zoso

I'm wanting to take a photo tour of both upper and lower antelope canyons in Arizona. Any recommendations on What time of the year is best, what time of the day is best, and any suggestions on a photographic tour company to use. Thanks, Zoso

vinnya Loc: connecticut

I'll be there the first week of June, going to Upper and also owl and rattlesnake canyon 5 hour tour. it starts at 8:30 am. I'll find out than if its a good time of the year, I just googled photo tours and picked one that i thought would be interesting. doing it through Adventurous Antelope canyon photo tours, when i talked to them from what they said you must have a dslr and tripod . Tour only for photographers.

medtwo

The best time of day is when the sun is directly overhead, usually at 12 noon. You can get away with no tripod in the lower canyon but not the upper canyon.

Bud S Loc: Logan Ohio

We went mid- Oct. couple of years ago so it wasn't as crowded, the motel owner where we stayed said most preferred lower canyon. I went too early in the morning but still got some good light. The lower is more taxing as you must climb down in and it gets tight. I did a photographer "tour", you must have a tripod to do that, they let me go on my own so I had plenty of time between their group tours. The upper is more level , a ride back in, and much more crowded. Each has it's own beauty. Don't forget Horseshoe Bend while there, among other things.

zoso

Thanks, I'm sure the time of day depends upon what time of the year you go but that's helpful.

marvin Klein Loc: upstate NY

follow Bud S advice for i went to the upper canon and not as good
other people told me about the lower canon and going in by your self is the best.

Bud S Loc: Logan Ohio

You are welcome, also the lower canyon parking is right at the ticket sales and is a short walk from there to the entrance. I'm sure a high Sun will always be best, but I had severe time restraints on my trip.

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

I highly recommend a personal 1 on 1 tour and I'd talk to these people - http://www.navajoantelopecanyon.com/index.html

Talk to Lionel

Oly Guy

Just did the tour-special photo groups with slurs and tripods are separate tours that set up and then move on - They know the best times but sun at noon gives most light. It is hard to not get great shots even on the main tours. Our guides were great-easy walking etc. Good weather till June-hotter then. Watch forecast in the other hikes water can make for problem hikes. Let guides set the cameras as they really know the best settings-at least ours did. Try and keep the direct sun from pics as it may blow out the shots. Mainly have fun and have the personal experience too of the beauty etc. We were asked to walk back through and just take in the beauty without worrying about shots. You will get plenty. I liked the Blue Bus company-very professional ! Keep your camera gear in a big plastic bag on the way out-much dust-open cabs !

carney2

Here's my response to an earlier question on this topic. I'm too lazy to bang it out again.

UPPER ANTELOPE is an "A-frame" type slot canyon, narrow on the top and fairly wide on the bottom. It is easy in and easy out. It is the one where you get those light shafts at midday, but time of year is critical. On the 24th of March you will be in the acceptable calendar coordinates for this phenomenon, but barely. You need to make prior arrangements with one of the tour companies to get in and it tends to be crowded because it is "easy in and easy out."

LOWER ANTELOPE is more like a "V," wider at the top and fairly narrow at the bottom. It is a little more difficult to get into and move around in. It is therefore less crowded. It is not noted for its light shafts, but I got a few about a month ago. You do not arrange in advance with a tour company, but you will be required to have a guide. A "Photo Tour" lasts 2 hours and costs $50.00. Because of the access problems, it tends to be less crowded and attracts more serious photographers.

OPINIONS:

One man's opinion, but I think Lower is the way to go.

As for equipment you are best off with a zoom that has some wide angle to it. I used a 24-70 and that was pretty much perfect. Do not drag your equipment into the canyon, whichever one you choose. Your camera with the aforementioned zoom lens should be sufficient. If in Lower Antelope anything else will be a bother since it can be very narrow. You cannot/should not ever change lenses down there. An extra battery and memory card in your pocket should be sufficient "back up." Oh yeah, you will need a good tripod.

Lower Antelope is best when they open (9:15 on the day I was there), and Upper Antelope is best at midday.

I thought the guide requirement was going to be a rip-off - just another way to grub some bucks for the locals. I could not have been more wrong - or maybe I just got lucky. My guide knew more about my camera and tripod than me. He kept me away from shots that would be better later, and dirrected me to many I missed.

I envy you. These will be some of the greatest shots of your lifetime.

PS: Both Antelope Canyons are in Arizona, not Utah - a few miles southeast of Page. They are both near the ugly power plant that can be seen from everywhere. Upper is visible from Rte. 98. For Lower you turn (left if you're coming from Page) at that exact same spot and go the opposite direction from Upper. You go about a mile or two and are asking yourself if you've made the correct turn. You have.

1Mo-Kan Loc: Phoenix, originally Kansas City

Excellent info. Been there, done that. Couldn't agree more. Can't stress the plastic bags enough. If you go to Monument Valley they are also a MUST.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Zoso, it is always a guessing game as to how crowded it is the day you go. We went to the upper antelope canyon during the non-photographic tour time. The canyon can get quite dark towards the end of the tour and there were no shafts of light to photograph. Still it is spectacular. If you go at the photographic tour times, you should take a tripod. In our tour, using a tripod was a joke. In fact, one tripod was knocked over and nearly hit the sand it was so crowded. I took a tripod and never used it because it was so crowded. You want a lens of f2.8 or faster if you are not on the photographic tour. In the darker part of the canyon I was forced to shoot with my wife's XZ-1 (f1.8 - f2.5) and was still able to shoot without a tripod. Without a tripod, you will need to make sure to use slow shutter speed handheld techniques. Possibly a monopod would have helped in this situation. Also, the cost is quite different for the peak photographic time. Our cost for three adults and one child (the 5 1/2 and 4 1/2 year old children were free) was ~$150. During the photographic tour, our cost would have been $400+ and only the 4 1/2 year old free. I have never been to the lower antelope canyon but the pictures I have seen of it are beautiful. Carney2's advice seems to be accurate from what I have heard. I know of one photographer that likes it better than the upper canyon.

Oly Guy

Reply but an add on -Lower is better as far as pics etc.-in our fams opinion-also less crowded- more like a hike too- also took shots with s90 canon and they turned out great also. Hard to not take good stuff!

Bud S Loc: Logan Ohio

Great Info and I've been there!

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

Longest day of the year. 12 noon. tripod. cable release. crowds, yes. Sign up for the photo tour (photographers only) offered by the Indians which starts 1/2 hr before the regular tour. That gives you plenty time.