Need advice: Grand Canyon: We're headed for the GC next week. (I've never been there.) I'm looking for advice on lookouts and lighting opportunities. Does anyone know the best vantage...

LPigott Loc: Monterey Peninsula, CA

We're headed for the GC next week. (I've never been there.)

I'm looking for advice on lookouts and lighting opportunities. Does anyone know the best vantage point for early morning and/or evening? Please be as specific as possible. Thank you in advance.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/10-tips-for-the-grand-canyon.html#.U4DUw_ldVPI

Chris F. Loc: San Francisco

The Grand Canyon is beautiful. There are countless places along the rim trail (south rim) that offer incredible views for photos. If you want to shoot more popular shots of the canyon then walk the path in and around Grand Canyon village, El Tovar and Maswick Lodges. If you take one of the shuttles or just hike along the rim trail in either direction, there are even more places.

Aplogies for not being specific as to location, but the entire park is like a post card.

My recomendation is to pre-plan a place you would like to shoot and get up early and get in position. Sun rise is incredible.

Have fun! Chris

quote=LPigott]We're headed for the GC next week. (I've never been there.)

I'm looking for advice on lookouts and lighting opportunities. Does anyone know the best vantage point for early morning and/or evening? Please be as specific as possible. Thank you in advance.[/quote]

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/10-tips-for-the-grand-canyon.html#.U4DUw_ldVPI

After reading the article, I agree.

I've been there at least 15 times.
It's always different and always magical.

Dolmen

Chris F is right,so many viewpoints.Take a tripod,be there an hour or so before Dawn,stay at least an hour after sunset,it's magic.Travel safe.Shoot much.

charryl Loc: New Mexico, USA

My absolute favorite spot is Sublime Point on the North Rim. It truly is a point and it truly is sublime. When sitting or standing on the point you feel as if you are suspended in the air above the great Canyon. Also, I have never seen another person while there. Early morning or late afternoon, of course. And hope for clouds.

deauxrite Loc: Sierra Vista, AZ

LPigott wrote:

We're headed for the GC next week. (I've never been there.)

I'm looking for advice on lookouts and lighting opportunities. Does anyone know the best vantage point for early morning and/or evening? Please be as specific as possible. Thank you in advance.

South Rim (Navajo Point and Desert View)
North Rim (Toroweep and just below the North Kaibab trailhead)
Here are some possibilities

http://deauxrite.smugmug.com/The-Best-of-Grand-Canyon/

UntamedImages Loc: Utah

Can't wait to see your pics!

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

There are literally an uncountable number of wonderful spots for photography. I have two suggestions:
First, get up well before dawn, and be in position for sunrise and early lateral light. Around 10:00 MDT go back to your room, have breakfast, and take a nap. Around 4:00 or later (exact times vary with time of year) head back out. Note that in deeper parts of the canyon (huge area) lateral light doesn't work.
Second, if you understand the processes involved and play on BIG enlargements, I have had wonderful result from merging adjacent shots (requires tripod, large overlap, etc.). It will give you much better detail than a wide angle lens.
Afterthought: HDR shooting is often desirable too, because many areas have both brightly sunlit areas and deep shadows.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

mikegreenwald wrote:

There are literally an uncountable number of wonde... (show quote)

ypo: "play" should read "plan".

NeilL Loc: British-born Canadian

LPigott wrote:

We're headed for the GC next week. (I've never been there.)

I'm looking for advice on lookouts and lighting opportunities. Does anyone know the best vantage point for early morning and/or evening? Please be as specific as possible. Thank you in advance.

Keep lots of bottled water with you, especially if you are visiting the lower desert. (Sedona, Phoenix, Tucson, etc.) The humidity is so low, you dehydrate very quickly.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

South rim, sunsets are great on the Hermit Road. out by Hopi Point and Maricopa Point. But you need to take the shuttle, which is nice because there are too many people with the same idea, so get there early. Bus gets crowded.
North rim, sunset is great right at the visitors center, there is an overlook. It gets crowded also, but nothing like the south rim. There are almost no people on the north rim.
North rim is better for solitude, and experiencing the park. South had better views, but a whole lot more people.

NormPR

As the sun rises and when it sets, the scenery changes momentarily so it is like a different picture every time you snap the shutter. It's amazing.

Beard43 Loc: End of the Oregon Trail

We didn't get the sunrise, but did manage to be there for most of the day. We went back later the next day to get the evening sunset. Fantastic place. We came in from the south and I got a lot of shots of the canyon and my favorite was of the tourist center from the west side with the canyon in the background.

Robeng Loc: California

LPigott wrote:

We're headed for the GC next week. (I've never been there.)

I'm looking for advice on lookouts and lighting opportunities. Does anyone know the best vantage point for early morning and/or evening? Please be as specific as possible. Thank you in advance.

The Grand Canyon is an awesome place to visit but tricky to photograph. You will find as large as it is the lighting is different in different areas. With that being, I shot it early in the morning as the sun was rising. The another good time to shoot it is after a rain storm. Lots of clouds and dramatic sky.