Imagine hiking through a dark and narrow slot canyon. So narrow that you’re moving sideways as your chest and shoulder blades are touching the canyon walls as you go. Just around the corner you can see a glow that looks like molten lava pouring down the wall. That’s what the slot canyons of Southern Utah and Northern Arizona can offer. Slot canyons provide some unique hiking challenges and extraordinary beauty as other worldly landscapes unfold right before your eyes. The wild colors, textures and glowing light transport you to another place and time. It’s easy to understand why this region attracts hikers and photographers from all around the world.

For the beginner there are plenty of outfitters to take hikers on short excursions through slot canyons with some fairly minimal physical requirements, for those so inclined. Short day hikes could also be pursued and ultimately multi-day backpacking experiences that would require higher levels of backcountry navigation ability. Regardless of the time of year I always check the forecast before venturing into the slots. The canyons in Utah offer a bit of everything, from easier hikes all the way up to more technical canyoneering adventures.

Slot Canyon Photography Gear

Once you’ve selected a slot canyon or two to explore, then think about some gear to bring along for your upcoming adventure. I always include the essentials I would normally bring along for a day hike and I always double check that I packed my headlamp since many sections in a slot canyon can be fairly dark. And, in order to make some higher quality photographs, bring a sturdy tripod. With extremely dark shadows and really bright highlights, you’ll want to take several images of a single scene at different exposure levels in order to capture all the beautiful tones and colors.

This isn’t very easy to do when shooting handheld, given the long exposure times for the shadows which might be ten to fifteen seconds long. And given the tight quarters and odd shooting angles that you’ll be working with, you’ll also want to explore a technique called “focus stacking” which allows you to get a sharp image from front to back. The distance between the different planes of sandstone that you’ll be photographing means that focus stacking is a must if you want sharp details throughout the image. So, in order to blend exposures and focus stack, you’ll need a sturdy tripod to overcome some of the challenges of photographing in the slot canyon world.

Lenses for Slot Canyons

You’ll also want to think about the type of lenses to bring along. Given all the dramatic lines and tight shooting spaces, a wide angle lens is a great choice to have in your bag. Something between 16mm and 24mm would be a nice focal range to have along. Remember too, that slot canyons can be extremely dusty environments. So, if you have a camera with interchangeable lenses, slot canyons are a less than ideal place to change lenses. And bring a rocket air blower to help keep the dust off the front of your lens, especially in the more popular slot canyons. It’s also helpful to have plenty of batteries fully charged since you’ll often be using a lot of battery life while making multiple images for blending focus and exposure.

A tripod along with a wide angle lens are helpful to have on hand when photographing slot canyons.

Slot Canyon Photography Techniques

With your day hiking gear and camera gear prepared, you’re now ready for some extraordinary photography. The amazing reflected light is what really makes slot canyons so special. As the light enters the top of the canyon, it bounces off the sides of the canyon walls on its way down to the floor. Look first for the bright light at the top of the canyon then look around for where it might be reflected deeper down the canyon walls. It’s a surreal experience to see the orange and red glowing walls in such a dark and narrow space. Simply amazing colors. And you’ll often find subtle pinks and magenta colors in the shadows.

Your camera will often pick up colors in the shadows that your eyes can’t see. So, don’t hesitate to include shadowy areas and see what your camera can capture. Clear days or partly cloudy days are typically the best conditions for photographing slot canyons, allowing the reflected light to work its way down the canyon walls. Days that are heavily clouded tend to result in flat light that doesn’t have the signature glow. So, watch the forecast not only for hiking conditions but also for the best light.

When making your photographs, remember to look up, look behind you, and press your back against the canyon wall to photograph the scene that surrounds you. As you gain more experience in your slot canyons and photography, you can take on more challenging adventures along the way. You’ll find a lifetime of places to explore and photograph in the slot canyon world.

Need to Know

Information

If you’re new to the region and slot canyon photography, a good place to start would be in Page, Arizona. Here you’ll find a number of slot canyons on Navajo land that will allow you to get an easier introduction to the slot canyon world. While Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons garner attention and crowds from around the world, there are other slot canyons to explore in the region without the crowds.

You might also begin your slot canyon explorations in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument for accessible and highly photogenic slot canyons. And then there are the Narrows of the Virgin River in Zion National Park which has to be on your short list. You can find plenty of destination ideas in the area by taking a looking at TrailGroove’s TrailFinder Page and by viewing the Trips section of the TrailGroove Blog.

Best Time to Go

If you’re interested in combining your slot canyon hiking and photography with some potential fall color in the Zion National Park region, for example, then consider early November as a time to hike and photograph. Summer can be hot also has a higher flash flood possibility. Spring and fall tend to provide much more comfortable hiking conditions.

Getting There

If you’re flying into the region then you might consider Las Vegas as your starting point. From Las Vegas, it’s about 2.5 hours to Springdale, Utah, 4.5 hours to Page, Arizona, and about 5 hours to Escalante, Utah.

Maps and Books

Trails Illustrated Canyons of the Escalante. For getting to and from trailheads the Delorme Utah Atlas & Gazetteer as well as their Arizona Atlas can be very useful.

One option for starting your research is the book by Mike Kelsey, now in its 7th edition: Non-Technical Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau. Two books by Laurent Martres will also provide a wealth of information on the area and photography: Photographing the Southwest Volume 1 - Southern Utah as well as Volume 2 - Arizona.

About the Author

Dusty Doddridge is a landscape photographer who leads small groups on workshops to some of the world’s most compelling locations. You can learn more about his upcoming workshops and recently released ebook Composition: Art in the Landscape on photographic composition at dustydoddridge.com.

Editor's Note: This article by contributor Dusty Doddridge originally appeared in Issue 43 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here for additional photos and content.