Antelope Canyon is the most famous of the several 'slot canyons' located near Page, Arizona.
Slot canyons are narrow canyons, in some areas, barely wide enough for one person.
The ninety minutes I spent in Antelope Canyon turned out to be one of the most satisfying, if not
the most satisfying, photographic experiences. The canyon is crowded with people all trying to
capture the same shot available for only a few brief moments. Photographers and tripods are
everywhere. Most guests are with a tour group. The leader of the group only allows members of
his group to take photos at a specific location for a few minutes before he demands they move on.
The combination of being rushed, fighting through traffic, avoiding people in the shots, and
working through difficult exposures makes it quite challenging to return with many good images. A
tripod is an absolute must as most shots require a second or more of exposure time unless you
satisfice with very wide aperture settings and high ISO. Many of my shots were in the 8 to 30
second range. You can expect to lose a few perfect shots for no other reason than someone bumping
your tripod while your shutter is open. That said, it was an incredible experience. So why was
this such a satifying experience? To be honest, I only expected a few good shots given the
challenges we faced. Coming home with over 30 blew me away.
For those considering visiting the canyon, I have two recommendations:
1. Make sure you know your equipment well. This isn't the time to learn the nuances of your
tripod, or where the auto bracketing menu item is.
2. Pay the extra $20 and go with a tour focused on photography. The tour guides are very good
and know precisely when the sun will be over a particular skylight in the canyon for those brief
minutes, creating a "waterfall" effect of light. Absolutely beautiful. They also do an excellent
job of protecting your space and keeping other tripods away ... for a few minutes anyway.