Lower Antelope Canyon

One of the hardest things to do in photography is to come away with an unusual photograph from locations that have been photographed to death. While the unusual photograph may be hard to find, with a little effort and creativity you can try and come away with something that is (at least) different.

Lower Antelope Canyon in Arizona is a classic example. We see so many images from there. The one thing I have found people consistently do, is oversaturate their images from this location. Don't get me wrong, that may be their interpretation and that is the way they choose to present their artwork. I respect that. The point I am making is this gives the wrong impression to people who have not visited the location. The colors are pretty amazing and depending on the angle of the sun and how bright it is, the reflected light in the canyon can be unbelievable.

This is an example of the glow that is witnessed in the canyon. Notice the difference in the light illuminating the canyon walls from closer to the camera to further away. This is exactly how the scene looked to the naked eye.

We don't see a lot of black & white images from Antelope Canyon. As I mentioned earlier, it's probably because people get carried away with the color. In my opinion the rich texture and forms of the canyon are perfect for B&W photography. 

It's hard not to get carried away with the glow in the canyon. In this composition I am leading the viewers eye toward the unreal glow in the top left and using the rest of the image to make that glow more believable. Believe it, because it's real! :)

One little tip...If you are looking to come away with something different, the best way to photograph Antelope Canyon is to go in without any preconceived notions of what you want to do. Just enjoy the beauty around you. You are more likely to come away with photographs that are a result of your personal experience, rather than what you might have seen before.

Upcoming Workshops and classes:

March 12 - Photoshop for Photographers
April 16 - Flowers & Close-ups Field Session
April 23 - Spring Flowers Workshop
April 28 - May 1 - Chincoteague Island Workshop
July 16 - Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Field Session

View full 2011 workshop schedule...