2. Landscapes

Antelope Canyon, Page, Arizona, March 22nd and 23rd, 2013

PLEASE USE SLIDESHOW TO FULLY APPRECIATE THE DETAIL AND TONES IN THE IMAGES.
Disney got trumped. Antelope Canyon is the most magical place on Earth. The three primary colors from which all other colors are made are present here in the yellow sun, blue sky and red rocks. All you need is a way to mix them in different percentages. The varying depths of the canyon along with the different angles and intensities in which the sun gets into the Canyon provides the final element for the color magic seen in this gallery. Just outside Page, Arizona, Antelope Canyon is one of the most fascinating and photogenic landscapes in the world. These images are from 2 visits in Lower Antelope Canyon and one in Upper Antelope Canyon. You see plenty of colors with the naked eye, but the camera picks up a little extra in time exposures. Photos taken under the brighter light of midday were less dramatic than the morning and evening shots. No HDR or image blends were used. Until you see what the light does here in person, it is just hard to believe. One of Mother Nature's true masterpieces.
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  • The entrance to Lower Antelope Canyon doesn't exactly jump out at you-it's the "wide" spot at the edge of my left foot. Maybe that's why it was not discovered until 1931. A drop of several feet is quickly followed by a ladder descent into the first small chamber. I am claustrophobic, but I was so amped to capture these images the tight passages did not get to me.

    The entrance to Lower Antelope Canyon doesn't exactly jump out at you-it's the "wide" spot at the edge of my left foot. Maybe that's why it was not discovered until 1931. A drop of several feet is quickly followed by a ladder descent into the first small chamber. I am claustrophobic, but I was so amped to capture these images the tight passages did not get to me.

  • This is the landscape 4 miles east of Page, Arizona where Lower Antelope Canyon formed just a few yards to the right. Upper Antelope Canyon is just across the State Hwy 98 to the south.

    This is the landscape 4 miles east of Page, Arizona where Lower Antelope Canyon formed just a few yards to the right. Upper Antelope Canyon is just across the State Hwy 98 to the south.

  • The exit out of Lower Antelope Canyon is an open chamber with a ladder ascent of perhaps 100 feet back to the surface. Five months later a huge flash flood rushed through the canyon and temporarily filled it with violent, churning red muddy water.

    The exit out of Lower Antelope Canyon is an open chamber with a ladder ascent of perhaps 100 feet back to the surface. Five months later a huge flash flood rushed through the canyon and temporarily filled it with violent, churning red muddy water.

  • The view down stream from Lower Antelope Canyon gives no hint of the wild colors that bounce off the walls underneath.

    The view down stream from Lower Antelope Canyon gives no hint of the wild colors that bounce off the walls underneath.

  • I was lucky to have clear skies and bright sun both tour days. I think the blue sky helped the colors pop.

    I was lucky to have clear skies and bright sun both tour days. I think the blue sky helped the colors pop.

  • Upper Antelope Canyon. Wide extremes in light range make traditional histogram adjustments difficult. To subdue the hot spots, most of these canyon shots were underexposed if judged by normal standards. Shadow enhancements pulled out the undertones.

    Upper Antelope Canyon. Wide extremes in light range make traditional histogram adjustments difficult. To subdue the hot spots, most of these canyon shots were underexposed if judged by normal standards. Shadow enhancements pulled out the undertones.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon. Both canyons are on Navaho land and they control access.

    Lower Antelope Canyon. Both canyons are on Navaho land and they control access.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon. I bracketed 3 RAW shots in all my photos and at times I needed the brightest, the normal or the underexposed to get the best overall results.

    Lower Antelope Canyon. I bracketed 3 RAW shots in all my photos and at times I needed the brightest, the normal or the underexposed to get the best overall results.

  • The predominant rock color under grade level is a reddish magenta, but other tones exist as well.

    The predominant rock color under grade level is a reddish magenta, but other tones exist as well.

  • Lower Canyon. Similar to watching clouds form, it is fun to look for shapes that remind us of other things. I saw the raised head of an alien warrior in this one.

    Lower Canyon. Similar to watching clouds form, it is fun to look for shapes that remind us of other things. I saw the raised head of an alien warrior in this one.

  • This particular circumstance of light generated nice shades of pink. Lower Antelope Canyon.

    This particular circumstance of light generated nice shades of pink. Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Swirling water, rocks, dust and wind are credited with shaping these two canyons over eons of time.

    Swirling water, rocks, dust and wind are credited with shaping these two canyons over eons of time.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon. With different shapes and colors everywhere you look, there was actually a bit of sensory overload that I had to manage.

    Lower Antelope Canyon. With different shapes and colors everywhere you look, there was actually a bit of sensory overload that I had to manage.

  • A bird nest adorns a shelf in this rock formation of the Lower Antelope canyon.

    A bird nest adorns a shelf in this rock formation of the Lower Antelope canyon.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Upper Antelope Canyon.

    Upper Antelope Canyon.

  • Closer crop of the previous scene in Upper Antelope Canyon.

    Closer crop of the previous scene in Upper Antelope Canyon.

  • Upper Antelope Canyon.

    Upper Antelope Canyon.

  • Another odd shape in Lower Antelope Canyon. Maybe a Buffalo head at right foreground, looking left ?

    Another odd shape in Lower Antelope Canyon. Maybe a Buffalo head at right foreground, looking left ?

  • A view within Upper Antelope Canyon. Access by the public to Upper Canyon is only available by booking with a licensed tour group.

    A view within Upper Antelope Canyon. Access by the public to Upper Canyon is only available by booking with a licensed tour group.

  • Upper Antelope Canyon, shown here, is wider and very flat which equates to easy walking. Lower Canyon, on the other hand, is a more vertical adventure with ladders, close walls, and very tight turns.

    Upper Antelope Canyon, shown here, is wider and very flat which equates to easy walking. Lower Canyon, on the other hand, is a more vertical adventure with ladders, close walls, and very tight turns.

  • There was a brisk desert wind blowing on Saturday, but in the Lower Canyon it was quiet, calm and serene. People spoke in hushed tones and moved slowly and reverently, but the Upper Canyon was too busy to experience that peacefulness.

    There was a brisk desert wind blowing on Saturday, but in the Lower Canyon it was quiet, calm and serene. People spoke in hushed tones and moved slowly and reverently, but the Upper Canyon was too busy to experience that peacefulness.

  • In Lower Antelope Canyon you really need to watch your head. This projection was at eye level.

    In Lower Antelope Canyon you really need to watch your head. This projection was at eye level.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Aliens faceoff in Upper Antelope Canyon, lower right.

    Aliens faceoff in Upper Antelope Canyon, lower right.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Lower Canyon.

    Lower Canyon.

  • Any photo with a ladder in it is from Lower Antelope Canyon. This is one of the few places where you can actually see direct blue sky from a deep spot in the canyon floor.

    Any photo with a ladder in it is from Lower Antelope Canyon. This is one of the few places where you can actually see direct blue sky from a deep spot in the canyon floor.

  • Looking straight up out of Upper Canyon.

    Looking straight up out of Upper Canyon.

  • Lower Canyon.

    Lower Canyon.

  • This boy watched me intently from the shadows as I framed this photo.

    This boy watched me intently from the shadows as I framed this photo.

  • Some sections of Lower Antelope canyon were so snug that you had to put your feet in line to walk, tightrope style.

    Some sections of Lower Antelope canyon were so snug that you had to put your feet in line to walk, tightrope style.

  • I'm seeing the upper torso of a windswept female mummy looking to the right. Or how about a flying goddess hood ornament at speed? This formation is actually famous for the hole, not what I was seeing. Lower Canyon.

    I'm seeing the upper torso of a windswept female mummy looking to the right. Or how about a flying goddess hood ornament at speed? This formation is actually famous for the hole, not what I was seeing. Lower Canyon.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Upper Antelope Canyon.

    Upper Antelope Canyon.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • This is the same rock formation as the previous photo, taken the next day. Colors and tones change with the sun angle.

    This is the same rock formation as the previous photo, taken the next day. Colors and tones change with the sun angle.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • A turn in Lower Antelope Canyon has pushed sand to the middle where no one walks.

    A turn in Lower Antelope Canyon has pushed sand to the middle where no one walks.

  • Twisting and turning as you navigate the rock formations in Lower Antelope Canyon is a unique and marvelous experience.

    Twisting and turning as you navigate the rock formations in Lower Antelope Canyon is a unique and marvelous experience.

  • Lower Antelope Canyon.

    Lower Antelope Canyon.

  • Steep dropoffs in Lower Antelope canyon make it a violent place in a flash flood. Twelve people died in here in 1997 when a 50 foot high wall of water came in from a thunderstorm 5 miles upstream. Tours are cancelled if weather is a obvious threat.

    Steep dropoffs in Lower Antelope canyon make it a violent place in a flash flood. Twelve people died in here in 1997 when a 50 foot high wall of water came in from a thunderstorm 5 miles upstream. Tours are cancelled if weather is a obvious threat.

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    Lower Canyon. Similar to watching clouds form, it is fun to look for shapes that remind us of other things. I saw the raised head of an alien warrior in this one.
    This particular circumstance of light generated nice shades of pink. Lower Antelope Canyon.
    Swirling water, rocks, dust and wind are credited with shaping these two canyons over eons of time.