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Womb!


Womb!
Photo Information
Copyright: SC Davidson (azleader) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 165 W: 0 N: 284] (793)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-09-24
Categories: Nature
Camera: Sony DSC F-717
Exposure: f/2, 1/5 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Landscape locations with WOW, Geological Wonders [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-29 10:48
Viewed: 1850
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Upper Antelope Canyon

I thought I would add my own classic yet surprisingly underrepresented view, here on TrekEarth, of one of the world's most famous photo opportunities.

Antelope Canyon is located near Page, Arizona USA a couple hundred miles northeast of its more well known neighbor, The Grand Canyon.

Antelope Canyon is a geologic structure called a slot canyon. Unlike its grand sounding name a slot canyon is a lot more like a giant crack in a rock than it is like The Grand Canyon southwest of it. Slot canyons are very narrow, often only a few feet(meters) wide and maybe a hundred feet (33 meters) or more tall.

What is so special about an Arizona slot canyon?
What makes them special in northern Arizona and southern Utah USA is the rock they are made of... Navajo Sandstone. This is a soft sedimentary rock easily molded by wind and water erosion. Upper Antelope Canyon is only about .5 miles long and formed by water erosion occurring primarily during monsoon flooding. The effect of water formed striations can easily be seen along the walls. When I was there guides told me that a flash flood came through the area a few weeks before that raised the floor level of the canyon by 5 feet (1.5 meters) with new sediment. They said other flash floods would wash that sediment away.

Slot canyons are dangerous!
Slot canyons usually are dry but can be very deadly places. Lower Antelope Canyon is just a couple miles (kilometers) down stream from where this picture was taken. On August 12, 1997 a flash flood killed 11 people trapped in lower Antelope Canyon who, without warning, were unable to escape a raging flash flood. Five washes feed into Antelope Canyon. On that fateful day there was no rain in the canyon itself but there were heavy monsoon thunderstorms 5 miles (8 kilometers) away and 2,000 feet (600 meters) higher that feed the 5 washes. The torrent of water came fast and furious.

Best time to photograph a slot canyon
Because they are narrow and very high, slot canyons are best photographed near mid-day when sunlight filters down into their lower regions as is the case of this photograph. This requires a longer timed exposure on a tripod mounted camera to get best results. But it is worth the effort. Timed exposures have better lighting and color than you can see when you are there. It is one of the few types of photography that captures a scene better than the human eye.

jimkilgallon, Dpbours, gneufeld, fulvio52, branley, Floydian, Doron_L, zeca, jonathan_hart, Wandering_Dan, meb, Norte, abulafia, romanaa, lgir has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jimkilgallon: Antelope Canyon Tour...azleader 1 05-20 21:36
To abulafia: Thank You...azleader 1 03-14 14:47
To meb: Pictures and descriptionsazleader 1 01-17 08:34
To ayansadhu: You are kind...azleader 1 12-18 11:02
To Bluejeans: Obrigado??azleader 1 12-15 11:44
To zeca: Thanks...azleader 1 12-14 10:46
To Dpbours: Good place to visit...azleader 2 12-02 03:24
To branley: I saw delic's image...azleader 3 11-30 13:02
To gneufeld: Great minds think alike...azleader 1 11-29 21:57
To fulvio52: Too kind...azleader 2 11-29 15:19
To ptibelo: Merci!azleader 1 11-29 14:21
To lespicaros: Missing a walker...azleader 1 11-29 12:23
To Floydian: When you come to this place...azleader 1 11-29 11:48
To JDDeming: The lure of slot canyons...azleader 1 11-29 11:21
To avene: Thank you...azleader 1 11-29 11:17
To Doron_L: I should not admit this but...azleader 1 11-29 11:14
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

I love the title!
It makes you look at this in a whole new way - very original!

  • Great 
  • avene Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1437 W: 80 N: 1837] (6906)
  • [2007-11-29 11:10]
  • [+]

apt title, I agree with Doron that it makes the viewer look at the shot form a different perspective :) the photos from this place never cease to amaze me, and this one is no exception - excellent light management and perfect detail, love how the colours seem to light up in the background.
and very intormative note, thanks.
best,
Kristine

Really great photo with a nice warm tone. I thought your note was incredibly detailed for those of us who have not been to such a place. Thanks!

SC,
I know what you mean by visiting this place, it's absolute a top location for photographers. I will go there...one day..!!!
Your pictures shows it in all his beauty with a beautiful palet of colours from dark purple to bright yellow...truly wonderful. Most of the time we see the famous lightbeams coming out from the top, but you show us it can also be like this...really beautiful.
Regards, Henk

Hello
Nice place, nice shot, the light is beautifull
Good realisation
(Maybe it misses a walker)
Regards
Laurent

Superbe jeu de lumière..très visuel.
bravo
Jmarie

Hi SC,

terrific colours and textures makes this stand out even in the thumbnail. I'm sure I saw something similar from Hakan (delic) a short time ago. No matter, this is a first class shot and worthy of more aclaim, accompanied by an excellent note too, well spotted.

Regards

Stephen

Wonderful one, buddy!
I visited Upper Antelope Canyon last Aug. 13 around noon, and only managed to come up with very meager results.
Also : the dust screwed up my camera...
I particularly appreciate this shot as it's several levels above the average GOOD Upper Antelope shot.
Awesome texture, color and clarity. One of the very best ones I've ever seen. My compliments.
Fulvio.

Hi SC,
A very good shot of the canyons. I was in the same location in May an had a marvelous time taking pictures there - check out my gallery if you're interested. You have achieved good clarity and excellent colors with the fortunate "no people in the image" composition. Great shot. Gerald

Hi SC,

I've already seen some interesting shots passing here on this location! But yours here surely adds to those. A good note to it and I have to agree with Henk that this is one of those places on my to-do-list. :-)
Very well controlled all over. Wonderful light!!

Greetings,
Dennis

Just amazing light and colors... congrats!
Sotiris

Ola Davison ,
Que lugar fantastico ,muito bonitas estas cavernas esculpidas , muito bonitas as cores , bom enquadramento da foto , parabens!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3062 W: 162 N: 4438] (18572)
  • [2007-12-16 20:35]
  • [+]

Hello Davidson!
Congratulations for this beautiful image! The lights are just great and the different forms are very nice! Well taken!
Regards,
Zeca
Bback for sure..

What do I call you a painter or photographer or a visualizer?!
You capture the light so nicely with the resonance of the pattern entwined in it...
Go on Pal you present us more and more of these stuff for our eyes pleasure...

Beautiful composition and mix of colors. The title is cute, too!

I will bear your warning about flash flooding in mind, but I still have to see this place. (There are a lot of pictures of it on TE, and it has fired my imagination!)

Dan

  • Great 
  • meb Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 49 W: 13 N: 65] (678)
  • [2008-01-17 3:10]
  • [+]

Hi,
I like the picture, but also the note whish is very useful.
Thanks
marica

This is a great shot of Antelope Canyon. Very nice work. It's a hard place to take pictures.

  • Great 
  • Norte Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 134 W: 5 N: 124] (531)
  • [2008-01-23 17:09]

Hello!
I was looking through your very good gallery, and this one I found particularly attractive. You have captured some fantastic colors there, and the vertical composition is perfect. Very good, informative note too!
TFS!
Regards, Jon

WONDERFUL!!!!!
BRAVO

Ciao
Bianca

  • Great 
  • pipe Silver Star Critiquer [C: 21 W: 0 N: 3] (16)
  • [2008-02-08 20:01]

nice and crispy

The colors are amazing here!
I like how the light changes the colors of the sandstone.
Really beautiful
Harry

  • Great 
  • euryan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1120 W: 124 N: 1827] (8012)
  • [2008-04-06 10:27]

Indeed, the Upper Antelope Canyon does seem to underrepresent here on TE. This classic scene was captured with perfect beautiful light. The colors are perfectly saturated. Nice work.
Regards,
Ryan

Another fantastic image Steve, you have a very good gallery here on TE.
Were you in Antelope Canyon on the photographers tour that they do, as it seems you have this place to yourself which I didn't have the pleasure, it was rammed the day I went. The great thing about this capture is your highlight detail is holding strongly in the BG and the sand. You got your exposures spot on here, while the blends of reds and blueish tones are pleasing to the eye. Great sharpness and composition. Top work
Regards and tfs
Jim

Stunning capture SC, the colours and play of light is wonderful. Very well done..

  • Great 
  • lgir Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 194 W: 30 N: 456] (1871)
  • [2008-07-15 10:00]

Hi,

This canyon is really fantastic.
the drawings formed by the astonishing erosion and colors are a treat for the eyes.
Very good POV.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards
LAurent

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