personally like Sunset Point for both sunrise and sunset, and a toss-up between Sunset and Bryce Point for sunrise. I think Bryce Canyon is much better for sunrise than sunset since it opens to the east. The rim trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points is nice for some reflected/bounce light shots with the telephoto after sunrise. On the first afternoon, you might scout near the points for what you want for sunrise and sunset locations. I'd prefer to use a tripod, especially with shots in the softer light before sunrise or after sunset.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on March 16, 2013 at 10:21 PM
Patrick, I had the same scenario last October. I basically had the opportunity to drive in at sunrise and asked our RMNP family for advice. I ended up at Bryce Point and it worked very well, there is so much scenery to shoot from there, both wide and zoomed in on the hoodoos. The tourists that show up for sunrise usually run up to the big viewpoint, but I chose to simply walk the 100 feet from the parking lot towards the canyon, and right up to the edge. Just walking 100 feet to the south along the edge changes perspective and views, you wouldn't be disappointed at that location IMO. I've heard Sunset Point mentioned several times, would love to try that someday.
If at all possible you'd want your tripod. First, shoot that canyon before the sun pops up, it's evenly lit and beautiful in tone, but will require some long expsoures. Then once the sun pops up, you're going to get specular highlights on those hoodoos that will be way beyond the range of your sensor if you're going to get any detail in the shadows, so you'll really want multiple exposures and some sort of HDR sandwich-making software. And make sure you hang out for a while, because after sunrise you'll be itching for the sun to get higher in the sky and illuminate more of that amazing terrain. Plan on shooting from about 6:30am to 9am.
Here's a couple images I got from that day to give you an idea what you'll see (third one is another photog that followed me to the edge and got a good POV), here, here and here. FYI, at 7am that morning, 120 people poured off of a bus for the sunrise, so expect that. But if you have no fear of heights, no one will follow you to the canyon's edge.
Posted by Bob Miller on March 17, 2013 at 11:18 PM
I just love that second link image. Paul- are you going to have time to get out to shoot the spring wildflowers?
Posted by Paul DeCesare on March 19, 2013 at 1:26 AM
Not sure, have to fly back to NJ this week, funeral for my 86-year-old dad...
Discussion
4 repliesAre there any tips re location/time or anything else that any of you would care to provide --particularly any time/location I should NOT miss? I've been doing some research on the Internet, and so far it seems that Bryce Point after sunrise (how much after?) at both 13-17 mm and 150-200 mm seem essential. Thor's Hammer looks attractive too.
Can I get away without the tripod by using IS lenses?
Should D-lighting be used? If so, at what time(s) of day?-
This trip will probably become the warm-up to a later week long trip (Sep?) solely for photography during which I will be free to hike below the Rim.
Patrick Nixon
Canton, MI
NPN #2607
I personally like Sunset Point for both sunrise and sunset, and a toss-up between Sunset and Bryce Point for sunrise. I think Bryce Canyon is much better for sunrise than sunset since it opens to the east. The rim trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points is nice for some reflected/bounce light shots with the telephoto after sunrise. On the first afternoon, you might scout near the points for what you want for sunrise and sunset locations. I'd prefer to use a tripod, especially with shots in the softer light before sunrise or after sunset.
If at all possible you'd want your tripod. First, shoot that canyon before the sun pops up, it's evenly lit and beautiful in tone, but will require some long expsoures. Then once the sun pops up, you're going to get specular highlights on those hoodoos that will be way beyond the range of your sensor if you're going to get any detail in the shadows, so you'll really want multiple exposures and some sort of HDR sandwich-making software. And make sure you hang out for a while, because after sunrise you'll be itching for the sun to get higher in the sky and illuminate more of that amazing terrain. Plan on shooting from about 6:30am to 9am.
Here's a couple images I got from that day to give you an idea what you'll see (third one is another photog that followed me to the edge and got a good POV), here, here and here. FYI, at 7am that morning, 120 people poured off of a bus for the sunrise, so expect that. But if you have no fear of heights, no one will follow you to the canyon's edge.