Slot canyons represent one of the most fascinating corners of our planet: the American Southwest. Sandstone, over millions of years, has been eroded by the power of water, creating deep, winding corridors. For anyone of any age with an explorative spirit, slot canyons are a playground. The two most iconic, and likely the most photogenic canyons in the world, are within a two-hour drive of each other. They are the Zion Narrows and Antelope Canyon.
- Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons National Park
- Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Canyon
- Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Colorado
- Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Videos
Photo by Hikersbay Hikersbay
My name is Seth Hamel. I'm a professional landscape and adventure photographer working in the Zion National Park area. When I go into the Narrows by myself or with clients, the start time isn't until 10 am or so, depending on the time of year. Many of the clients that I guide through the Narrows ask, 'Can we start earlier? I want to make sure I'm in there for the best light.' With typical landscape photography, we want to get that early, glowing light on the features of whatever we're photographing.
In slot canyons, however, the best light occurs mid-day on cloudless, sunny days. The best light is not direct sunlight hitting the walls of the canyon but rather reflected light. Reflected light occurs when bright, harsh, direct sunlight hits a canyon wall and reflects that light onto another wall. This is the type of light that produces rich, saturated, glowing colors in slot canyons. It's important to keep even a peep of sky or direct sunlight out of your photos, as this produces blown out areas of your image and can produce a nasty haze near those areas. Naturally, there are exceptions to this rule, but they are uncommon.
- I want this to start off sobering for you in other parts of the country. I mean to be deadly.
- Photographing Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon: The following suggestions are gathered from repeat visits to the slot canyons. I hope to share some of my experiences I have gathered to help make your next visit more fun and productive. The slot canyons referred to as Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon are located in the Page, Arizona area.
- Slot canyons are often dusty, so don't plan on switching lenses (bring a zoom). Upside: Dust particles can create visible beams of light, which add wonder and energy to your image. Hide or crop out the beams' endpoints to avoid direct sunlight splotches (as above). If there isn't enough dust to see the beams, try tossing a handful of sand.
The Zion Narrows and Antelope Canyon are significantly different canyons.
The Zion Narrows is the largest slot canyon in the world! Carved by the power of the Virgin River, the Narrows is a canyon where you hike in the river itself. Antelope Canyon is a dry canyon unless there has been recent rainfall. Due to the narrowness of this canyon and its large water gathering area during the monsoon season, this canyon has been carved by powerful raging flash floods. Because of the differences between these canyons, camera settings can vary with each.
To obtain professional quality images, a tripod is required. As a general rule, setting your ISO to 100 will give you crisp, printable images. In canyons, you typically want to have the entire scene in focus–no blurring of the foreground or background (again this is a general rule). In order to obtain such depth of field, set your aperture to a higher number. F/16, f/18 or f/22 is useful. From there, read your camera's internal light meter and adjust your shutter speed in order to get the appropriate exposure. These settings are a safe bet for Antelope Canyon.
With typical landscape photography, we want to get that early, glowing light on the features of whatever we're photographing. In slot canyons, however, the best light occurs mid-day on cloudless, sunny days. The best light is not direct sunlight hitting the walls of the canyon but rather reflected light.
Photo by Dave Dollar
The Zion Narrows presents situations where controlling your shutter speed is the first priority. Due to the beautiful flowing water in this magnificent canyon, controlling what the flowing water looks like plays a major role in the artistic outcome of your image.
Good shutter speeds range from 1/2 of a second to 1/10 of a second. This requires some experimentation with different speeds of water flow and the effect you're hoping to achieve. After setting the shutter speed, I would adjust my aperture and then the ISO. This can be a tricky balance. Having an experienced mentor in this situation is helpful.
Slot canyons are amazingly beautiful and awe-inspiring. They are candy lands for any level of photographer. Keep in mind that during rainy periods, slot canyons are very dangerous due to flash flooding. Be sure to do your research on flash flooding and weather conditions before you enter into these canyons. There have been numbers of fatalities in both of these canyons.
About the Author
Seth Hamel offers professional guiding and photography instruction in Zion National Park. Tracking the best light in the Zion Narrows throughout the year, you are guaranteed to have the opportunity to shoot some of the best scenes in the canyon. Learn more about available guided Zion photography opportunities at zion-photography.com. Along with artistic and technical instruction, you will be walking away with professional quality images that will be some of your favorite images from the desert Southwest.
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Great article and very helpful!
Question: I'm visiting the Antelope canyons in December. I know that they are very dusty so I don't want to be changing lenses. I shoot with an APS-C sensor (Nikon D7000) so I'm wondering if you recommend a very wide angle lens (12-24) or my 18-200.
Thanks for your input.
Mario,
I too have been there several times. The opportunities range from very wide to telephoto. A friend who shoots for Nat Geo carries two cameras bodies on a double rapid strap, with different lenses to prevent the dust situation and, in her case, to instantly have the lens she wants or needs for her photo agenda. Inside the canyon you will probably not have the instant need as opposed to people or animal shots, however you can make things easier if you have the options. I have used lenses there from a 15mm fisheye to a 100-400. The opportunities are almost endless. Some photographers set a challenge for themselves to do a series in some situation with only one lens ( usually one focal length and not a zoom) The choice is yours. If you take two photographers with the same lens and bodies in the same location, you will get two different series of photos unless they chose to shoot at the exact same object from the exact same location. Whatever your choice, it is a fantastic place and you will want to return. Don't forget the other opportunities nearby, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, etc. One more thing. The opportunities of shooting extend both before and after sunrise and sunset. Your exposure can make near dark look like daylight. Try shooting Navajo Mountain across Lake Powell after sunset while the earth's shadow rises ( the terminator) in the sky behind the the peak. The magenta color of the shadow plus the soft lighting after sunset makes an interesting image and not one you see that often. Look at a lot of Antelope Canyon images before you go there and then look for other places to shoot as the opportunities to make unique images abound if you look for them. Have fun, I usually go to lower Antelope since it is not as commercialized.Steve–thanks so much for the helpful info. I only have one camera body now, but I will be in the area for two days, so I could always make second trips to the upper and lower canyons with different lenses. The lower canyon is at the top of my list because it is supposed to be less crowded.
And, thanks for the tip re: Lake Powell and the other possibilities. I'm hoping for clear nighttime skies so I can get some night shots.
Best wishes and thanks again!
Try not to stick with a certain model.
Both the article by Seth and the comments by Steve are very helpful. A question to Seth, for shooting inside the Upper Antelope Canyon, given a 16-35 f4 or a 24-70 f2.8 zoom on a 5D body, which lens would you prefer? Thanks.
Hi guys!!
Going to Zion this summer and planning on taking a few slot canyon pictures at peek a boo at Bryce. I own a 18-55 mm and a 70-300 mm lens and since dust is an issue, I am trying to avoid having to switch back and forward. What would your recommendation be in terms of which lens I should take?
I am worried the 70-300 might be too close up and wouldn't give me any room to shoot but I've never been to a canyon before so I have no clue on what the shooting distances might be.Thanks!
Leave a Reply
Canon 5DS R w/ EF16-35mm f/4.0 @24mm f/16 3.2s ISO 100
Slot canyons of the American Southwest are famous for their otherworldly beauty. As such, they are high on many nature photographers' bucket list. The best known and most visited are Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons near Page, Arizona.
With countless discussions in the gallery and my Navajo Nation Journey Workshop about 60 days from now, I thought it would be useful to compile a list of tips for slot canyon photography to share with others.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons National Park
Ten tips for slot canyon photography
Challenges for slot canyon photographers seem endless. They include extreme dynamic range, low light focusing, long exposures, small spaces, and lots of dust. Although slot canyons present many challenges to photographers, the well-prepared and properly equipped photographer will not be disappointed. Here are ten tips for slot canyon photography success:
Two-shot pano: Canon 5DS R w/ TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II f/16 10.0s ISO 100
1. To the uninitiated, the insane circus that is Upper and Lower Antelope canyon can be very frustrating. Hundreds, if not thousands of tourists walk through these canyons each day during the summer season. If you go, prepare yourself mentally for fast pace, tight quarters, pushing, shoving, people in your frame, and guides barking out orders. However, there are many slot canyons that are not visited by the tour bus operators. These are the canyons where solitude, along with fantastic photo opportunities, can still be found.
2. Travel light. Even a small backpack will make it difficult to move around in narrow slot canyons.
3. Use a tripod. Although very colorful, these are low light environments. Shutter speeds of 20 to 30 seconds are not uncommon at ISO 100. Shutter speeds up to 120 seconds are sometimes necessary. Most cameras have a maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds. For anything longer you will need to use blub mode with a timing device, such as an intervalometer, to trip the shutter.
Poker hands odds. 4. Stop down for maximum depth of field. Slot canyons twist and turn with layer upon layer of textures and colors. Don't lose detail to shallow depth of field. Hyper focal distance can be an effective technique to maximize depth of field.
5. If you use auto focus, use single point mode with back-button focus. Multi-point modes will frequently lock onto surfaces other than which you intend. With back-button focus, you can choose your focus area and recompose for best results. Live-view manual focus also works well in this regard.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Canyon
6. Learn to adjust your camera settings in the dark. Although you can bring a flashlight, it is one more thing to keep track of and carry. Preset as many settings as possible before you enter the canyon. My preferences include single point focus mode, evaluative metering, ISO 100, f/16, mirror lock-up, and Auto White Balance. Many photographers recommend white balance of 6500 to 7500K to achieve warmer tones. However, I prefer to make such adjustments in post.
7. Use your RGB histogram (rather than luminosity) and highlight warning (blinkies) to verify exposure. Colors in these canyons can over expose the red channel. Much detail will be lost if the red channel is blown out.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Colorado
8. Dust is everywhere. Avoid changing lenses while in a slot canyon. Zoom lenses, rather than primes, are best due to their inherent flexibility. Although a medium telephoto lens can be useful for detail shots, I prefer to use a 16-35 or 24-70mm. If you have to change lenses, turn your camera off, keep the body pointed downwards and make it fast. Bring along a rocket blower for cleanup during and after your shoot. You might even want to bring a plastic bag to cover your camera while not in use or while changing lenses.
9. Wear sturdy boots, a wide brimmed hat, and dress in layers. The temperature at the bottom of a slot canyon can be 10 degrees F lower than topside. Also a surprising amount of sand and debris can blow in from above.
10. Don't forget to look up. Sometimes the best compositions and light are overhead.
Canon 5DS R w/ EF16-35mm f/4.0L @ 21mm f/14 1.3s ISO 100
Slot canyons are some of the most challenging environments for the landscape photographer. But also they are some of the most rewarding. These tips for slot canyon photography will help you manage the technical aspects of photography while exploring the artistic opportunities around every curve. Whether you are looking for floor-to-ceiling compositions or abstract details, the options are endless.
Don't Miss The Next One!
Join over 100,000 photographers of all experience levels who receive our free photography tips and articles to stay current:
Related Articles
Great article and very helpful!
Question: I'm visiting the Antelope canyons in December. I know that they are very dusty so I don't want to be changing lenses. I shoot with an APS-C sensor (Nikon D7000) so I'm wondering if you recommend a very wide angle lens (12-24) or my 18-200.
Thanks for your input.
Mario,
I too have been there several times. The opportunities range from very wide to telephoto. A friend who shoots for Nat Geo carries two cameras bodies on a double rapid strap, with different lenses to prevent the dust situation and, in her case, to instantly have the lens she wants or needs for her photo agenda. Inside the canyon you will probably not have the instant need as opposed to people or animal shots, however you can make things easier if you have the options. I have used lenses there from a 15mm fisheye to a 100-400. The opportunities are almost endless. Some photographers set a challenge for themselves to do a series in some situation with only one lens ( usually one focal length and not a zoom) The choice is yours. If you take two photographers with the same lens and bodies in the same location, you will get two different series of photos unless they chose to shoot at the exact same object from the exact same location. Whatever your choice, it is a fantastic place and you will want to return. Don't forget the other opportunities nearby, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, etc. One more thing. The opportunities of shooting extend both before and after sunrise and sunset. Your exposure can make near dark look like daylight. Try shooting Navajo Mountain across Lake Powell after sunset while the earth's shadow rises ( the terminator) in the sky behind the the peak. The magenta color of the shadow plus the soft lighting after sunset makes an interesting image and not one you see that often. Look at a lot of Antelope Canyon images before you go there and then look for other places to shoot as the opportunities to make unique images abound if you look for them. Have fun, I usually go to lower Antelope since it is not as commercialized.Steve–thanks so much for the helpful info. I only have one camera body now, but I will be in the area for two days, so I could always make second trips to the upper and lower canyons with different lenses. The lower canyon is at the top of my list because it is supposed to be less crowded.
And, thanks for the tip re: Lake Powell and the other possibilities. I'm hoping for clear nighttime skies so I can get some night shots.
Best wishes and thanks again!
Try not to stick with a certain model.
Both the article by Seth and the comments by Steve are very helpful. A question to Seth, for shooting inside the Upper Antelope Canyon, given a 16-35 f4 or a 24-70 f2.8 zoom on a 5D body, which lens would you prefer? Thanks.
Hi guys!!
Going to Zion this summer and planning on taking a few slot canyon pictures at peek a boo at Bryce. I own a 18-55 mm and a 70-300 mm lens and since dust is an issue, I am trying to avoid having to switch back and forward. What would your recommendation be in terms of which lens I should take?
I am worried the 70-300 might be too close up and wouldn't give me any room to shoot but I've never been to a canyon before so I have no clue on what the shooting distances might be.Thanks!
Leave a Reply
Canon 5DS R w/ EF16-35mm f/4.0 @24mm f/16 3.2s ISO 100
Slot canyons of the American Southwest are famous for their otherworldly beauty. As such, they are high on many nature photographers' bucket list. The best known and most visited are Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons near Page, Arizona.
With countless discussions in the gallery and my Navajo Nation Journey Workshop about 60 days from now, I thought it would be useful to compile a list of tips for slot canyon photography to share with others.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons National Park
Ten tips for slot canyon photography
Challenges for slot canyon photographers seem endless. They include extreme dynamic range, low light focusing, long exposures, small spaces, and lots of dust. Although slot canyons present many challenges to photographers, the well-prepared and properly equipped photographer will not be disappointed. Here are ten tips for slot canyon photography success:
Two-shot pano: Canon 5DS R w/ TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II f/16 10.0s ISO 100
1. To the uninitiated, the insane circus that is Upper and Lower Antelope canyon can be very frustrating. Hundreds, if not thousands of tourists walk through these canyons each day during the summer season. If you go, prepare yourself mentally for fast pace, tight quarters, pushing, shoving, people in your frame, and guides barking out orders. However, there are many slot canyons that are not visited by the tour bus operators. These are the canyons where solitude, along with fantastic photo opportunities, can still be found.
2. Travel light. Even a small backpack will make it difficult to move around in narrow slot canyons.
3. Use a tripod. Although very colorful, these are low light environments. Shutter speeds of 20 to 30 seconds are not uncommon at ISO 100. Shutter speeds up to 120 seconds are sometimes necessary. Most cameras have a maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds. For anything longer you will need to use blub mode with a timing device, such as an intervalometer, to trip the shutter.
Poker hands odds. 4. Stop down for maximum depth of field. Slot canyons twist and turn with layer upon layer of textures and colors. Don't lose detail to shallow depth of field. Hyper focal distance can be an effective technique to maximize depth of field.
5. If you use auto focus, use single point mode with back-button focus. Multi-point modes will frequently lock onto surfaces other than which you intend. With back-button focus, you can choose your focus area and recompose for best results. Live-view manual focus also works well in this regard.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Canyon
6. Learn to adjust your camera settings in the dark. Although you can bring a flashlight, it is one more thing to keep track of and carry. Preset as many settings as possible before you enter the canyon. My preferences include single point focus mode, evaluative metering, ISO 100, f/16, mirror lock-up, and Auto White Balance. Many photographers recommend white balance of 6500 to 7500K to achieve warmer tones. However, I prefer to make such adjustments in post.
7. Use your RGB histogram (rather than luminosity) and highlight warning (blinkies) to verify exposure. Colors in these canyons can over expose the red channel. Much detail will be lost if the red channel is blown out.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Colorado
8. Dust is everywhere. Avoid changing lenses while in a slot canyon. Zoom lenses, rather than primes, are best due to their inherent flexibility. Although a medium telephoto lens can be useful for detail shots, I prefer to use a 16-35 or 24-70mm. If you have to change lenses, turn your camera off, keep the body pointed downwards and make it fast. Bring along a rocket blower for cleanup during and after your shoot. You might even want to bring a plastic bag to cover your camera while not in use or while changing lenses.
9. Wear sturdy boots, a wide brimmed hat, and dress in layers. The temperature at the bottom of a slot canyon can be 10 degrees F lower than topside. Also a surprising amount of sand and debris can blow in from above.
10. Don't forget to look up. Sometimes the best compositions and light are overhead.
Canon 5DS R w/ EF16-35mm f/4.0L @ 21mm f/14 1.3s ISO 100
Slot canyons are some of the most challenging environments for the landscape photographer. But also they are some of the most rewarding. These tips for slot canyon photography will help you manage the technical aspects of photography while exploring the artistic opportunities around every curve. Whether you are looking for floor-to-ceiling compositions or abstract details, the options are endless.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Videos
