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Antelope Canyon
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Jul 5, 2018 20:13:56   #
John Solak
 
Ok, some quick facts.
Have the camera set up to take pictures
Keep the camera in a plastic bag to protect it from dust and dirt
The camera tours push dust into the ports so you get a great picture with the sun shining through the dust
Don't change lenses inside - too much dust
Best time is mid year, sun directly overhead
Best time of day - noonish
The guides know your camera really well and will take pictures of you or for you.
All of the canyons (upper and lower) are great for pictures, but the light shafts are best at mid day - the guides know that and plan for it.
Know your escape route as these are arroyo's and can flood quickly. They have ladders that go up and out.
Just a Great tour We used a Navajo lady Carol Big Thumb - but plan ahead, and bring some water, but it is cool in the caves.
A 6 hour tour with a break in the middle







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Jul 5, 2018 22:31:05   #
AzYooper Loc: Sun Lakes AZ (Almost Phoenix)
 
Our camera club did the Upper Antelope photo tour a couple of months ago. I fully concur with all the people and reasons stated previously advocating for the photo tour. If you are a serious photog and want good results this is the tour you absolutely need. You will need to book immediately, since the photo tours sell out months in advance, partly because there are fewer people per tour. I also suggest doing HDR shooting, 3 shot minimum. I also suggest you thoroughly do a Google search for Antelope tips and there are also many good YouTube videos that immensely helped us prepare. Shame to come this far and not take the photo tour. You will wish that you did. Book quickly.

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Jul 6, 2018 00:17:18   #
wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
mlj wrote:
I am going to spend a week in southern Utah and northern Arizona in mid September. I plan to visit and photograph Antelope Canyon. Is the photographer tour worth the expense compared with the regular tours? How much to rent a tripod?...I really do not want to lug my tripod all the way across the country! What accessories are a must for touring this part of the country? I am using a D7000. Thanks in advance!


One more item. If you find that you cannot book a photographer's tour, book a regular tour anyway. jaymatt is correct that there are still terrific photo opportunities without the shafts of light coming down through the ceiling crack.

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Jul 6, 2018 00:21:53   #
genesampson
 
If handholding take a towel or similar item to protect equipment as you use the walls for support. I've been three times and didn't use a tripod. I'd guess the photo tour will be a better chance for the money shots but never took one, but I'm kinda local. Also note there are seasons for the light beam and not in others. Be sure you know if so or not.

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Jul 6, 2018 00:33:23   #
jayluber Loc: Phoenix, AZ
 
randdave2001
I'm going next week. So.. which lens did you take? I'm planning on a 14mm on a full frame camera

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Jul 6, 2018 00:39:10   #
jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana
 
Erkibler wrote:
I’ll be there in September. When you say bring your widest lens, are you referring to the aperture or the field of view?
I was thinking of using my 18-55 kit lens due to the amount of dust. It’s a little slow at F3.5, but it’s also low cost and I
wouldn’t be too upset if the sand and dust ruined it.

Thoughts?


That’s what I used. Usually, your guide will suggest the best settings--just ask. It’s part of their job to know the best settings for the particular settings for the day.

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Jul 6, 2018 00:40:20   #
jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana
 
mlj wrote:
Thanks for all who have commented. I will take a Photographers tour. Now, I need to find use of a good wide angle lens. My widest is an 18-105 mm telephoto. Also, if I start a Kickstarter campaign to fund my trip, do you think there will be enough people to pay all of my expenses?:)


The 18-105 is all you need.

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Jul 6, 2018 00:53:14   #
genesampson
 
I'm not sure I'm the one to answer this but I'd personally think a zoom (for sure) 28 and up from my experience. I thot it was easy to get great exposures with a towel against the walls. My first time in the 80s I paid $5 and they opened the barbed wire gate and took us there in the back of an old green pick up truck and we didn't have a guide and we could stay as long as we wanted! It's much different today. Still an unbelievable place. Monsoons are here now. Watch the weather as people have died in Lower. Seriously rains 15 miles away in the upper elevations while clear at Antelope drowned 11 people a few years ago. They have to protect you but you have to do the same for yourself.

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Jul 7, 2018 11:39:48   #
BobbyA
 
I was at lower Antelope in Jan. 2017. A good time to go by the way. Low crowds and good weather. The photo tour was no longer offered and tripods and flash were not permitted. Getting a tripod up and down the ladders and through the narrow areas would have been difficult in any case. "Large" people may not be able to get through many of the narrower areas or up the steeper stairs. Use as wide a lens as you have ( my 20mm worked fine) and boost the iso up as much as you feel comfortable with. That will let you use a higher shutter speed with your hand held shots. When you get back to your room you will be amazed at the shots your mate got with the iphone compared to your d8something. Your only advantage will be when you hang your 2ft by 3ft metal on the wall.

BobbyA

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Jul 17, 2018 19:56:49   #
pilot64 Loc: Atlanta, GA
 
Time of day is important. You need sunlight to refract and provide colors. Cloudy days not so good. The photographers tours (tripod needed) will give you more time for shooting and keep the crowds out of the way. Lower Anelope has lots of ups and downs, ladders, definitely more strenuous. Upper Antelope is more level (and more crowded). A 28-70 f2.8 is all you need. You won't be changing lenses in the canyons because of the dust.

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Aug 5, 2018 12:06:52   #
David Lyon
 
They now set up a 2 hour photo tour, where the normal crowd is limited. Of course, cost about $100 more than the standard cattle drive tour.

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