Photographing in Antelope Canyon

Without question, the slot canyons located on the Navajo Nation outside of Page, AZ are one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. Encompassing the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons, Owl Canyon, and Rattlesnake Canyon, I traveled to the area in 2017 when they were still giving semi-private tours to photographers. Since the area attracts many visitors, we benefited by being in a small group and with a guide who cleared the area for a brief time so we could photograph undisturbed. Unfortunately, these small group tours have since been discontinued. 

These slot canyons are all part of the same drainage system, eventually spilling into the Colorado River and Lake Powell. Over countless millennia, water and sand carried by flash floods has scoured the soft sandstone, smoothing the rock surface and creating flowing shapes the canyons are famous for. At certain times of the day and with favorable weather, the overhead Sun shines through the slot openings and illuminates the interior, highlighting the rocks in a blaze of color.

My trip to Antelope Canyon began at the end of a long business trip to Las Vegas. I tacked on a few days of R&R and was joined by two dear friends both of whom were photographers with the same willingness to explore and to move at a sub-tourist speed. It was a wonderful experience, which also included a night photography tour of Upper Antelope Canyon (which unfortunately, is also no longer available).

The weather was perfect during our two days, with clear skies and the sun properly positioned overhead to light up the canyon’s interior. Our Navajo tour guides knew precisely where to position the group for the brief time the sun appeared directly overhead. For a few of the photos, they tossed sand into the air or against the canyon walls to highlight the sun beams or to create waterfall effect. With a bit of patience, I was able to wait for the tourists to clear the area and then photograph until our allotted time was up. 

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Upper Antelope Canyon
Located above ground and just under 700’ long, this is the easiest slot canyon to navigate – and as a result it is one the busiest. The canyon walls are in an ‘A’ shape, narrow at the top and fanning out wider at the base. During certain times of the day, the sun appears directly overhead, lighting the sand on the canyon floor. Careful planning is needed to time your visit to coincide with this fleeting moment. 

Owl & Rattlesnake Canyons
These smaller slot canyons are located downstream from Upper Antelope. Rattlesnake Canyon is named for the sinuous shape of the water-worn rocks and Owl Canyon is named after the family of great horned owls that reside high in the rock walls. These canyons are less traveled, with many interesting shapes and features to photograph.

Access to the above three canyons is by guided tour, with several packages available. Departure is from a common visitor center by 4WD and you will travel with a guide and a small group of tourists. Once at the canyons, there is a preset amount of time to explore, before departing as a group. 

Lower Antelope Canyon
This is the last slot canyon in this system before draining into the Colorado River. It is located below ground and is technically more difficult to traverse than the Upper Antelope Canyon. The canyon is just under 1,400’ long, with five sets of ladders and many tight areas that limit access to those only physically able. This canyon is in the shape of a ‘V’, wider at the top and narrowing at the base. The lighting conditions in the early morning or late afternoon are the best to photograph. Access to the canyons is via several Navajo tour groups.

The entrance to the canyon is a short walk from the visitor center. The tour lasts an hour, and you travel through the canyon with a guide and a small group. Some patience and a fair amount of luck is needed to capture an image without a tourist in the frame. 

For more information about the canyons and to book a tour, visit the Navajo Nation Parks website. 

Camera Gear

I used a 21mm wide-angle in the canyons, which allowed me to photograph in close quarters while also emphasizing the dramatic rock walls. It's important to note that tripods are prohibited, and the exposure range from the shadows to the sunlit canyon walls can be 10 EV or more. I handheld the camera using a wrist strap and selected the lowest ISO possible to achieve a 1/500s shutter speed at the aperture of choice. A 3 or 5 shot exposure bracket is highly recommended, which can be done handheld by selecting a high shutter speed and then carefully bracing the camera against your chest. The multiple exposures can be combined using the HDR tools built into most post-processing software, resulting in a longer tonal range from highlights to shadows.  

Since I’m hiking east towards a rising sun, controlling flare to minimize ghosting and maintain contrast is critical. This is best done with the proper choice of lens (usually ZEISS), along with using a good UV filter and the lens shade. Dust on the sensor glass and on the lens surface will be emphasized under these conditions, so proper cleaning of the gear is important before starting out on the hike. You’ll also find that ‘fogging’ the lens/filter for cleaning with a microfiber is all but impossible due to the low humidity. You’ll need a good lens brush, blower and some lens cleaning wipes or solution.

Getting There

The visitor centers for the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons are located on Navajo land and a short drive from the town of Page, Arizona. The only way to visit the canyons is through a licensed tour operator, a list of which can be found in a web search. There are several hotels located in Page but be aware these can fill up quickly in the summer months for those vacationing in Lake Powell, or visiting some of the other attractions, such as Horseshoe Bend and the Colorado River.