I am so excited by my images created at Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona! Grand Canyon National Park should be on everybody’s bucket list! Although I visited many years ago, this time I wanted to both experience the entire park and bring home images worthy of framing. I think I succeeded in both!
South Rim:
In spite of the screeching headache that began as I drove to higher altitude from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon (my form of altitude sickness 😕), I “scouted” the entire South Rim between the first full day and the next morning. I took a shuttle bus from my hotel in Tusayan into the visitor center and from there to both the far western rim (Hermits Rest Route) and to Yaki Point (Kaibab/Rim Route). The shuttle was the only way to visit these points during peak season. I consistently got off the bus at each stop and explored the Rim, and also walked through the Village along the Rim Trail. I wanted to see the splendid architecture by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter that beautifully blended the buildings into the landscape. That evening I drove the Eastern Rim Road and made several stops leading up to and past sunset. And the next morning I completed my scouting with Mather and Yavapai Points and time to explore Hopi House Indian treasures.
North Rim:
The next two days on the South Rim I got up before sunrise and made my way to various points known to be best for sunrise, and repeated the process for sunset. Then came the long (over 4 hours!) but beautiful drive to the North Rim. In addition to sunrise and sunset, on the last full day on the North Rim I was treated to the anticipated monsoon weather. I was able to photograph daytime lightning and was treated to a rainbow before a spectacular sunset! That was quite a day!
Page, Arizona
While in Northern Arizona I took advantage of location and drove to Page, Arizona for my first experience in the slot canyons. The Chief Tsosie Photography Tour was reserved and paid for far in advance to take advantage of direct overhead sunlight that creates shafts of light onto the canyon floor. The photos from Upper Antelope Canyon are just how they looked on the back of my camera! I also aimed to spend sunset at Horseshoe Bend – a nearly complete oxbow of the Colorado River formed by meandering flow. After the 3/4 mile hike I braved standing on the edge with my camera on a tripod and was ready to wait for the sun to lower to the horizon. Unfortunately a weather front approached from the west and the rain started moving in – the disadvantage of monsoon season! I thought I could stay in place, but a big gust of wind carrying sand and small pebbles hit me straight on, and I knew I wasn’t safe. I joined the throngs of people headed back to the parking lot, but satisfied that I had an image I’d be happy with.
