Photographing Antelope Canyon: here’s the best time to go

If you’ve landed here, it’s because you’re looking for a bit more information on how and when to photograph Antelope Canyon, the most photographed sandstone canyon in northern Arizona.
In this article, we’ll try to offer ideas and tips for taking top-quality photos that will leave you truly satisfied with your visit.

We’ll give it a try! Read on...
 

Photographing Antelope Canyon: here’s the best time

Let’s start with a fundamental detail: the main scenic feature—the reason so many people go to Antelope to take photos—is the beams and the play of light and color created inside the canyon, which make it spectacular.

That’s right, we’re talking about light. As a result, you need to take the weather and the time of your visit into account if you want the best possible light, visible as beams inside the canyon. It’s therefore impossible to get perfect light in the early morning or late in the day. For this reason, we believe that the best time to photograph Antelope Canyon—whether you choose Upper, Lower, or X—is around lunchtime.

It’s therefore best to book the 11:00 guided tour, so that you’ll be inside the canyon by 11:30, the perfect moment (if not the very best one) to enjoy the lighting. In summer, for example, you’ll find the color of the walls more intense when the sun is high overhead.

If photography is your passion, the number of tourists will definitely be a key factor in the success of your shots: the fewer people there are inside the canyon, the better! We talked about the differences between Upper Canyon and Lower Canyon in this article, and one of the strengths of Lower and Antelope X is, first and foremost, the smaller crowds.

We should also add that, fortunately, you don’t need to be a highly experienced photographer to come away with beautiful shots. The guides who lead the tours are often happy to help visitors choose the best spot and angle for taking photos.