PHOTOGRAPHY IN ZION NATIONAL PARK | |
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Page 1 2 | |
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:
- What camera equipment should I bring to Zion?
- What are some good spots for photography?
- How do I protect my photography gear in the Zion Narrows?
- What wildlife photography opportunities are there in Zion?
- Can you share any lighting tips for photographing Zion National Park?
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 shoot with standard Nikon dSLR gear: a standard zoom lens (like the 18-105, 17-55, or 16-85 on DX or the 24-120 on FX) and an ultra wide-angle zoom (like the 12-24 on DX or the 16-35 on FX). These two lenses account for 90% of the shots that I take. If I don't mind carrying a bit more weight, I'll bring along a telephoto zoom and a macro lens as well for a chance wildlife or macro shot.
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.) For those looking for dSLR quality without the bulk, mirrorless camera systems have become quite popular over the past few years. I'm a fan of the Micro Four Thirds system which has an amazing selection of zooms and primes, all which are virtually weightless when compared to their SLR counterparts.
Imlay Boulder in the Zion Narrows.
Nikon D2X with Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 at 17mm.
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. 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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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.
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.
- 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.
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Photogenic landmarks and hikes:
- In the main canyon, landmarks like Weeping Rock and easy hikes along the Emerald Pools Trail and Riverside Walk offer great views of lush vegetation and flowing water with the backdrop of majestic sandstone walls. Note that the waterfalls along the Emerald Pools Trail only flow at full blast during the spring runoff (April-May) and heavy rainstorms.
Lower Emerald Pools during a rainstorm.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 at 20mm.
- Wandering along the banks of the Virgin River between the Zion Lodge and the Temple of Sinawava may also be interesting for photography at any time of day. Between Weeping Rock and Big Bend, you can catch iconic views of the Great White Throne with Angels Landing in the foreground.
- Checkerboard Mesa in the Upper East Canyon is another famous Zion landmark. Close to the East Entrance is a large parking and viewing area to accommodate tourists and photographers. If you want to walk along the road to the base of the formation, please be careful and step aside from traffic as there isn't a lot of room to walk along the road.
- For hiking photographers looking for iconic viewpoints, the hikes to Angels Landing and Observation Point offer stunning panoramic views. Both trails are fairly strenuous and involve a lot of uphill hiking, but the hard work is definitely worth it. The final spur hike to Angels Landing is exposed and involves holding on to chains in several sections, so this hike isn't a good idea for those who are out of shape or don't feel very balanced on their feet.
Angels Landing "Step of Faith."
Nikon D2X with Nikkor 10.5mm DX fisheye.
- The Zion Narrows is one of the signature hikes in Zion National Park. With beautiful emerald water flowing through dark alcoves and beautifully patterned sandstone walls, this is a wonderful place for photography for those who are prepared to get wet and have adequate protection for their camera gear (discussed later on this page).
- The Subway (the Left Fork of North Creek). A few decades ago, this remote canyon was known by only a few, but it is now one of the most popular canyon hikes in Zion, offering iconic views for photographers. Aside from securing a permit for this strenuous hike, logistics of carspots, rappelling, swimming, and keeping camera equipment dry make this a challenging adventure. For those who want to forego the rappelling and swimming, the hike can be done from the bottom-up, but you will only see half of the beautiful "subway" formations.
Slickrock cascades in the Subway.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 12-24mm at 12mm.
- In the Kolob Section, two photogenic landmarks of note are the Double-Arch Alcove along the Taylor Creek Trail (Middle Fork of Taylor Creek) and the Kolob Arch, accessible via the La Verkin Creek Trail. Note that the Kolob Arch faces east, so the best time to catch the arch in direct sunlight is the morning. As this is a fairly long hike, starting early or doing this as an overnight hike might be useful for photography.
In 1980, the National Park Service printed a useful little photographic hints pamphlet that is now out of print. (Special thanks to Jeff S. for finding and scanning this great old document!) For more hiking ideas, please see my Recommended Hikes and Even More Hikes pages for detailed information on exploring Zion by foot. Do not limit yourself to being a photographer who only shoots a few feet away from his or her car!
Continue to Zion Photography FAQ, Page 2...
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