Photographing Arizona
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Apparently, there's more to Arizona than the Phoenix metropolitan area, which is about all I've seen previously. Starting tomorrow, my wife and I are going to do a slow loop around the eastern portion of the state, photographing as we go. This lens is a compendium of useful information we've dredged up as we researched the trip. Hopefully, others will find it useful as well.
We should have sample photos posted starting next week.
Trip Notes
Random Thoughts
We're planning an almost circular route around the center and western portions of the state, starting in Phoenix, with stops in Vulture City, Surprise, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Page, Monument Valley, Four Corners, and Canyon De Chelly. While that sounds like a natural route for Greyhound Bus Lines, we've decided to drive it ourselves, instead.
Since we're driving, we rented a car off-airport in Phoenix, near the first night's hotel. Phoenix airport additional tax rates are almost as bad as D/FW rates - make sure you never rent a car at the airport if you are keeping it any length of time. Most airports have tourist taxes that can be substantial over a week or two's touring around a state, and most rental companies have in-city locations that have the same vehicles available without the tourist tax (or at least with it reduced.)
Apparently, many of the tourist destinations have realized that most of their customers don't know squat about taking good photographs. This is why they sell postcards. They've also realized that photographers will often pay a premium to have tours at times for proper light (early morning and late afternoon), and will pay an additional premium to keep the riff-raff out (no point and shoot cameras, please.) I think this is a brilliant business model.
Since we're driving, we rented a car off-airport in Phoenix, near the first night's hotel. Phoenix airport additional tax rates are almost as bad as D/FW rates - make sure you never rent a car at the airport if you are keeping it any length of time. Most airports have tourist taxes that can be substantial over a week or two's touring around a state, and most rental companies have in-city locations that have the same vehicles available without the tourist tax (or at least with it reduced.)
Apparently, many of the tourist destinations have realized that most of their customers don't know squat about taking good photographs. This is why they sell postcards. They've also realized that photographers will often pay a premium to have tours at times for proper light (early morning and late afternoon), and will pay an additional premium to keep the riff-raff out (no point and shoot cameras, please.) I think this is a brilliant business model.
Photogenic Sites
As in, sites to be photographed
Places we're hoping to visit on the tour.
- Phoenix
- Starting point, ending point
- Vulture City
- Vulture City is a ghost town, abandonded but well-preserved.
- Surprise
- Winter home of the Texas Rangers
- Sedona
- Artists, philosophers, photographers, and a couple of nice spas
- Grand Canyon
- The one place everyone is supposed to visit in Arizona, one of the natural wonders of the world.
- Monument Valley
- Sometimes Arizona, sometimes Utah. It just can't make up its mind.
- Four Corners
- Four states, one corner. Pretty cool.
- Canyon De Chelly
- Canyon de Chelly includes distinctive architecture, artifacts, and rock imagery that exhibit remarkable preservational integrity and provide outstanding opportunities for study and contemplation.
- Arizona Photography - TripAdvisor
- Our TripAdvisor goList for the trip.
Places to Sleep
Hotels planned for the trip
Hotels, motels, large parking lots
- Gand Canyon Lodging
- Where to sleep inside the park at the Grand Canyon
- Gouldings
- Lodge in Monument Valley
- Oak Creek Brewery
- The Oak Creek Brewing Company is the premier micro-brewery in Arizona and has garnered gold and silver medals for it's beers. It is located in Sedona's Red Rock Country where you will find the most fantastic scenery, finest hiking and most challenging biking in all of Arizona.
- Holiday Inn - Chinle
- Holiday Inn near Canyon De Chelly
- Hampton Inns
- Various Hampton Inns, including Sedona, Kayenta and Surprise
- Yavapai Lodge
- Yavapai Lodge at the Grand Canyon
- Best Western - Lake Powell
- Lake Powell, near Monument Valley
Sedona Tours
- Pink Jeep Tours
- Pink Jeep Tours is the original Jeep Tour Company. Scenic four-wheel drive tours around Sedona, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon.
- Sedona ATV Adventures
- Sedona ATV Adventures is the Arizona Adventure any visitor enjoys. We have an adventure for all family members to tour.
- Arizona Helicopter Adventures
- You will see Sedona's famous Red Rocks, descend into spectacular canyons, and explore ancient Sinagua Indian ruins on an air tour with Arizona Helicopter Adventures. Experience the best views from a comfortable Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter.
- Sedona Tours
- Sedona sightseeing tours and attractions. Reserve tickets online and save on all sightseeing activities.
- Personal Energy Transformation
- Excellent source for Reiki, IET Sessions, Hypnotherapy, Shamanic Journeys, Guided Meditation, Handmade Prayer Necklaces, Native American Hide Drums, Shamanic CD, Tibetan Singing Bowls, Essential Oil and Flower Essence Room Charging Sprays, and more! Based in Sedona, Arizona.
Grand Canyon Tours
Don't Fall In!
There are a bunch of helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon available from Vegas. We're not going to Vegas.
- Papillon Tours
- Papillon is the world's largest helicopter sightseeing company offering you the ultimate tour experiences of the Grand Canyon National park either from Las Vegas or the South Rim along with exciting Night Flights over Las Vegas.
- Grand Canyon Railway
- Welcome to the official website for GRAND CANYON RAILWAY. Ride the historic train to Grand Canyon National park. Make reservations for a vintage train tour and packages with lodging at the Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.
Monument Valley Tour Guides
- Gouldings Lodge Monument Valley
- Goulding's Lodge also provides tours.
Canyon De Chelly Tour Guides
Why get lost on your own?
Some of the tour companies we've found, since in many places, a tour guide is mandatory (especially in Indian lands)
- De Chelly Tours
- Tours in Canyon De Chelly
- Tseyi Jeep Tours
- An experienced authorized Navajo guide who was born and raised in Canyon de Chelly near Spider Rock.
- Canyon De Chelly Tours
- Leon Skyhorse Thomas provides Canyon De Chelly tours
Photography Considerations
Lighting
In many of the canyons, the best light will be early morning or late afternoon, so you could probably do two tours per day, depending where you are in the state.
If you are in a slot canyon, then the best light is near mid-day, which lets you sleep in.
You also have to allow time to travel to the site from wherever you stayed the night before, so some tours will probably start relatively early (especially in vacation terms.)
You should make sure the tour is designed for photographers and not for tourists, since they have different needs. Some tour guides will let you have a private tour if you pay for enough seats (usually four, it seems.) This may be a reasonable expense if you want total control over where the driver goes, and when he stops for photos.
A guide that is also a photographer is very helpful, since he should be familiar with not only the area, but the specific times of best light for taking photos.
If you are in a slot canyon, then the best light is near mid-day, which lets you sleep in.
You also have to allow time to travel to the site from wherever you stayed the night before, so some tours will probably start relatively early (especially in vacation terms.)
You should make sure the tour is designed for photographers and not for tourists, since they have different needs. Some tour guides will let you have a private tour if you pay for enough seats (usually four, it seems.) This may be a reasonable expense if you want total control over where the driver goes, and when he stops for photos.
A guide that is also a photographer is very helpful, since he should be familiar with not only the area, but the specific times of best light for taking photos.
Equipment
Some of our photographic equipment for the trip
- Nikon F-100 film camera
- Nikon N-75 film camera
- Nikon D-70 digital SLR
- 2x Nikkor 28-80mm zoom lenses
- Nikkor 80-200mm zoom lens
- 2x Nikkor 70-300mm zoom lenses
- Phoenix 0.25 fisheye lens adapter
- Seagull Medium Format film camera
- boatloads of film
Books For the Plane (Hopefully Before)
Serial
Amazon Price: $0.00 (as of 07/14/2009) 
First Family
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/14/2009)
Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Deception
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/14/2009)
April & Oliver: A Novel
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/14/2009)
Cemetery Dance
Amazon Price: $17.81 (as of 07/14/2009)
Cameras
Nikon D70S 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm Nikkor Lens
Amazon Price: $1,699.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
Nikon D50 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor Lens
Amazon Price: $1,299.66 (as of 07/14/2009)
Nikon Coolpix P4 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3.5x Vibration Reduction Optical Zoom
Amazon Price: $489.00 (as of 07/14/2009)
Opteka .22x Hi-Def Fisheye Lens Nikon D70 D100 D2H D2X D1X
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Lomography Fisheye 35mm Camera
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 07/14/2009)
Photography Sites
Some sites to discuss photography and acquire the proper equipment (why aren't you buying from my links above?
- Digital Photography at Yahoo Groups
- Digital Photography Discussions at Yahoo Groups
- Freestyle Photographic Supplies
- Freestyle has all sorts of photographic equipment.
- Porter's Camera Store
- Digital Camera store with 4,700 digital camera, photo, video, film, darkroom, and other products including accessories.
- B & H Photo - New York
- Shop Digital Cameras, 35MM Camera Equipment, Photo Printers, Home Theater, DVD Players, Authorized Dealer Canon, Sony, Nikon, Apple, Olympus, Panasonic, Kodak, JBL, Mino
- Velbon Tripods
- You need a tripod for those panoramic shots.
- Nikon USA
- Nikon cameras
- Phoenix Corporation of America Home
- Bags, Batteries, Binoculars, Cameras, Digital Imaging & Memory, Digital Photo Viewer, Spotting Scopes, Lenses, Tripods
- Chase Bank
- You'll need a cash advance or a loan. Trust me.
- Rollies Camera Shop
- Rollies Camera Shop is a full service camera shop in Sedona, which had a lens and element cleaner for my D70.
Trip Photos
September 2006
Did you ever think I would actually get to the photos?
Airport Vista I
Airport Vista II
Airport Vista III
Airport Vista IV
Airport Vista V
Airport Vista VI
Airport Vista VII
Canyon De Chelly I
Canyon De Chelly II
Canyon De Chelly III
Canyon De Chelly IV
Canyon De Chelly V
Canyon De Chelly VI
Canyon De Chelly VII
Canyon De Chelly VII...
Canyon De Chelly IX
Canyon De Chelly X
Monument Valley I
Monument Valley II
Monument Valley III
Monument Valley IV
Monument Valley V
Monument Valley VI
Monument Valley VII
Monument Valley VIII
Monument Valley IX
Monument Valley X
Monument Valley XI
Monument Valley XII
Four Corners II
Trip Notes
Film can't be checked but as long as it's under 800 ASA, you can have it run through the x-ray for carry-on luggage. You can also ask to have it hand-checked. We have 80 rolls of film. I'm not sure I dare ask for a hand-check.A camera bag can replace a laptop case as a "personal item" and be used as a carry-on. Actually, the Spousal Unit uses the top of her camera bag as her purse, so it passes the test twice.
Even if you are in shape, be prepared for high altitudes. I'm a bit on the chubby side, and I'm huffin' and puffin' more than the Big Bad Wolf. Who knew you had to climb so high to see into a hole in the ground?
Arizona seems vastly over-priced. Since it is the only place you can photograph their sites, they charge accordingly. Be prepared to over-budget.
TSS did hand-check all 35 rolls of film my wife had exposed in Arizona. She asked nicely. The agent was surprised by the amount, though.
Make sure and add an extra day here and there, just in case of bad weather. This year, the monsoon season that usually ends in August extended into September, so we had a little rain every day we were in Northern Arizona. If we had only had one day at the Grand Canyon, we may not have taken any photos!
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PhoenixHomes.com wrote...
SparkyDad,
Nice lens! Thanks for sharing the pics!
I see that you mention the Humane Society in your intro... I am new to Squidoo but love the fact that I can donate all of my click revenue to the Humane Society. Is that what you do to?
Matt Pellerin
Posted April 24, 2007
by SparkyDad
Kevin is President of Sparky's Pals (a Dallas, Texas 501(c)(3) non-profit humane education corporation dedicated to assisting those who help
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