Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons
Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon, Escalante, Utah. Nikon D90, Nikon 12-24mm at 12mm, f/11, (three shots HDR, 2.0s, 1.3s, 0.8s, ISO 200, edited in Adobe LR, Skylum Aurora 2019 and Color Efex Pro 4. We worked our way through the slot, photographing as we went along. Photographing Upper Antelope Canyon + Photo Tips for Inside. Long before photography became part of my life I saw an image of Antelope Canyon that drew me in. The lines, the light, tones, vibrancy and marvels of nature in one photograph. Slot canyons are often dusty, so don’t plan on switching lenses (bring a zoom). Upside: Dust particles can create visible beams of light, which add wonder and energy to your image. Hide or crop out the beams’ endpoints to avoid direct sunlight splotches (as above). If there isn’t enough dust to see the beams, try tossing a handful of sand.
Canon 5DS R w/ EF16-35mm f/4.0 @24mm f/16 3.2s ISO 100
Slot canyons of the American Southwest are famous for their otherworldly beauty. As such, they are high on many nature photographers’ bucket list. The best known and most visited are Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons near Page, Arizona.
With countless discussions in the gallery and my Navajo Nation Journey Workshop about 60 days from now, I thought it would be useful to compile a list of tips for slot canyon photography to share with others.
Ten tips for slot canyon photography
Challenges for slot canyon photographers seem endless. They include extreme dynamic range, low light focusing, long exposures, small spaces, and lots of dust. Although slot canyons present many challenges to photographers, the well-prepared and properly equipped photographer will not be disappointed. Here are ten tips for slot canyon photography success:
Two-shot pano: Canon 5DS R w/ TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II f/16 10.0s ISO 100
1. To the uninitiated, the insane circus that is Upper and Lower Antelope canyon can be very frustrating. Hundreds, if not thousands of tourists walk through these canyons each day during the summer season. If you go, prepare yourself mentally for fast pace, tight quarters, pushing, shoving, people in your frame, and guides barking out orders. However, there are many slot canyons that are not visited by the tour bus operators. These are the canyons where solitude, along with fantastic photo opportunities, can still be found.
2. Travel light. Even a small backpack will make it difficult to move around in narrow slot canyons.
3. Use a tripod. Although very colorful, these are low light environments. Shutter speeds of 20 to 30 seconds are not uncommon at ISO 100. Shutter speeds up to 120 seconds are sometimes necessary. Most cameras have a maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds. For anything longer you will need to use blub mode with a timing device, such as an intervalometer, to trip the shutter.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Canyon
4. Stop down for maximum depth of field. Slot canyons twist and turn with layer upon layer of textures and colors. Don’t lose detail to shallow depth of field. Hyper focal distance can be an effective technique to maximize depth of field.
5. If you use auto focus, use single point mode with back-button focus. Multi-point modes will frequently lock onto surfaces other than which you intend. With back-button focus, you can choose your focus area and recompose for best results. Live-view manual focus also works well in this regard.
6. Learn to adjust your camera settings in the dark. Although you can bring a flashlight, it is one more thing to keep track of and carry. Preset as many settings as possible before you enter the canyon. My preferences include single point focus mode, evaluative metering, ISO 100, f/16, mirror lock-up, and Auto White Balance. Many photographers recommend white balance of 6500 to 7500K to achieve warmer tones. However, I prefer to make such adjustments in post.
7. Use your RGB histogram (rather than luminosity) and highlight warning (blinkies) to verify exposure. Colors in these canyons can over expose the red channel. Much detail will be lost if the red channel is blown out.
8. Dust is everywhere. Avoid changing lenses while in a slot canyon. Zoom lenses, rather than primes, are best due to their inherent flexibility. Although a medium telephoto lens can be useful for detail shots, I prefer to use a 16-35 or 24-70mm. If you have to change lenses, turn your camera off, keep the body pointed downwards and make it fast. Bring along a rocket blower for cleanup during and after your shoot. You might even want to bring a plastic bag to cover your camera while not in use or while changing lenses.
9. Wear sturdy boots, a wide brimmed hat, and dress in layers. The temperature at the bottom of a slot canyon can be 10 degrees F lower than topside. Also a surprising amount of sand and debris can blow in from above.
10. Don’t forget to look up. Sometimes the best compositions and light are overhead.
Canon 5DS R w/ EF16-35mm f/4.0L @ 21mm f/14 1.3s ISO 100
Slot canyons are some of the most challenging environments for the landscape photographer. But also they are some of the most rewarding. These tips for slot canyon photography will help you manage the technical aspects of photography while exploring the artistic opportunities around every curve. Whether you are looking for floor-to-ceiling compositions or abstract details, the options are endless.
Tips for for exploring narrows and slot canyons
Slot canyons are one of the many fascinating geological features of the desert. For millions of years, water eroded the sheer rock walls, providing an otherworldly experience for those daring enough to travel into their depths.
While hauntingly beautiful, slot canyons do come with their own challenges and dangers, and therefore should be approached with caution. Here is what you need to know before heading out to explore one of the many slot canyons of the Southwest.
Research the Route
Slot canyons vary immensely in difficulty. From an easy walk through high canyon walls to technical canyoneering routes that require climbing gear, you want to make sure you’re prepared for varying levels of terrain.
Depending on the location and time of year that you plan your slot canyon excursion, you may encounter standing pools of water — typical in the spring but not uncommon in the summer or fall, especially after a storm. Knowing if water will be present helps determine the kind of gear you should bring.
Check the Weather
Looking at a longer timeframe of weather patterns is crucial to your safety when exploring slot canyons. Knowing what the weather was like the few days leading up to your excursion as well as the day of could save your life, especially if a storm is present.
Monsoon season typically hits the Southwest from July to September. Exercise extreme caution if you are planning a trip during this time. Keep a close eye on any rainstorms that could have hit up to 50 miles from where you plan to explore, and pay close attention to the intensity of the rainfall. Storms that bring constant or abrupt rainfall should be cause for concern.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons National Park
Flash floods are a serious hazard in slot canyons, which are extremely dangerous if you find yourself in a narrow spot with no escape. In the event that you notice a slow stream of water coming your way, immediately start looking to get to higher ground. Do not try and outrun a flash flood unless you are certain that you are near the mouth of the canyon.
Pack the Right Gear
For easy day hikes, use a small backpack that will not get in the way when small down climbs are necessary or while traveling in narrow areas. Bring a thin layer for cool shady spots in the slot canyon, shoes with grippy soles, snacks and plenty of water.
If water is present, a drysuit, dry pants or dry top are helpful. Despite the heat of the desert, deep pools of water found in slot canyons can be extremely cold, resulting in hypothermia if ill prepared. No dry gear? Bring a packable microfiber towel to dry off and a change of dry clothes after the wading is done. Just make sure your pack doesn’t get submerged.
For more technical routes, climbing gear is likely needed. Depending on the height of the rappels, make sure to pack a long enough rope and enough webbing, carabiners or rappel rings to make an anchor in the event that one is not present.
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Videos
Allow Plenty of Time
Tips For Photographing Slot Canyons Colorado
Hiking slot canyons differs from a normal hike due to the presence of obstacles, which may result in longer times depending on the level of difficulty. Even small, 4-foot drops might require some unique body positioning and maneuvering to get to the ground below.
If rappels are present on the route, take into consideration the number of people you have in your group and the complexity of the rappel. It’s always fun to have a group to explore with, but waiting for everyone to safely get through a section requires adequate time.