Grand Canyon - Zion: I'm going to the Grand Canyon and Zion next week and wonder when the best time for shooting is. AM or PM. I'm on a short schedual and will not have time for an...

time and place Loc: Oly Penn, WA.

I'm going to the Grand Canyon and Zion next week and wonder when the best time for shooting is. AM or PM. I'm on a short schedual and will not have time for an over night at both places, only one. Any thoughts will sure help. Thanks ....Carl

vinnya Loc: connecticut

you'll love both places , always good at sunrise and sunset, but being on a short schedual think your going to have to play it by ear and enjoy the time your there and hope for the best plus hope the weather cooperates

pigpen

Don't forget that this time of year the sun is on a shorter arch, it won't be going directly overhead, which is a good thing. Both these places are beautiful anytime, but during the "golden hours", the colors can be amazing.

Have fun. I'm jealous.

vicspics Loc: Pennsylvania

time and place wrote:

I'm going to the Grand Canyon and Zion next week and wonder when the best time for shooting is. AM or PM. I'm on a short schedual and will not have time for an over night at both places, only one. Any thoughts will sure help. Thanks ....Carl

Carl, Two of my favorite places on earth. If the weather cooperates, you'll get great pics no matter what time of the day. As someone else said though, if you're there at sunset or sunrise (especially at the GC), the colors will blow you away! If you can have one overnight, I'd make it the GC for sure. Have an extra camera card(s). You won't believe the photo ops! Have fun!

llindstrand Loc: Seattle Metro

time and place wrote:

I'm going to the Grand Canyon and Zion next week and wonder when the best time for shooting is. AM or PM. I'm on a short schedual and will not have time for an over night at both places, only one. Any thoughts will sure help. Thanks ....Carl

Personally I would overnight at the Grand Canyon. I think there is much more to see. I've been having better luck on mid day photos using a graduated ND filter to cut down on the blow out of the sky. At least use a circular polarizer.

twowindsbear

I agree, overnight at GC. See if there is a 'sunrise tour' still available. On one of our trips, we took that, and was really worth it! I don't recall if there was a charge or a free tour. We went to an area on the 'west side,' toward Hermits Rest overlook - to a site that 'jutted out' into the canyon, giving views of the sun as it peeks over the rim, and the sunlight streaming into the canyon.

Do take & USE a polarizing filter, have a split ND filter, bracket exposures for HDR shots, have plenty of memory cards & batteries.

Safe journeys, great pix & have fun!!

llindstrand Loc: Seattle Metro

twowindsbear wrote:

I agree, overnight at GC. See if there is a 'sunr... (show quote)

I'm glad you agree with the filters. My personal recommendations would be to shoot on AV priority, ISO100 and definitely use a tripod. You will get some fantastic colors with this combined with the filters. We went on a cruise trip to the Caribbean in January and I used a graduated neutral density filter on all of my shots where there was sky involved. I had excellent results with far fewer blown out sky's.
Swede

Meredith Images Loc: Stratford, CT

I think it would be better to overnight at the Grand Canyon -- I've gotten awesome sunrise shots there (sunset too). Remember - at Zion, you are at the bottom of the mountains, not the top like the Canyon. I've gotten good stuff at Zion even during the day.

http://meredithimages.com/PhotosBryceZion.aspx

http://meredithimages.com/grandcanyon.aspx

Bryce Canyon is even more beautiful if you have a chance to get there!

rca1 Loc: Kanab Utah

Hope you are going to the South Rim as the North Rim is closed for the winter. South has more opportunities to see the river. and all facititys are open year round. May be hazey in the canyon.
Zion you can drive throught the canyon and not have to take the suttle bus. not the crouds this time of year. Lots of places to stop and photo. If you have time take a walk up the canyon to the Narrows, Weeping rock as another good place. across the canyon from the Main lodge is a couple of trails and a waterfall that are will worth seeing. Just befor you enter the Big Tunnel is a parking lot and a trail to a overlook, that look down on the main canyon some thousand ft. or so below, not a bad hike (about 3/4 mile) and one fantastic view. Zoin is my favoret, you are more of a part of it.

SteveH Loc: Putnam Valley NY & Boynton Beach, Fla

The best shots are taken in Bryce in the early morning when the sun first comes up and hoodoos become electrified. As others have indicated, use a polarizing filter and take lots of shots. One of the best photo opportunities I ever had. We also enjoyed going on Lake Powell and seeing Antelope Canyon - don't miss it.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

Ahhhh! Good for you. You are in the golden circle, the mecca of artists. Go slowly, look carefully and look for details, the vast scenery is astounding but hard to capture. I have the pleasure of living in AZ. Don't tell anyone about the cool weather, the mountains and forests, we want to keep our secret.

Nanc Loc: Rocky Face

Yes, I agree with you on Bryce. I have been to many canyons all over the Southwest but my most beautiful shots are of Bryce Canyon at sunset in the fall.

Meredith Images wrote:

I think it would be better to overnight at the Grand Canyon -- I've gotten awesome sunrise shots there (sunset too). Remember - at Zion, you are at the bottom of the mountains, not the top like the Canyon. I've gotten good stuff at Zion even during the day.

http://meredithimages.com/PhotosBryceZion.aspx

http://meredithimages.com/grandcanyon.aspx

Bryce Canyon is even more beautiful if you have a chance to get there!

llindstrand Loc: Seattle Metro

Nanc wrote:

Yes, I agree with you on Bryce. I have been to ma... (show quote)

I agree wholeheartedly. Bryce has much more to see than Zion. Zion would probably be great if one is a rock climber and can follow the trails; however at Zion, you drive up the valley floor and don't see nearly as much as at Bryce.

pigpen

llindstrand wrote:

quote=Nanc Yes, I agree with you on Bryce. I hav... (show quote)

I regret that I haven't been to Bryce or Zion, but I know for sure that Arches is absolutely amazing.

Nanc Loc: Rocky Face

While you were at the Arches I hope you got to go to Canyonlands. It is just down the road. The pictures I took there look like the postcards I bought at the gift shop.

pigpen wrote:

quote=llindstrand quote=Nanc Yes, I agree with y... (show quote)