zoso

This May I will be shooting both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons and X Canyon. Can anyone give me some suggestions on what type of lenses to use, best time of day, ISO, Aperture, and Speed?? Thanks so much. Zoso

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've heard that there are some changes to the camera/photographer tours. You might check with the tour guide company you'll be escorted by as to what those changes are.
--Bob

zoso

do you recommend any particular photo tour company??

leftj Loc: Texas

Go to YouTube and look up Brendan van Son. He is a travel photographer and just recently did a video on shooting Antelope Canyons. You can watch the video and then submit a question in the comments section.

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

I have heard of changes in Zion NP - no more tripods. Has there been a change down by Page in the canyons?

zoso

No tripods in ALL of Zion National Park???? How are you supposed to get good shots at sunrise or sunset at slower speeds????

zoso

Zion has banned tripods ONLY if you are in a photo workshop. If you are alone you can still use tripods.

jcboy3

First, you must do a photography tour for good pics in the canyons. If not, you will not be able to bring a tripod, so will be shooting hand held high ISO low aperture. If you do a photography tour, you must bring a tripod. No looky loo's. Bring a remote shutter release; wireless is best so you won't have the cable dangling about as you move.

I shot exclusively with a D750 and 17-35 f/2.8. A slower lens will work, and give you a longer focal length, but I like a fast lens to see what I'm doing. It's very tight in the canyons, and pretty dark. You will usually want a small aperture (f11, f16) and long exposures (over 30 sec). Except in areas where the sun is shining in or when you shoot up the slot to the sky (you will want to bracket/HDR those shots).

It is very dusty, and the pace is fast. Do not plan on changing lenses. If you feel you must; I recommend to just bring a second body. Mainly, you do not want to be fiddling with equipment, but rather grabbing a lot of shots.

No bags or backpacks are allowed; the spaces are too tight. A photography vest is good, but you really don't need to bring much. One item I found very useful was a right angle viewfinder attachment. Made it easier to get those shots with the camera down low or backed up against a wall.

A tall tripod is not needed. There is not a lot of room to set up a tripod in most places, so a small footprint is a plus. I used the center column quite a bit for last minute height adjusment. I also used a nodal rail slide; that let me back the camera up a bit more (I did mention it got tight in places). I also brought a small piece of carpet for a knee pad; I spent a lot of time on my knees shooting up.

Good luck. The canyons are awesome. But they are mostly crowded as well. We blew off the upper canyon for a chance to spend more time in one of the lesser known canyons. Upper is too crowded for my taste.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

That appears strange on the surface and it also seems a good way to loose the photo workshop business.

leftj Loc: Texas

Another case of breathless overstatement.

zoso

Thanks, are you aware of some of the better photo tour companies? How far in advance do I need to book the photo tours? Did you do X Canyon as well?

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

i did a photo tour of the upper in September of 2017.
i used a camera backpack in there but, as noted, it is very tight in spots.
dusty yes but i draped a hand towel over the camera when not shooting...
worked ok.
basically you go through the canyon, out the back and turn round and go back through.
you could change lens if you wanted when you go outside at the turnaround but you will likely not want anything but wide.
widest lens you have i would say...the photo tour allowed a tripod and it is necessary...
my exposures were in the 2-4 second range... at mid day.

i think the canyon can be pretty dark early or late... its pretty deep and narrow and the angled sun doesn't get down into the depths.
i suggest as close to mid day as possible.

the photo tour halts the passage of non photo visitors... so you can get shots without a crowd in the photo. there would be no possibility of using a tripod other than a photo tour. the photo tour also only took 7 people at a time.

very unique place.
practice your tripod long exposure skills a bit before you go in. it can be pretty hectic in there. a few of the folks in my group spent a lot of time fiddling around w tripods and exposures, etc. no second chances.

Attached file:
(Download)

Brent Rowlett Loc: Atlanta, GA

Don't waste time with a tour company...they just charge you more. Drive directly to the sight whereby the family will sign you up and provide guides. Arrive 2 hours early, 11:30 to 12:30 is the best time slot when the sun is high, and the light rays coming through the canyon are best. The guide will give you the settings but learn how to bracket your shots in the dark. One tip a local gave me was to set my tripod up to shoot on my knees. That way I was the first to set up on the sand while others fumbled around to get behind me and adjust their cameras. You probably have only 2-3 minutes to get your shot per location, before other tours start screaming for you to move.

It is very crowded and stressful in there. If you really want to get good photos, don't take the cattle tour. Spend the extra money for the pro tour.

PhotosRfun

I would like to recommend the Hand Held Helper that is used with a monopod. It stabilizes you Camera with out touching the ground. You can leave you camer mounted the whole time.
www.coolcameragadgets.store

LarryFitz Loc: Beacon NY

We did a non photo tour in October 2017. Used hi ISO, the tour guide offer several suggestions of where to stand to get pictures. He even used peoples cell phone and camera to take pictures of them. He knew how to change setting on my Canon EOS, as well as the different iphone and other smart phones that people handed to him.

They expect most customer to be taking photo and help them out, but the non photo tours did not provide extra time for setting up different photos. They keep the tours well paced and exasperated, did not feel to crowded. No backpacks, they did not want people backing into the walls. Did the non photo tour because our friends made the reservation about three month in advance.