Bryce Canyon Photography Tips

Views of Bryce Canyon - from the scenic points and along the trails - offer a wide variety of scenery, color and texture.

Bryce Canyon Light affects the saturation and intensity of color. Lighting conditions vary during the day and are also affected by weather and the seasons.

In general, morning and late afternoon are the best times for photographing the canyon from the viewpoints along the rim. In the morning, the hoodoos glow orange with the rising sun; the light is rich and warm, and shadows bring out texture and form. Details become flatter as the sun rises. The afternoon sun penetrates the narrow gorges, making scenery along the trails come alive. As sunset approaches, colors become muted.

Proper focus and exposure can be tricky. Evaluate your subject and chose a key spot where you want focus and exposure to be optimum. Position that spot in the center of your frame and then press the shutter release button halfway down (not far enough to take a photo, but far enough to lock in the settings). Often you don't want that key spot to be in the center of your photo so, while still holding the button halfway down, move the camera to compose your photo. Then push the button the rest of the way down to take the photo.

During stormy weather, the light is subdued and the hoodoos are deeper shades of pink and orange. Overcast days are good for close-ups and for shooting the forests and meadows.

Bryce Canyon in the Winter Winter scenery is spectacular! Color permeates the scenery with white snow, red and orange rock and the bright blue sky. After a storm, the snow is fresh and the lighting is dramatic.

Bright snow makes it difficult to get a properly exposed picture. When the snow occupies half or more of the frame, overexpose one full stop. It's a good idea to bracket your exposures.

Other Photographing Tips

Always carry extra batteries
Exposure: For depth of field, use small lens apertures and slow shutter speeds. Use a tripod for steadiness. When shooting from the rim with slide film, underexpose up to a full stop for saturation. Do not deliberately underexpose when using print film. Bracket all exposures
Filters: A polarizing filter will darken the sky. An 81A filter may be used to remove some of the excess red in the late afternoon
Winter: Keep batteries warm (batteries can fail in very cold weather). When snow occupies half or more of the frame, overexpose a stop. Bracket your shots.
Best Light: Sunrise to mid-morning, late afternoon and before sunset.