Antelope Canyon

Britney Spears was indeed lucky when she was able to shoot the music video for “I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman” in Antelope Canyon in 2001. I guess it’s easy if you have the budget to buy all the tours available in the slot canyon for the day. For most of us though as I have mentioned in a previous post, the only way to visit this is through guided tours. And I’m not one to complain here but we all know how this poses a challenge for getting decent solo shots, right?

The thing about getting people out of the way is really not the biggest concern. It’s actually getting that natural skylight pouring through a narrow crack at the top of the canyon that will make you visible in the photo from down below. We took the 2PM time slot – a second option since articles say the best times would have to be the 11-ish lighting schedule. But perhaps if you’re a pro, you could get both elements of shadow and light play in your camera while capturing the signature fiery waves of the walls at the same time. And a bonus if you got yourself inserted somewhere in the frame too. It’s almost as if the canyon isn’t made for selfie type of photos.

Thankfully, the Navajo tour guides here aside from explaining how this otherworldly location was formed also include photography tips and tricks using your smartphone only. Take for example, that heart shape formation above which was taken using Wil’s iPhone11. He was generous enough to mention even the correct settings to get that thousand-likes-worthy shot. Pretty decent for a 60++ USD tour price eh? Aside from heart-like formations, he also pointed out different shapes or resemblances inside the canyon that are otherwise wouldn’t be visible to an untrained eye. But seriously, how would I know as I was busy keeping my jaw from dropping to the ground in every turn I made in this absolutely beautiful location.

The best part is getting that demo at the end of the tour on how natural elements like water, wind and sandstone formed this 190-million-year-old slot canyon. Unlike the Horsehoe Bend, it was the flashfloods that cut through the rocks and turned it into the most beautiful slot canyon that it is today. The worst part is having that tour end in just 60-minutes as I really wanted to stay more inside and touch its gorgeous walls.