“Flames (Lower Antelope Canyon)”
© Copyright Ben Hattenbach
The slot canyons of the Southwestern United States are one of the most unique and picturesque locations to shoot. But unlike the usual landscape photography guidelines, slot canyons require a totally different approach to capture their beauty.
Ben Hattenbach’s gorgeous photos demonstrate that he knows what’s needed to shoot the curvy and radiant slot canyons. His photo “Flames (Lower Antelope Canyon)” is shown above.
Ben Hattenbach has written an article at The Luminous Landscape website that explains what you need to know to improve your chances of creating your own gorgeous slot canyon photos. He explains the following tips in his article:
- When To Go – Between 10am and 2pm, when the sun is overhead.
- Search for Reflected Light – Avoid direct sunlight and the visible sky in your photos.
- Avoid Lens Flares – Use lens hoods, hands, hats, even the canyon ledges to avoid the flares.
- Proper Exposure – Avoid blown highlights, keep your eye on your histogram, and experiment.
- Dynamic Imagery – There’s more than just colorful rock walls in the slot canyons.
- Essential Equipment – A tripod, cable release, polarizing filter, and some plastic Saran Wrap to protect your camera from dust.
- Locations – Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons, Water Holes Canyon, Paria Canyon, and private Navajo canyons.
Read Ben Hattenbach’s article to ensure that you’re ready to capture the slot canyons the next time you’re in the neighborhood of the Southwestern United States.
If you’d like some personal assistance photographing the slot canyons, consider one of Alain Briot’s Antelope Canyon Workshops. A couple of them are already sold out for this year, but there’s still a few slots available in the fall workshop. Read more about it in the Photobird Daily article “Alain Briot’s 2009 Workshops“.
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