Tips for Shooting in Slot Canyons

<p>I'm making plans to visit some slot canyons in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. I'm probably going to avoid Upper Antelope Canyon b/c of the crowds. I know that:<br>

--many of them are very dusty so you don't want to be swapping lens while you're in the camera<br>

--you want to check the weather (b/c a sudden rain can be deadly)<br>

--if it's on the Rez you'll probably be required to hire a guide.<br>

I don't know but suspect that the best time to get great light is probably mid-day (b/c the typical "golden hour" time slots are likely going to be mostly darkness for a slot canyon.<br>

What other tips can anyone give me about shooting in a slot canyon?</p>

<p>a tripod for doing bracketed shots and a fairly wide angle lens (10 to 24mm)....and if you have a back-up camera a 70-300mm will do do nicely as well</p>

<p>Any thoughts on getting the colors you sometimes see in some of the photos? Such as here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USA_Antelope-Canyon.jpg ?<br>

I know that the "beam of light" is about tossing up some sand/dust. But are the colors mostly a function of the rock formations or the timing of the day?</p>

<p>i'm pretty much a novice on slots but i'd say a combination of time of day, rock formations and focal length.....plus a generous amount of post work, although this shot is straight out of the camera so it is possible to get quite a variety of color in some sections</p>

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<p>Mostly time of day/year so that the sunlight can penetrate lower into the narrow canyon. There are two ways of getting the bright colours . First photograph "lit" rocks and underexpose. Second photograph areas lit by reflected light which has already bounced off the canyon walls. Its important that you don't try and do both at the same time. Most of the deep, saturated colours are reflected light. It is easy to spoil your photographs by including an area that is much brighter than the rest. I recall exposures at about 8 sec f11/f16 using 50 ISO slide film. Digital is quite a bit easier than that but you'll still need to take care with depth of field, and I think a tripod is pretty much essential IMO</p>

<p>"Beams of light" are seen when the sunlight penetrates to the floor of the canyon- so about noon ( not sure whether antelope has daylight saving time in summer or not) AFAIK the best place for beams is Upper antelope, where you're not going. </p>

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<p>Thanks for all the tips. <br>

In doing some some additional research, I've also found...<br>

--for Lower Antelope you get the best colors in the morning, for Upper Antelope it's from 10am-2pm.<br>

--so it sounds like the best shooting time is specific to particular slot canyons--those with narrow tops are probably best around noon.<br>

--and of course, the nature of the rocks (red rocks, sandstone, quartz, etc.) affects what kind of color you get as well. </p>

Strong, bright sunlight works best at creating reflected color. Even a light layer of clouds will deaden the effect.

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Even without guides tossing crap in the air, any slot canyon can rain sand, dust, grit, and pebbles down upon you during windy weather. Bring something like a clear produce bag and a few rubber bands for use during micro-landslides....

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If you bring a tripod and 'serious' camera, the operators of Lower Antelope will give you a 2 hour pass, allowing you to roam freely, without a guide. This is well worth the extra $10 charged. When you get to the climb-out ladder, reverse course and shoot your way back upstream. The constantly changing light will provide plenty of new material.

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When are you going? If the local dirt roads (Skutumpah, Cottonwood Canyon, House Rock) are open, consider going to some of the other slot canyons in the area. They are everywhere.... http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/map.html Conditions permitting, the Wire Pass + Buckskin Gulch combo is good for an entire day, and costs only $6. Most of the others are 100% free!

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When shooting a dark slot, watch for glare from above! A good lens hood can really help.

<p>Wow--the slot canyon map is a GREAT reference--thanks for that. I'm mostly likely going to be staying on the Utah side of the border. I referenced Antelope Creek Canyon b/c that's the one most photographers from outside the SW recognize but I'm actually looking to get away from the crowds which is why I'm not shooting Upper Antelope Creek Canyon.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that many of the slots on that map have significantly technical sections. These areas are 100% impassible without climbing skills and gear. NEVER 'drop in' from upstream and climb down any significant obstacle unless you know for a fact that you can successfully climb out, even with an injury of some sort. This is obviously even more important if hiking alone. Even traveling upstream, it's possible to get stuck in a Pothole-of-Doom or on the wrong side of a slippery chockstone.</p>

<p>That said, most canyons can be cheerfully entered from the downstream end. Simply go as far as you can, then turn around. Here's another link I just stumbled upon. http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?23104-Best-Family-Friendly-Slot-Canyons-and-other-questions<br /> <br /> Assuming you're visiting during the warmer months, keep an eye out for snakes. Rattlesnakes are not particularly common, but are 'out there.' To avoid, ALWAYS look before stepping and reaching. Make a conscious effort to be aware, and after an hour or so the habit will become second nature. If you see one, PLEASE admire from a distance (many species are quite pretty) and leave the critter alone in peace.</p>

<p>Joe, if you looking for slot canyons in Utah, a few good walk through's would be spooky and peek a boo (you can hike both of these as a loop hike). Another photogenic slot is called zebra slot canyon. If your really ready for an adventure (requires repels and some technical stuff), then look into the Egypt slot canyons. If you just looking for some nice canyons, then neon canyon (entrance into golden cathedral) and coyote gulch would be great choices. All of these can be found on hole in the rock road out of Escalante Utah. I have hiked all of these and can give more specific details if your interested. If your hiking them in the summer expect over 100 degrees. Take plenty of water and carry good maps and a gps.</p>

<p>Lots of great practical hints--I appreciate it. DWheeler--I may follow up with you once I get a clear idea of my travel parameters. Right now, it's looks like I'll be there in April. No interest in hitting them when it's 90-100 degrees. </p>

<p>Egypt3 is insanely tight in places, but good fun. You can avoid the rappel by sneaking down a side canyon to the E. See https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60092457/misc/E3.jpg</p>

<p>DL the helpful PDF: http://www.canyoneeringcentral.com/images/stories/PDFs/Escalante/HoleInRock/Egypt.pdf</p>

<p>Guides, with maps, to a number of canyons in the area. http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/ Much is geared to the climbing crowd, but there is plenty of info for the photographer or weekend warrior.</p>

<p>And then you'll want to see Neon. And Zebra. And..... :)</p>

<p>Holly mother of....what some incredible resources people have posted. Thanks a bunch to all of you. Definitely not up for the technical canyons. But this still gives me tons of options AND the info will decrease the risk of me getting in over my head.</p>

<p>Joe,<br>

Start Lower Antelope in the morning as soon as they open, usually around 8:00, from the bottom and work your way up. The opening is wider there and allows more diffuse light into the canyon slot. Just tell the guides this is what you want and they will point you toward the trail. <br>

If you want the shaft of light through the window, sun will go through around 9:30-10:30 in April, they will also tell you app. times if you ask.<br>

It helps to have someone throw sand from behind the wall to the left if you can find a volunteer.<br>

Wait for the sand to settle, 2-3 seconds, and then shoot. <br>

A bounce reflector would also help to open up the shadow area to the left, or shoot multiples if doing digital, I guess. Do not use a flash!<br>

You already mentioned it but pay attention to weather reports. April is still early for monsoonal rain but it pays to be aware.</p>

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<p>Watch for lens flare</p>

<p>Hey Joe - when are you planning on visiting this area? It is on my list and hope to go late August or early September. I understand from someone who is acquainted with Arizona that monsoons are an issue. Any input on that? Thanks</p>

<p>Hey Drema,<br>

My understanding is that the "official" monsoon season for Arizona is June 15th through September. But that's incredibly misleading. The real issue here are flash floods in the slot canyon caused by sudden rainfall. That's why--regardless of when you go to a slot canyon, you want to check the weather.<br>

As for when I'm going, it will likely be in April. And in all likelihood, I'll be going to Southern Utah. I know the temps in the many of the slot canyons in August and September will easily break 100. And some of them (though not the Antelope Creek Canyon options) often have long hikes in the sun just to get to the canyon.</p>

The 'Monsoon' is a lot more sporadic than you might imagine. Given the local nature of the typical small thunderstorms involved, the average slot will be flooded to a dangerous degree only a handful of times per year. Even a complete fool who ignores the weather completely will likely survive any number of hikes.<br><br>

 

 

That said, if a flood like this

arrives while you're inside, you're going to have a bad day. (Around 0:48, the camera starts to zoom on where the entrance to Lower Antelope would usually be visible. ) It's clear that the entire canyon is full of rushing water.<br><br>

 

 

90+% of storms arrive after noon. Plan to get in and out as early in the day as possible.<br><br>

 

 

Read up on the specific canyon. Some are much more flood prone than others, and some much more dangerous when flooded. A rugged, narrow, slow-going slot like Egypt would be a deathtrap, while Willis Creek opens every ~1/4 mile to allow easy escape and has a perfectly level floor of sand and gravel for better speed when fleeing the water.

<p>Thanks for the input Joe & Greg. I watched the video - that flooding video is what I am most afraid of in the slots. I have NO experience with them, but know that have some very real dangers. I would love to experience them however and have the opportunity to do some images there. The Flickr site had some super images of Antelope Canyon. Thanks for sharing those. </p>

The water vapor that drives the monsoonal storms blows up from the Gulfs of Mexico and California in great irregular plumes. There will be periods of days, possibly a week or two, when the atmosphere is too dry to generate much/any convection. Then some juicy air will blow in and you'll get non-stop storms. Or something in between. All this is predicted by the Weather Service fairly accurately. IMO, there's no reason to absolutely shun slots during the monsoon season (apart from the fact that it's generally fairly hot and the hiking can get a bit soggy.) Just take care to monitor the daily weather forecasts and, of course, use your own eyes and a bit of common sense. Go. Enjoy!

"Any thoughts on getting the colors you sometimes see in some of the photos?"<br>

 

Joe, If the bright sun happens to hit at just the right angle, in just the right location, you can indeed get the nice rich colors depicted in the Wiki article. Be sure to err on the side of underexposure.<br>

 

IMO, many of the images you've seen are the result of an overactive saturation slider. ("This one goes to ELEVEN!") I think many photographers have a pre-conceived idea of how Jackalope should look, and often wind up leaning on the color controls in an attempt to match this unrealistic ideal. It's a big feedback loop that eventually leads everyone to Lik-like levels of surreality. ;)

<p>I made a trip to the same area with my wife and daughter in March 2007. In our case, we hired a guide for the day. It's not cheap, but having somebody who knows the territory was an advantage for us. We were only in Page for one day, and he looked after us from dawn to dusk. March turned out to be a good time to visit. It was below freezing at night, and the floor of some canyons had snow, but during the day it was an excellent temperature for hiking. It was also cold enough that there was virtually no chance of rattlesnakes being active!</p>

<p>We started the day at Upper Antelope Canyon, and managed to get there before the crowds got too thick. I was aware ahead of time about the sand, so left the same lens on the camera (17-40 on a 5D) all day. Even so, some goobers managed to get on the sensor early in the day. Even early in the morning, light was filtering down to the bottom of the slot. The floor of the upper canyon is level, so almost anybody should be able to walk through it, if that is a concern. I didn't find it dusty, but there weren't hoards of people yet either, and I was able to use the tripod for a number of interesting shots.</p>

<p>For the rest of the day, we travelled to Round Valley Draw in Utah. The guide did the driving and provided lunch, while we took in the landscape. Round Valley Draw is wider, deeper, and much longer than Antelope, and has a few spots that require rudimentary climbing skills with ropes. We walked about 2 or 3 miles down the canyon before doubling back. The geology here is also quite different with a lot of harder rock mixed in with the sandstone. That also means that the canyon is strewn with boulders, so the hiking is much more challenging. Because we were doing a lot of walking here, I didn't take the tripod, but still used the 17-40 for all my shots.</p><div></div>

<p>One day I will get to the slot canyons, and I doubt I will have the courage to <em>not</em> take my camera. Although all these shots are great, how many times have I seen them? Probably over a million. I guess you will be the million and one! Here's hoping you can come back with something different to everyone else!</p>

While it's nearly impossible to find a 100% new composition anywhere, avoiding Antelope and heading off for one of the other zillion slots in the area will at least expose you to unique scenery. You won't be muttering, "It looks just like it does in the pictures" every time you look up.

<p>Sometime after the 97 flood the owners of Lower Antelope were required to install ladders within the canyon and place drop ladders at several points along the passage. I have not seen these drop ladders but would imagine they are rope ladders and if one needed to use them you would leave your equipment behind. I did see boxes along the canyon edges at ground level, which would hold the ladders.<br>

There is also a siren to warn of impending danger, again I haven't heard it.<br>

In the event of a situation, say a siren warning, I would head down canyon to the exit stairs. From the videos you can see that upper entrance is quite narrow and would get clogged with other people quickly.<br>

I'll try and post an image of a ladder about 2/3 of the way in. Most of the ladders are quite pitched but I've not heard of anyone falling on one. Get a good grip.</p>

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