Shooting the Canyon: Tips for Photographers
It's not easy to capture the canyon's spirit on film. Here are some tips to help you take the best possible photos:
A polarizing filter is a great investment if you have the kind of camera that will accept lens filters. It reduces haze, lessens the contrast between shadowy areas and light areas, and deepens the color of the sky.
The best times to photograph the canyon are at sunrise and sunset, when filtered and sharply angled sunlight paints the canyon walls in beautiful shades of lavender and pink. At these times the shadows are also at their most dramatic. To capture these ephemeral moments, it's best to use a tripod and a long exposure. The worst time to photograph the canyon is at noon when there are almost no shadows, and thus little texture or contrast. The Guide, the park's official visitor newspaper, includes a table with sunrise and sunset times.
Keep in mind that the Grand Canyon is immense. A wide-angle lens may leave the canyon looking on paper like a distant plane of dirt. Try zooming in on narrower sections of the canyon to emphasize a single dramatic landscape element. Or, if you're shooting with a wide-angle lens, try to include something in the foreground (people or a tree branch) to give the photo perspective and scale.
When shooting portraits against a sunrise or sunset, use a flash to illuminate your subjects; otherwise, your camera meter may expose for the bright light in the background and leave your subjects in shadow.
-- Karl Samson
