Slot Canyons
We visited a couple of the slot canyons near Page Arizona. The name is given to narrow canyons that may be only four of five feet wide in places, but in some cases, a hundred feet deep, formed as narrow creeks cut down though the Navajo Sandstone formation over the centuries. There are several more canyons there, because the local geography and climate favors the creation of slot canyons.

Since the canyons are so narrow, there are no obvious clues as to their locations. Once you're inside the canyons seems magical even mystical by comparison to the desert around them. The sunlight filters, reflects and changes color as it works it's way down the curved sandstone walls. Depending on the time of day, some parts of the canyon are bright, while others are cave-like with no direct light reaching the sandy floor.
 
At left, is the very unimposing entrance to Canyon X. Would you have investigated further? At right, Bob stands in the winding corridor of this slot canyon.
Our first visit was to Antelope Canyon, which is the most renowned and heavily touristed of the slot canyons. I had some specific photos that I wanted to take, but they didn't work out due to a variety of factors including the limited time of our visit, my lack of familiarity with shooting photos in the dark, the large number of people who visit the canyon during the short time of the day when the light is right. The canyon is fantastic, Diane got me calmed down and I think I did get some great shots despite the 'adversity.'

     Antelope Canyon Photos
Next we went to Canyon X, another slot canyon cut into the Navajo Sandstone by Antelope Creek, but our visit was very different than the one to Antelope Canyon. We had Canyon X almost to ourselves - just us, our guide and one other photographer. No rush, plenty of time to enjoy our chance to visit this marvelous little place.

    Canyon X Photos
Slot canyons can be dangerous places because flash floods can fill the normally dry canyons to the top with a torrent of water. There have been multiple drowning deaths in the slot canyons from flash floods. The tours don't go in when there is a flood danger.

Photography Challenges and Tips

If you're hoping for some great photos, be sure to talk to a guide service about the locations and times when you'll have the best opportunities. The best shooting locations get crowded. Due to limited space you will have to hope for a spirit of cooperation with the other photographers and the tour groups. Be prepared for tourists that don't understand the words "no flash." Your best bet may be to visit in the fall or spring months when the tourist traffic is low.

IMHO, here are the best ways to get good photos during your visit to the slot canyons. (Your milage may vary.)

  1. Take a tripod, even if it's a mini tripod that you brace sideways against the canyon walls. If you don't have a tripod, you may be able to get by if your digital camera has a fast "shutter speed" and image stabilization.
    3. Take a digital camera. I took a film camera as my main camera and I regret it. The main problem is that your camera "sees" things differently than you do in low light. Your pictures will show colors that your eyes can't detect, and a digital camera will let you see those colors as your taking the shots.
  3. Take a camera with a large LED screen on the back. The ability to preview your photos as you take them is key. The larger the LED, the better you chance to notice flaws while you're there and can retake the shot. Stray bits of light hitting your lens may be enough to sabotage you shot without showing up in a smaller preview.
  4. Stay away from the light. Your lens will be tilted upwards at least slightly on most of your photos, so your best (cleanest) low light shots will come when you're located in deep shadow. Even a few stray rays of light on the lens can cause you grief. A small lens may help to reduce this problem by reducing the surface area that can be hit.
  5. Know your camera, and be able to operate it quickly and efficiently in very low light conditions. A small LED flashlight is a good idea, because it provides enough light to let you see what you're doing without spoiling the shot for others.
  6. Be prepared to hit the ground running in Antelope Canyon. The place is overrun with tourists, and is not photographer friendly. There seems to be only small gaps between tour groups so your chance to get many of the good photos is limited to what you get in the 'gap.' Set up your camera and tripod outside as you're waiting to get in.
  7. If you're going for film, get ISO 400 or higher. Forget the polarizing filter. Go for the daylight filter just to protect your lens. When bracketing your shots, go plus and minus three f-stops. One or two don't provide enough difference to be significant.
  8. Try to protect your camera as much as possible. Sand is evil, and if there is a breeze outside sand will be drifting in on top of your camera, producing crunchy sounds from your lens from that time on.
  9. If you're taking a zoom lens, you'll probably want a short one that ranges around the normal focal length of your camera.
  10. Get photo-editing software if you don't already have some. There were many photos that needed cropping and gamma correction before resizing for the web.

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