When you go to Las Vegas, or indeed anywhere around that area, you just have to make a trip to the Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders of the world. The scale and epic-ness of this place is simply incredible, and one task of any traveller here is to try and capture the majesty of the wonder in just a few simple photographs. Whilst some of you reading this may be far braver than I, and would stand right on the edge in attempt to get that perfect photo, this guide is for those like me who want to know how to take a good photo at the Grand Canyon without having to stand right at the edge of a sheer cliff. I have also added in a few little ideas that I did which you might want to test out.
Getting There
The first thing you need to do is to sort your transport out. Try and get this done way in advance of your travels, the last thing you want is to sort out your travel company last minute and for it all to be booked up. I would strongly recommend Grand Adventures as they really take care of you, provide lunch, show you Route 66 and the Hoover Dam, and even throw in a McDonald’s Breakfast! When booking, ensure that you pick the Sunset Tour to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Although the day is long, and you spend around 8 hours travelling, when you see all the views that this place has to offer, as well as the sun slowly setting over the canyon, you really will feel that it was worth every single penny. I would only suggest going to the South Rim; this is the main part of the Grand Canyon, and is home to the best possible shots.
Landscape Shots
The myth of ‘Golden Hour’ really comes into its own here. The canyon in the Spring at around 19:00 is simply magical. The entire place lights up in a stunning orange, with the greenery given off by the plants below intensified to give off an amazing array of colour in one photo. It also adds to the depth of the canyon as the outlines of all the rocks are far sharper due to the shadows being cast below in the depths. This makes for one heck of a landscape photograph, and although nothing can really capture the majesty of the Grand Canyon, this is certainly the closest you can get to it. Another thing you should do is to take a photograph mid-afternoon. Although the depth of the canyon won’t really be visible, your camera will be able to pick up distinct objects for a lot further, which would really show off the canyon’s vast size. Try taking multiple of each type and see which one works best. The true king of the landscape shot however is the sun setting over the canyon. If you stay to watch the sunset, I would recommend bringing a small tripod and setting your camera to a burst mode just when the sun’s outline reaches the canyon. You can get some truly great shots here, but need a bit of luck to get a clear day!
Sitting on the Edge of the World
The shot that everyone wants is one of them sat right at the edge of a cliff in the canyon, showing their family and friends that they dared to sit at the edge of the world. However, what if I told you there was an easy way of how to take a good photo at the Grand Canyon without putting your life at risk? Many cliffs of the canyon are not actually sheer drops, and many have large platforms just 30cm below. Taken at the right angle however, nobody will see these platforms and it will appear as if you are sat right on the edge. You can take this idea and use it with so many areas of the cliffs. Even if you are scared of heights, like me, you can still get some epic photographs that you can treasure forever, and only you will know that you cheated a little bit.
Hanging on to the Edge of the World
With the illusion idea that we used in the last section, why not make it seem like you have lost your footing a little and are about to fall off? Like I said, many of the cliffs have a platform just beneath them, and that the trick to these photos is all about angles. To make this classic tourist photo, find a cliff with a large platform just below it, and sit down on the lower part. Then, move your arms so that it appears as if you are hanging on for dear life on the upper cliff, you could even put a leg up there too if you felt it added dramatic effect! If you travel with a partner or friend, get them involved and have them pretend to save you. The shot may be really cheesy, but it will look great, and could be used to trick your older relatives if you were so inclined to do so.
The Classic Couple Shot
If like me you are in a relationship, I feel that the Grand Canyon is one of the best places to get a photo to really showcase your love for each other. Why not get a shot of you both sat on the edge of the canyon, with the sun setting just in front of you? Or maybe even take a selfie just on the edge to show both you and the depth of the canyon. A note to the men reading this, the Grand Canyon at sunset could be a perfect proposal location, and if you pick your location right, ask somebody in your tour group to take a photo of the moment you propose. With the setting sun in the background, the picture would look incredible, and will be something you can treasure forever.
Wildlife
If like my boyfriend you are a bit of a nature geek, then the Grand Canyon in the summer could be the perfect place for you. The Grand Canyon is home to the Californian Condor, one of the largest and rarest birds in the world. The reason I said summer was because the temperature needs to be hot for the right air currents to flow to raise the birds high above the landscape, and if you’re rather lucky, you’ll be able to see them. For this, you will need an incredibly good camera (some form of DSLR is best), as well as a long lens as the birds will likely be high up. It may be a while until you see them, but the wait will be rewarded when you see one! There are lots of buzzards and small eagles too, which could be mistaken for a condor. However, with a wingspan of three metres, you’ll know one when you see on. As the Grand Canyon is a national park, you may also get the chance to see some other native animals. For example, Elk, bats and even the odd rare and elusive puma can be seen around the National Park, although, hopefully you won’t get too close to the latter…
Send Me Your Photos!
I hope that this guide of how to take a good photo at the Grand Canyon has helped you, and if you have got some great ideas of your own please comment and I will try and add them to the guide! Please send in your photos of the Grand Canyon too, I would really love to see them! Love V x
