Antelope Canyon (Page 2): I dont totally agree. As I stated above, if you are doing Lower Antelope Canyon you can book a small group tour with just your immediate party, as little as...

gwilliams6

neillaubenthal wrote:

Completely agree. Paid for the photo tour in 2019 ... (show quote)

I dont totally agree. As I stated above, if you are doing Lower Antelope Canyon you can book a small group tour with just your immediate party, as little as four people and max six people. That is what our group of four professional photographers did and we got shots without any crowding or anyone else in our shots. No problems. Just use Ken's Tours for Lower and they offer this special smaller group tour at extra cost, but IMHO well worth the extra cost and worth the trip. The larger regular groups can be ten to twelve people.

Again our Navajo guide was with us at all times and ok'd all shots with Environmental Scientist Brooke H.

Cheers and best to you.

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SteveZas Loc: Lemont, Illinois

GKR wrote:

I have a question.Has anyone ever been to antelope canyon in Page,AZ? If there is, as you were walking in the canyon taking photos, what types of settings and lens did you use? Did you use a tripod or a flash? Thank you

If you’re interested in good photography, Antelope Canyon isn’t worth it. A couple of years ago I went to the Secret Canyon for a photo tour. Max of 6 people, 2 1/2 hrs in the Canyon, $150. I’ve been to Antelope in 2014. No more. I’ve posted a couple a month or so ago. The canyons are both similar but with their own unique aspects.
Look for Horse Shoe Bend and Slot Canyon tour. That took over the Secret Canyon Tour. Pre CoVid it was the same tour. Not sure what it’s like now.

Chout Loc: Central Texas

Horseshoe Bend was beginning to show signs of dropping water levels in June. It was more pronounced at the Glen Canyon Dam.

We took the Upper Canyon tour. I used a Nikon D3400 with a 10-20mm lens, a Fuji XP and my Samsung S21.

Monument Valley and the Navajo National Monument are not that far from Page.

gwilliams6

SteveZas wrote:

If you’re interested in good photography, Antelope Canyon isn’t worth it. A couple of years ago I went to the Secret Canyon for a photo tour. Max of 6 people, 2 1/2 hrs in the Canyon, $150. I’ve been to Antelope in 2014. No more. I’ve posted a couple a month or so ago. The canyons are both similar but with their own unique aspects.
Look for Horse Shoe Bend and Slot Canyon tour. That took over the Secret Canyon Tour. Pre CoVid it was the same tour. Not sure what it’s like now.

Steve I have done Antelope Canyon in both 2020 and 2021 and I am a longtime pro and Worldwide Award Winning photographer and both times the trips there were well worth it completely. In another forum a photographer I know just came back from Antelope Canyon last month and absolutely raved about it, said it was even more awesome than i had told him.

Saying after your 2014 trip that it isn't worth it in 2022, is just short-sided IMHO, sorry. We don't know what issues you had then, but it is still a coveted trip for photographers.

Antelope Canyon, Upper or Lower IS still worth it if you plan it properly.

And yes if folks have time in the Page, Arizona area they can also go to Horseshoe Bend and the Colorado River nearby. About a one and a half mile roundtrip hike from the parking lot to the Horseshoe Bend edge with its 1000 foot sheer drop, and back, slightly uphill on the way there. Pic your time of day for how you want the light and the look of the Horseshoe Bend.

Here my shot was late afternoon facing west made Feb. 29, 2020 when there was decent water levels. Sony A7RIV, Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 lens, a HDR shot of five exposure bracketed shots, 17mm, ISO 100, f8. On a tripod with shutter speed bracketed over 2 1/2 stops . There surely was more water in the Colorado River back in 2020 than there is now, so check on that before you decide to go out there.

Cheers and best to you.

Cheers

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gwilliams6

Chout wrote:

Horseshoe Bend was beginning to show signs of dropping water levels in June. It was more pronounced at the Glen Canyon Dam.

We took the Upper Canyon tour. I used a Nikon D3400 with a 10-20mm lens, a Fuji XP and my Samsung S21.

Monument Valley and the Navajo National Monument are not that far from Page.

Yes you can get to Monument Valley in about 2 hours and 10 minute drive from Antelope Canyon (124 miles). Have done Monument Valley many times as well as the Navajo National Monument, both worth it.

1) Here a sunrise shot over Monument Valley. Sony A7RIV, Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 lens, 28mm, ISO 100, f22 (for the sun bursts), 1/30 second.

2) And a shot of the Milky Way and a streaking space station over Monument Valley at the moment that the approaching dawn overtakes the night sky. This is a single exposure with both the dawn and night in the same one single shot. Sony A7RIV, Sony 24mm f1.4 GM lens, 24mm, ISO 200, f1.4, 20 seconds exposure.

Cheers and best to you.

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SteveZas Loc: Lemont, Illinois

gwilliams6 wrote:

Steve I have done Antelope Canyon in both 2020 and... (show quote)

My understanding was that the canyons were closed during CoVid. In 2014 Upper was great although it was still a herd but I got many good shots. I went to the lower canyon the next day and had 90 minutes by my self. It was early so not a lot of light beams but tended to favor the more blue purple hues. I really enjoyed that. When I went back in 2018 the line to get in the lower was a couple of blocks long. They were having us wait to go all at once. That’s when I found out about the secret canyon. I’ve gotten excellent shots of Horseshoe Bend from 3:00 until well into the blue hour. I’ve posted a few in the last month or so. Yours is a nice shot too. First time in 2016 my toes were hanging over the edge. In 2018 they put up a viewing stand that made it too easy to get to the best POV that we see traditionally. I’d like to hit the upper canyon again. I was unaware that one could still get a Photographers tour. That, I’ll check into. I might head for White Pocket again in November. The Arizona/ Utah border is a great place. That might be a good time with low traffic.

Leland22 Loc: Texas

My advise is to spot meter on the brightest area and let the rest fall where they may. Try not get get sky in the photo-will be white and blown out. Set speed to 60 and auto ISO. Last time I went you could use a tripod and get a photo pass. Too many people now and I would not go back under current restrictions though I have been twice and it is no longer on my bucket list. :>) I would take your zoom with the widest angle-your longest shot will only be several yards.

gwilliams6

SteveZas wrote:

My understanding was that the canyons were closed ... (show quote)

No there are NO Photographer's tours anymore in either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon. We paid extra for what is called a Deluxe Tour with a limited and small size tour group. There were just four people in our Deluxe tour group, with a max of six allowed in the Deluxe tours. You get a longer tour 90 minutes for the Deluxe Tours instead of 60 minutes in the Regular tour, and no crowds, with great personal attention from the very knowledgeable tour guides. Not like the 10-12 people in a regular Lower Canyon tour group. For the four in our group, it was worth the extra costs, and especially for you if this may be your only time to tour Lower Antelope Canyon.

Anyone can sign up for the Deluxe Tour of Lower Antelope Canyon, it is NOT a Photographers tour, no photographers' tours are done anymore .

Yes both Upper and Lower and all Navajo Tribal Parks, including the inner Monument Valley tribal Park were all closed during the worst of covid, as covid hit the Navajo tribes hard. But they are all open now with limited numbers allowed per day.

As I said before IMHO the best and the original tour group for Lower Antelope Canyon is Ken's Tours and they offer the Deluxe tours:
https://www.lowerantelope.com/

gwilliams6

Leland22 wrote:

My advise is to spot meter on the brightest area and let the rest fall where they may. Try not get get sky in the photo-will be white and blown out. Set speed to 60 and auto ISO. Last time I went you could use a tripod and get a photo pass. Too many people now and I would not go back under current restrictions though I have been twice and it is no longer on my bucket list. :>) I would take your zoom with the widest angle-your longest shot will only be several yards.

Leland you can get the sky in your photo, and if you have a blue sky it can make a beautiful shot . If you average the exposure, your dynamic range can hold both the sky and the canyon walls. Try it. No tripods allowed and no tripods needed, really.

People are going there right now and getting great shots folks. Just a fact.
And remember the summer peak tourist season is over.

Cheers and best to you.

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SteveZas Loc: Lemont, Illinois

gwilliams6 wrote:

Leland you can get the sky in your photo, and if y... (show quote)

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gwilliams6

Nice shots,

gwilliams6

Tomfl101 wrote:

I was there two years ago. The guided tour was pretty good but as others said you could not use a tripod and the tour moved pretty fast. Here’s a few I got. Most were shot at 5.6 around 1600 ISO at slow shutter speeds like 15-30 sec with a 16-35 canon L on an R5

Nice shots,

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

As an alternative, you might want to do some research about slot canyons in the Escalante Staircase National Monument NE of Bryce Canyon. Sorry, I do have the names of the canyons.

From reading other posts, you will want a wide angle lens, probably wider than a 24mm for best results.

Have a great trip.

Cmbtvet Loc: Elmira, NY

Beautiful set

Leland22 Loc: Texas

Look up slot canyons in the San Rafael Swell or just look up "slot canyons of the American Southwest" for a great map and locations. Numerous ones around the Page area. Longest in the US is Buckskin Gulch.