Grand Canyon Trip

I'm planning to go to the Grand Canyon in a few months, and the lenses I'm bringing with me will be the 17-40 and

possibly the 70-200 f/2.8

I've been told the canyon shots look their best at sunrise and sunset, but where are other spots of interest-to

photograph, during the day? I've never gone, so it should be a good trip overall.

I would suggest getting a guide from Robert Hitchman "photography America". He has a guide on the South rim and it list about 26 different locations to shoot.

http://shop.photographamerica.com/product-p/093-prt.htm

It's true about sunrise and sunset, as long as the sun is shining. But, on overcast/rainy/snowy days, it really doesn't make any difference when you shoot. Otherwise, if you have some travel time, there are the red rocks of Sedona, San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff (should still have snow in winter/early spring), and Lake Powell at Page. Have fun!

-- "I'm bringing with me will be the 17-40 and possibly the 70-200 f/2.8 "

 

Do you also bring a camera? (SCNR) On a 5D that seems like a great combo ... for a crop 1.6 I personally would miss an ultrawide.

The beauty of the Grand Canyon is not at sunrise but immediately after it. The way the rising

sun lights up the canyon is amazing. If you are there over multiple days, plan to be there at

different "points" on subsequent days to capture the moments from different perspectives.

If you have a wider lens I would bring that too. The 70-200 is pretty heavy if you are walking some distance.

Your lens selection is right, but you should expect to use wide angle a lot more, if you want to capture the full glory of scene.

 

I used a 17-40 and 70-200 on a 20D. Best if you have two bodies. Stay overnight if possible. Be patient.

I went just after a snow storm. Took about 200 pictures, about 20 were great. One great one will make it all worth while. Enjoy yourself, photos are secondary.

The best views are in the canyon itself. I walked the Bright Angel Trail and out to Plateau Point which is where the all day mule trips go but there are many other trails from the south rim. See this - http://www.nps.gov/grca/ - for lots of info. I haven't been to the new Supai Indian outlook - http://www.desertusa.com/mag07/sept07/skywalk.html - but it is supposed to be great. The Navajo and Hopi reservations, exit from the east end of the park, are well worth seeing. I would take the simplest outfit you have. Too much to see to waste time worrying about photography.

In a few months, the light will still be fairly low well after sunrise and before sunset, so you'll have an extended period to shoot without mid-day burn out

Jack's right - the mid-winter sun is low enough that the long-shadow part of the day lasts quite a while around both sunrise and sunset. Affords you more opportunity.

 

During the day, I strongly recommend you hike some distance down into canyon. Don't worry if you're not a major league hiker (I'm handicapped!) - going just part way down gives a below-the-rim perspective that helps separate average from distinctive shots. Allow 2 hours for the climb back up for each hour going down.

 

Thru the winter, only the south rim will be open (a shame, IMHO). Crowds won't be a problem, and you could be alone at midweek in winter.

 

Nearby opportunites: Mr. Kahn told you true - Sedona and the San Fran Peaks (north of Flagstaff) are very near by. You need to get out of town to get the best out of Sedona - hike or take a jeep tour. The San Fran mountains will be snow covered (elevation). Lake Powell is more of a trip.

 

AAA has a map called Indian Country Guide Map - it's a really good one and covers southern Utah, SW Colorado, northwest NM, and northern AZ. Really good detail, too.

 

Have a great time.

Besides the canyon, the rim areas have southwestern trees, plants and animals, the Rim village area has some

classic western national park architecture. You can consider the San Francisco Peaks area and other geological

features. There are quite a few national monuments with Indian ruins of various sorts. The AAA guide is a good

intro to the area. I'd suggest that the areas to the east, like Desert View, the Little Colorado, would be a

better bet than trying to get to the Supai overlook. Unless things have changed, it's a goodly drive and not cheap.

If you have the time, don't miss Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. The long shadows are fantastic in both locales, as well as the GC, of course.

 

Definitely get that AAA Indian Country map, an absolute must!

 

Good luck.

...if you take a hike down into the canyon, be prepared to carry enough water to make the hike back up. It is a low-humidity area and there are few drinking fountains going down (it is a easy downhill route,) and going back up takes a bit more energy, and water, to safely return to your automobile.