Antelope Canyon is a photographer’s playground. Scottsdale-based Suzanne Mathia of Suzanne Mathia Photography is a pro who knows this to be true. She got teary eyed the first time she photographed Antelope Canyon a decade ago. Since then, she visits the Canyon four to five times per year. The unique characteristics of the Canyon make it a great place to shoot.
“It’s the colors, the shapes, the forms. It’s a limitless possibility as far as compositions are concerned. There aren’t five shots to take. There’s millions of shots to take,” she says. Here are her tried and true tips for taking your best Antelope Canyon shots.
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PRO TIPS ON PHOTOGRAPHING ANTELOPE CANYON:
- Book a photographer-specific tour. These are longer and less crowded – making it ideal for you to capture stellar images.
- Bring a tripod, if allowed. Check before you go to the Canyon.
- You’ll want 20 to 30 second exposures.
- Decrease the ISO settings to 100.
- The prime time to nab those iconic images with the light beams from May and August is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Don’t change your lens. It’s dusty in the canyon, and the sensor inside may get dirty. Bring a dust blower to clean the lens or cover the lens with a shower cap.
- F stops F8 through F11 gives you a good depth of field.
- A wide angle lens – 24 to 70 millimeter lens – works best.
- Shoot in aperture priority to easily compensate for changing light.
Suzanne is teaching her next slot canyon photography workshop in March of 2020. For more information, visit suzannemathiaphotography.com.
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WHAT TO PACK BEFORE YOU GO TO ANTELOPE CANYON
- Your camera.
- Good, sturdy shoes. Preferably hiking boots.
- Pack light. Large bags are not allowed.
- Be sure not leave any garbage in the canyon.
- Water.
- Sunscreen.
- Clothes that cover you.
- Be mindful that the area straddles the Utah and Arizona border and is in two time zones over the summer months.
