Going to the Grand Canyon

[JonZenor]

In 2 weeks I am going to the Grand Canyon for 4 days with the main purpose of getting some great pictures. Any tips, suggestions or anything else that might help me out?

My goal there is to get at least one really good sun rise/set picture, and I also want to try and get a picture of star trails with the canyon in the background somehow. Anything else I should be trying for?

On this trip (my first trip there ever) I am only going to be near the South Rim. Next year I'm going to try for a North Rim trip.

Thanks for any help.

Jon

[skelly]

Jon,

I actually just got back from the Grand Canyon (also 4 days at the South Rim), and while my pictures may not be that good, I did learn a lot from my photographic journey.

First of all, the best investment for this trip is a circular polarizer. I got one and it did wonders for the sky (especially when pointing the lens 90 degrees away from the sun). I also went with the goal of getting a star trail shot with the canyon in the background, and I put the video (time lapse) up in my photostream. I'm not done stacking them into a good star trail yet though (noise is an issue). One thing I learned about that is to start the star trail later in the night when the moon/milky way lights up the canyon walls so there is something to add interest to the picture. Also, be careful of noise, and take a few dark frames to help with noise reduction.

Also, I do not know if you're hiking down or not, but if you do, spend a day to go to Ribbon Falls. It was well worth the hike and it was so beautiful there. If you are just at the top, Yavapai Observation Point was 100% the best sunset lookout point on the South Rim.

Let me know if you have any other questions or recommendations

~Sean
Flickr: thekellyscope's Photostream

Originally Posted by JonZenor

In 2 weeks I am going to the Grand Canyon for 4 days with the main purpose of getting some great pictures. Any tips, suggestions or anything else that might help me out?

My goal there is to get at least one really good sun rise/set picture, and I also want to try and get a picture of star trails with the canyon in the background somehow. Anything else I should be trying for?

On this trip (my first trip there ever) I am only going to be near the South Rim. Next year I'm going to try for a North Rim trip.

Thanks for any help.

Jon

[Drkranger]

I went to the South Rim last December and just hiked along the rim trail from the train depot west. You might also want to consider a few split ND filters of varying stops. The sky is typically brighter than the Canyon. As for sunrise/sunset, look at the times and try to get there an hour-ish before. Obviously if you're going to hike in the dark, take care. I had planned to get information on the sun on the first day from locals and then shoot those shots the second. The white out blizzard on the second day kept that from happening.

Good luck. It is just a hole in the ground, but it is a very impressive hole.