When CC Lockwood, author of "Beneath the Rim, A Grand Canyon Photographic Adventure," gives photographers advice about shooting the Grand Canyon, he says the first step is to always bring a camera that you are comfortable with. and if you do buy a new camera, shot a few rolls before the trip to become absolutely comfortable with it.

The lens, however, is another matter all together.

He recommendsa wide angle (17mm to 35mm), normal 55mm, and zoom with a 80-200 range. Skylight or UV filters are always a good idea, and polarizing lens help bring out colors. Fuji Velvia (ASA 50) for daytime use and Fuji Provia (ASA 100) for lower light work best.

What To Expect When You Photograph The Grand Canyon.

Taking pictures of the Grand Canyon has always been challenging for amateur photographers because it is immense. Even more complicating for some photographers is that they have to pack for two shooting opportunities: expansive shots across the canyon to capture its grandeur and macro shots to catch close-ups of area wildlife.

While anyone can make a case for visiting three rims of the Grand Canyon, amateur photographers might have different considerations to make. The primary difference between the South Rim and West Rim (since the North Rim is closed through April), is in the ruggedness of the landscape.

The South Rim presents the popular and most famed portion of the canyon (its widest part), which can be problematic for some photographers. The West Rim, on the other hand, has much more rugged and narrow canyon walls along with deeper canyon colors. The latter works especially well because there are more opportunities to frame a strong foreground object in a wide angle shot. (It also helps avoid some of the South Rim crowds.)

The Beauty Of Nature Attracts Photographers And Artists.

Following up on our coverage of the annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art, Voice of America recently released small segments about how artists approach painting the Grand Canyon. We think any photographer will learn a few things from this video too.


The biggest takeaway from the video and story is that the Grand Canyon is challenging because it is always changing. The weather is never the same, the views are dramatically different depending on your angle. And, throughout the day, the lighting can change the entire mood.

Why The Helicopter Tour Champagne Lunch Remains Your Best Bet.

For photographers, especially, the most popular Grand Canyon excursion offered by Tourguy,com provides a view that few people will ever see. With a remote landing area (3,200 feet below the rim) along the West Rim, few locations bring people closer to the way the Grand Canyon was meant to be seen — as close to the Colorado River as possible.