Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

I was planing to go to Antelope Canyon this winter. Looked at tours and was shocked to see the last photo tour will be December 20th. No more after that!!! So, I’m now on the December 13th tour. Any advice, the rules seem somewhat strict (it does say my non photographer husband can go). Obviously a tripod, but any other advice is welcome. Did you do upper and lower Canyon? Horseshoe Bend, is it like other places where you have to get there hours before sunset to get a spot? (I went to Mesa Arch at 4:30am and was too late for a spot! And a pet peeve, non photographer spouses or companions were taking up space standing next to their friends tripod...)
Thanks for any advice! Oh the widest lens I have is a 17-40 for my 5D MIV, will I be disappointed?
Beth

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Believe we went to the upper canyon ... it was an awesome tour. We didn't go to the lower canyon, so can't comment on that. I was amazed at the amount of dust in the canyon, so no lens changes obviously. Otherwise, the guide did a good job with the photography tour. There were other regular tours going on at the same time, but they tried to keep us apart. We went to the So West in Dec, 2 years ago, & there were no crowds at Horseshoe Bend ... but one thing, if you go to Monument Valley, I strongly recommend hiring a guide & taking a tour. You'll see a whole lot more of the park. Good luck ... I'll look forward to your posts.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

Thanks! I don’t think we are doing Monument Valley, but heading to Zion, then St George where my brother & sister-in-law live. Good to know about the dust.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Beth, This site is offering Upper Canyon tours past December.
https://www.upperantelope.com/antelope-canyon-ticket-tour-6782.html

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I went on the upper tour; not the photo tour, got all the nice photos I could take. There’s nothing wrong with good handheld photos, plus you can take in the wonders of the canyon without worrying about dragging a tripod around.

jcboy3

Those are regular tours, no tripods allowed. The photography tours are being discontinued; they required that you use a tripod. The reason is overcrowding.

https://www.antelopecanyon.com/photographic-tour-2/

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

It does not say anything about being a photography tour where you get more time and they make sure you don't have people in your shot. Am I missing where it says it is a photography tour?

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Per jcboy3's comment ... they may be discontinuing the photo tours. They were quite a bit more expensive, but lasted longer & they catered to the photo groups, e.g., trying not to let the regular groups interfere with the photo tours. While some here might think otherwise, I liked having a tripod in the canyon ... but you can back up against the wall & brace yourself. The downside of the "non-photo" tour, is much larger groups ... which I would think would make it hard to take shots without people in them.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

My wife and I took the Upper Canyon Photo tour a few years ago. It was worth it to get the shots we wanted.
It was a very small group and our guide would tell us where to set up and show us exactly where the light beams would be hitting the floor and for how long. He also would hold back the hordes of other non-photographer groups of people coming through the slots. Yes, it's very dusty in the slots and changing lenses is not recommended. Our guide was also very knowledgeable about the different camera brands and settings and would show people how to set up their cameras to get good results. Last year we did the lower slot canyon non-photographer tour. Very crowded with people. My wife and I shot only with our IPhone's on that tour.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

The photo tours are being stopped because the tribe can stuff more tourists through their canyon by stopping the photo tours. (they take too long) They were never that good, used to give you all kinds of time, but no longer. The mighty yankee dollar is alive and well.
I always got great shots on the regular tour, my tour guide gave me a couple of seconds to shoot if I wanted. AND I AM HAPPY THEY DID AWAY WITH TRIPODS TOO, TOURISTS WITH TRIPODS ARE LIKE TERRORISTS WITH TRIPODS.
In the canyons tripods are tripping hazards and slow down EVERYONE ELSE.

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

There are a number of different companies offering tours of the canyons... Another company may still offer the photo tours.

I did Upper a couple of years ago and found a tripod necessary. I used a 17-40 lens like you have and it was just right. A lot of the pics were in the 4-8 second exposures range and came out well...

Mid day is far better for the tour that early or late... It is dark in there anywhere near sunrise or sunset.
Pretty dusty so no lens changing but was not needed anyway... wider is better. I just hung a hand towel around the camera between shots and it was fine.

I did the Chief Tsostte (?) photo tour and they did a decent job getting us some open shots. On a regular non photo tour the place is packed and a tri pod not allowed I thk.

There are a couple of other slot canyons out that way that may be worth examining. We did one other one
that was decent but nowhere near as dramatic as Antelope.

Horseshoe bend is an easy hike and there will be a lot of people there but you can step up and get a nice shot pretty much anytime I thk. If I remember you face west when shooting so earlier would probably have better light in the canyon. It is pretty deep there.

timm27 Loc: Earth

We did Horseshoe Bend, from rafting down the river. Different.
Do not miss Monument Valley.

Robdale Loc: South Carolina

My wife and I recently returned from a trip to the southwest. You might checkout Antelope Canyon X. The crowds are much smaller and the experience is similar to the upper and lower canyons. It is also much cheaper.

knessr

Yes, according to their calendar, they have tours out to the end of April 2020 (at least for now). Also I noticed that after January 1st, their price jumps to $88.36 from their current price of $63.36.

TB4 Loc: TX

I would recommend both canyons. They are different in that you walk into one and walk down to the other but both have very similar coloring and formations. At Horseshoe Bend you will be on the east rim so the bottom is very dark in the morning. If you have the time go to HB in the morning, then the canyons mid morning to mid afternoon when the sun is overhead, then back to HB in the late afternoon for sunset. The crowds at HB were not a problem.