Will be spending 1 full day/ 2 nights at Kachina Lodge on the south rim 1st week of November. We’ll have a car. Can any hogs recommend best photo spots and activities for us? My wife and I are both in our 50’s. We’re active, but not athletes!
Mike..The last time my wife and I were at the GC we photographed the sunrise on the trail to the east side of the El Tovar Hotel. (maybe 1/4 mile) Saw Elk and mountain sheep up close. You really can't go wrong on either side of the Hotel. Maybe a short hike down the Bright Angel Trail. I think a south rim trail map is available on one of the GC websites. Have fun.
Ken
Best photos I ever took were from a helicopter ride over areas to the east of the usual tourist areas.
If you're up early in the morning I found that arriving at Lipan Point, pretty far to the east, gives you a shot to the west as the sun rises behind you. I shot just as the sun hit the rim and in post-processing was able to bring out the shadows enough to see the river at the bottom. The canyon makes a big turn there so you may also be able to get a shot up the canyon to the north also.
You'll have 2 sunrises, 2 sunsets, so choose shots that will bring out the effects you can visualize. It will help if you know ahead of time where in relationship to your vantage points the sun rises and sets. Right now, it is south of due east, which can make a difference in where you want to be.
rehess
Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA
We found better views a few feet down from the rim. I’m not sure why that was true - perhaps fewer distractions. I forget the exact statistics, but the guide, a few feet down the trail to the bottom that we were already lower than something like 90% of tourists ever go.
Mike_B wrote:
Will be spending 1 full day/ 2 nights at Kachina Lodge on the south rim 1st week of November. We’ll have a car. Can any hogs recommend best photo spots and activities for us? My wife and I are both in our 50’s. We’re active, but not athletes!
My daughter lives and works in the area now. She says you should just ask the employees at the front desk and restaurants in the area, or a ranger at the NPS. A huge draw among young, active employees working there is the topology and geology of the area, so most of the younger folk know it well! If you start a conversation with a native, you'll get plenty of options.
BEST photo opportunities are early and late in the day, when the sun is low on the horizon. If you have a smartphone, look for the HELIOS app. It will tell you when the morning and evening golden hours and blue hours are, at any given location and any date on the calendar.
It's been years since we've been there but there aren't really any bad shots to be had...just don't get so tangled up in trying to get just the right shot that you miss the entire beauty and spectacle of the Canyon.
Mike_B wrote:
Will be spending 1 full day/ 2 nights at Kachina Lodge on the south rim 1st week of November. We’ll have a car. Can any hogs recommend best photo spots and activities for us? My wife and I are both in our 50’s. We’re active, but not athletes!
Just drive the south rim from one end to the other. You will find many turnouts to try your luck. Start as close to sunrise as you can, and start on the east end. There is an old watch tower there worth a couple of shots. Then the remains of an Early American village ruin. Sorry, we're not Indians - did not originate in India. There are some intersting shots around the glass floor, but there will also be way too many people. Most of the views west of there will also be crowded. One more reason to start early - beside the light.
bdk
Loc: Sanibel Fl.
sun rise and sun set from almost anyplace on the rim, When you get there, roam around and look for that one place thats different from everyone elses shots.
gwilliams6 wrote:
Grand Canyon South Rim Tips br Vistas where you ca... (
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Some shots from the South Rim including last shot from Desert View. Another tip, take your CPL Polarizer filter, very helpful.
gwilliams6 wrote:
Some shots from the South Rim including last shot from Desert View. Another tip, take your CPL Polarizer filter, very helpful.
Wow! Beautiful shots- thanks!
Mike_B wrote:
Wow! Beautiful shots- thanks!
Thanks, you are welcome.
All these South Rim locations are easily driven to, where you have free parking and have short walks to the rim. I made these shots at age 69, no problem . You are at about 7000 to 7500 feet elevation from sea level on most of the South Rim, with the bottom of the Canyon and the Colorado River about one mile below you.
https://www.canyontours.com/guides/15-breathtaking-grand-canyon-south-rim-viewpoints/
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