PHOTOGRAPHY IN ZION NATIONAL PARK

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Page 1 2 3

Zion National Park is a paradise for landscape photographers, with glowing orange, red, and pink textured sandstone formations interplaying with the lush vegeation provided by weeping walls and the emerald waters of the Virgin River. Visitors to Zion Canyon are surrounded by the majestic sandstone peaks and formations, and views from the rims above are even more stunning. Wildlife sightings are also thrilling for photography.

I get asked the same photography questions quite often, so I'm presenting this page as a FAQ. This is NOT intended to be a definitive guide to photographing Zion; consider this simply as some random ideas from a semi-professional photographer who has loved hiking and photographing Zion National Park for over three decades. Since every photographer has his or her own style, skills, and goals, please take the information here with a grain of salt and use your own judgement and imagination. Questions are answered below:

1. What camera equipment should I bring to Zion?
2. What are some good spots for photography?
       2a. Spots to catch sunrises/sunsets
       2b. Photogenic landmarks and hikes
3. How do I protect my photography gear in the Zion Narrows?
4. What wildlife photography opportunities are there in Zion?
5. Can you share any lighting tips for photographing Zion National Park?
    

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1. What camera equipment should I bring to Zion?

I get asked this a lot, and it's probably the most difficult question to answer since everybody has different goals and shoots with cameras ranging from cell phones and point-and-shoot cameras to high-end dSLRs and expensive medium and large-format rigs. As a Nikon SLR shooter myself, I typically try to carry a standard zoom lens, an ultra-wide angle lens, a macro lens, and if weight permits, a telephoto zoom lens. (While I am Nikon-centric, Canon makes excellent gear as well.) I am also a big fan of Micro Four Thirds: a smaller mirrorless interchangeable lens system jointly supported by Panasonic and Olympus. Micro Four Thirds has an amazing selection of zooms and primes, all which are virtually weightless when compared to their SLR counterparts.

Whatever camera system you carry, if you're looking to do some long hikes, the weight of your camera gear is a major factor, so I recommend going as light as possible. Over the years, I have encountered many miserable photographers on the trail who have lugged their entire lens collection around on some of Zion's longer routes. 20 pounds of f/2.8 zooms and f/1.4 primes can really weigh you down when you're trying to ascend 3000 feet from the bottom of the main canyon in 100-degree temperatures. (Many photographers have also confessed to me that they didn't use the majority of the lenses they lugged around.)

Imlay Boulder in the Zion Narrows.
Nikon D2X with Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 at 17mm.

Some of my favorite cameras and lenses are listed below. For landscape and hiking/backpacking photography, I tend to favor light variable aperture zooms and f/4 zooms over expensive f/1.4 primes and f/2.8 zooms, especially since I usually shoot at f/5.6-f/8. Note that there are so many other great pieces of camera equipment out there; I'm just listing my personal favorites here.

• Nikon FX Format:
  The Nikon D800 FX camera is now the king of 35mm "full-frame" cameras with a whopping 36mp sensor and is a landscape photographer's dream come true, while the even newer Nikon D600 is the more affordable and lighter option with a still impressive 24mp sensor. The 24-120mm f/4G makes for a great walk-around lens and the new 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G is amazingly sharp and wonderful for such a light and affordable wide-angle zoom. (The 16-35mm f/4G and the acclaimed 14-24mm f/2.8G are arguably better, but they are both bulky and heavy for hiking and the 14-24mm doesn't take filters.)
   
  Other lenses I enjoy: The older 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G is amazingly sharp on the D800 and makes for a convenient and affordable telephoto zoom. And Nikon's pair of macro lenses, the small and lightweight 60mm f/2.8G Micro and the larger 105mm f/2.8G, both deliver sharp and wonderful results.
• Nikon DX Format:
  Now that FX has gone mainstream, I'm less enthralled by DX (1.5 crop) cameras these days, but Nikon's current lineup is still pretty impressive with the D3200, the D5100, and the D7100. The D7100 is the flagship camera, but all three are sporting 24mp sensors. I would consider the entry-level D3200 for cost, but the D5100 is also compelling because of its tilt screen. (While some would consider that to be cheesy, it allows you to get shots at creative angles if you use Live View.) A good all-around lens is the DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6: affordable, great range, and good image quality. Alternatively, the more expensive DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 goes a bit wider for landscapes and is slightly sharper. And the DX 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 is a great wide-angle lens for landscapers.
• Micro Four Thirds:
  For the times when carrying around big and heavy SLR gear isn't practical or possible, Micro Four Thirds is a wonderful alternative. (Micro Four Thirds is a mirrorless interchangable lens camera system spearheaded by Olympus and Panasonic and has a much more mature collection of lenses available than the competing mirrorless systems.) The Panasonic GH3 and the Olympus E-M5 are the current flagship cameras, but I also enjoy the small and pocketable Panasonic GX1. Several good hiking lenses include the expensive but sharp and bright Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 X lens, the Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 wide-angle zoom that takes filters, and the Olympus 40-150mm f/4-5.6 for an amazingly sharp and tiny telephoto zoom. And last but not least, the Panasonic/Leica 45mm f/2.8 is a razor-sharp macro lens.

The classic Canyon Overlook viewpoint as a storm rolls in.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 at 12mm.

For tripods, I typically bring two types to Zion: a big sturdy one for more "serious" work (like sunrise/sunset shots, time exposures, etc.) and a smaller, lighter one for use on strenuous hikes when keeping weight down is important. A big sturdy tripod can also make for a useful walking stick in the Zion Narrows. In my quest to find the ultimate hiking tripod, I stumbled upon the SIRUI N-1004, an amazingly high-quality tripod from a relatively unknown company. This tripod is very lightweight, yet also quite sturdy, with several unexpected features like a removable monopod leg and interchangable center columns. As for filters, I sometimes use ND (neutral density) filters and polarizers. Polarizers can often make the sky more dramatic, bring out details in clouds, and remove unwanted reflections in water, but when overused, they can also make water look lifeless and turn the sky to an ugly dull shade of blue.

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2. What are some good spots for photography?

EVERYWHERE is a good spot for photography in Zion! No seriously, I mean it. I can't think of any spot in Zion that isn't photogenic or interesting in the right light. Wander around, explore, and be willing to hike a little bit, and you are sure to find photographic opportunities from majestic viewpoints to smaller-scale subjects like sandstone textures and delicate plantlife. The suggestions below are only starting points.

2a. Common spots to catch sunrises/sunsets:

• The Towers of the Virgin from behind the Zion Human History Museum (sunrise). This is a common and convenient spot to catch sunrise; behind the museum, you can get a great view of the famous Towers of the Virgin in first light. You will typically be sharing this spot with several other photographers.

Altar of Sacrifice in early morning light.
Panasonic GH2 with 14-140mm f/4-5.8 at 90mm.

• The bridge over the Virgin River near the Canyon Junction shuttle stop (sunset). Another common and convenient spot that gets quite crowded with photographers in the late afternoon, the view south of the Virgin River with the Watchman in the background is an iconic view of Zion.

Canyon Junction sunset.
Panasonic GH2 with Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-4 at 12mm.

• The Canyon Overlook Trail viewpoint (sunrise). A pre-dawn drive to the Upper East Canyon and a quick hike gives you a great view down into the main canyon with first light hitting the East Temple just above.

• The Kolob Canyons viewpoint (sunset). Late afternoon is a great time to visit drive to the end of the Kolob Canyons Road in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park for a glorious panoramic view of the Kolob Finger Canyons. The view from the parking lot is one of the best in the park; no hiking is required.
• Upper East Canyon (sunrise, sunset). Route 9 weaves through the glorious slickrock wonderland of the Upper East Canyon and there are several safe spots to pull over and park and easily explore the nearby sandstone formations. Scope out a location and make it your own in early or late dramatic light! (Light fades quickly after sunset, so bring a headlamp to make sure you can easily find your way back to your car.)

"Escape from Parunuweap."
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 at 24mm.

• Kolob Terrace Road (sunset). The Kolob Terrace Road passes through some beautiful scenery as it ascends from the lower desert elevations to Lava Point (the highest point in Zion National Park). Many of the large sandstone formations (especially between the Left Fork Trailhead and the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead) are most dramatic in the late afternoon sun. Scope out the area and you are likely to find a spot that appeals to you. Be warned that there are a few private insets of land within the park boundaries, so please obey any "no trespassing" signs.

Continue to Zion Photography FAQ, Page 2...

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