The contorted erosional patterns of this small watercourse are probably better known in the downstream stretches of Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons; but for me the upstream magic of Canyon X, the lesser known of the three slot canyons that Mother Nature has laboriously carved from Antelope Creek, is where sheer awe and Beauty reside.
Navajo sandstone is a riddle within an enigma all by itself, but where you apply to it the twin forces of wind and water over countless millennia, the resulting slits in the earth’s bare surface create windows into the very soul of the world.
A focal length of 60mm, the very far edge of the normal range, gave me the angle-of-view I wanted as the spiraling walls climbed toward the light above. An aperture of f/16 provided depth-of-field and allowed for a shutter speed of 8.0 seconds at ISO 100 and a medium overall exposure. Note that f/22 would have required a shutter speed of 16.0 seconds with the other numbers being constant and created a much greater possibility of error from a number of factors, including motion.
The lands of the Dine´ People are not public lands, but I do not worry that they will be overdeveloped or exploited. They will be respected and cared for as all land should be, as the mother of all of us
Of all the places I have visited with Road Scholar, the Antelope Canyon was the one I most anticipated for purposes of photography. It did not disappoint. It was breathtaking. Some enlargements of my photos are hung throughout my house. I can understand what such a place must have meant to the first peoples.
Your picture & quotation mean so much to me each week.
Hi Sondra; it’s great to have you join us. Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I agree completely with you about Antelope Canyon and its wonderful slots, both Upper and Lower; and the only thing I would add to your observation is encourage you to return solely for the purpose of visiting Canyon X. I’m sure you will add to the prints already hanging on your walls. Walk in Beauty.
I spent a half day there with a guide and never say this amazing composition. Now I want to go back and look again. Thank you Don for your artistry.
Is the horse in the image an ancient work of art in the sandstone or a fleeting projection of light through some crevice?
Hey Ron. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you. I trust you have been well. When you get ready to head back to Antelope, just let me know and I’ll try to help you pin down the location within the canyon. You have posed an excellent question. The horse in this instance is but fleeting light, but if you go in mid-day, you’ll likely find it. Take good care.
What a beautiful image from such a wonderful place. Canyon X was my intoduction to the beauty of slot canyons back in May of 2014 with you. To his day I still find myself going back to the canyon to view the marvelous hand of Nature. The one image that still amazies me is the Guardian. As you go back to the Southwest for your final workshop of Earth Song Photography may you be consoled by knowing you had years of working with hundreds of photographers and imparting invaluable knowledge which is greatly appreciated, I being one of those.
Hey Chuck. Your ears must have been burning because you have been on my mind a lot lately. It’s time we catch up, even if all we do is talk on the phone.
As I write this I am sitting in a coffee shop in Santa Fe on my way to Torrey for the last rodeo. We have shared some wonderful adventures in the Southwest and elsewhere; and I have watched your growth as a photographic artist. I wish you were here with us now; we’ll just have to share stories when we get back to Asheville. Take good care and be safe.
This is an exciting image with light contrasts, beautiful shapes, colors, swirls, and curls. I have seen many slot canyon images on tv and in magazines; they all start looking the same. This one is different, and the horse looks like it has been sleeping for millions of years and is not going to share any secrets. Thanks for sharing your images and stories.
Hey Nancy T. I am so glad we had a chance to visit as I was traveling west. It has made my journey that much more fun. Thanks for all of those wonderful comments. You and Ron will have to get together on the horse. There is another famous face in Canyon X called the “Guardian.” He and the horse have had some amazing conversations over the centuries; and I’m sure they will continue to do so; not least about the wonderful place where they get to live. Looking forward to another lunch soon. Walk in Beauty.
Been there with a photo guide, and came home with tons of images of swirling rock walls. It’s hard to shoot a bad image there. It’s even harder to shoot a unique one, but you’ve managed. I love your mixture of shapes, colors, textures, and lines.
Hey Donald; it’s great to hear from you! You have stated the proposition exactly: it is hard to make a bad image in Canyon X; which is exactly why your kind words are all the more meaningful to me: uniqueness is equally difficult. Thank you. Sometimes the simplicity we seek comes to us wrapped in complexity. Walk in Beauty and be safe, my Friend.
Once again a very unique and inspiring pic
Hey Mike; and once again your knack for the laconic has spoken volumes. Take good care and know that your kind words are muchly appreciated
Howdy Don, lost touch with you and images of the week somehow, not getting your email announcement for new postings.☹️
I’ve been to upper & lower antelope slots many times before but never heard of canyon X. Will have to get there some day.
I love the magical feeling and sights of slot canyons. Your composition leaves me wondering what’s up and down, purely beautiful abstract.
Howdy Michael. It is always a pleasure to have you join us. You are not the first person to let me know that they are not receiving the Image announcement. I will definitely check into it and will solve the problem. I really encourage you to visit Canyon X. You will walk around the entire time with your mouth wide open in awe; and you’ll come away with every kind of image you can imagine. Walk in Beauty and be safe.
Thanks Everyone for all of your thoughtful observations and kind words. I am looking forward to the adventure upcoming and wish I could share it with all of you. We will see each other down the road. Walk in Beauty and be safe wherever you adventure.