The Slots -Antelope Canyon
Update on 06-07-2026
After watching a great presentation by Larry Lindahl I went back to my archives of the slots and found lots of great images that I passed over. I also wanted to write my backstory, so hear it is.
Back when shooting with Nikon D200 low light was an issue. So when buying equipment for the trip at Allen camera I received a great tip from one of the salesmen, I can’t remember his name, said that remember to shoot in manual mode. This made all the difference in the world. I opted not to shoot a color card, I’m not sure why.
Arriving at a dirt parking lot, I saw a few people around an unmarked truck, so I went over to register. There were two types of visitors, photographers and tourists. Needless to say I register as a photographer and guessed what I was the only one. That mean I would be driven to the entrance and let go to wander and photograph on my own. Cool Huh? Well no so cool as we shall see.
Nothing prepares you for the experience. I had read some prep stuff online and what said not to throw dirt, because it will ruin your camera and lens with dust, not only yours but other people’s equipment.
So the way it goes, I had full rain of the canyon, and no map. I walked in and was overwhelmed but the formations and strange streaming in light from the ceiling.
I grabbed a few shots, and paused, I then chimp them. Wow, a disaster and remaindered to go into the manual mode and was finally able to meter the strange light and get some shots.
Then came the visitors with a Navajo Native guide and throwing the dirt to create the effect. Luckily, my camera and bag were weather sealed.
I got the most important shot for me was that was the bush still left behind after the slot was flooded by a flash flood. The flood killed the tourist. It was a reminder of the danger of flash floods in the Southwest. I recommend reading all of Craig Childs books on the southwest before you go out to the southwest.
House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American
By Craig Childs
Antelope Slot Canyon Tours by Chief Tsosie
Original Post
I was feeling the need for a blast from the past, so I dug out this image from the 2007 archive and found it deeply disturbing for a bunch of reasons, the vertical line up the center doesn’t look real and the formation hanging from the ceiling seems like it wants to fall down and shows no way out. The reason I like the image because it’s not the typical Antelope Canyon photograph.
The specs D200, 17mm, 5 sec at f/8 ISO 100
I got to the slots… WOW, It’s awesome I want to go back, the winter will be better light if you want to go write me for info on the workshop.
Antelope-canyon art for sale
grand-canyon-az-from-the-south-rim
The Slots
Red Rocks Rule
Flash flood mark on wall
Tight Squeeze
I got to the slots… WOW, It’s awesome I want to go back, the winter will be better light if you want to go write me for info on the workshop.
Antelope-canyon art for sale
https://www.louisdallaraphotography.com/2011/10/06/antelope-canyon/
https://www.pHow-to-photograph-slot-canyons-20-inspiring-examples
Antelope Canyon The Slots
I was feeling the need for a blast from the past, so I dug out this image from the 2007 archive and found it deeply disturbing for a bunch of reasons, the vertical line up the center doesn’t look real and the formation hanging from the ceiling seems like it wants to fall down and shows no way out. The reason I like the image because its not the typical Antelope Canyon photograph.
The specs D200, 17mm, 5 sec at f/8 ISO 100
Amazing Light
https://www.louisdallaraphotography.com/2007/07/03/the-slots/
Peace to the souls
Looking up to the light
I love the red rocks!
The red roof rock
I decided to virtually re-visit Antelope Canyon and study the 200+ images that are truly amazing. I hope you like them, it was difficult to select just 4.
Antelope Canyon is the most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, photogenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as Upper Antelope Canyon or The Crack; and Lower Antelope Canyon or The Corkscrew.
The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means “the place where water runs through rocks.” Lower Antelope Canyon is Hazdistazí (advertised as “Hasdestwazi” by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department), or “spiral rock arches.” Both are located within the LeChee Chapter of the >
A long time ago, herds of pronghorn antelope roamed freely in Antelope Canyon, which explains the canyon’s English name. It is not known exactly when people first discovered Antelope Canyon. According to local Navajos, who have lived here for some time, the canyon and the LeChee area were places where cattle grazed in winter.
The Canyon Map
To older Navajos, entering a place like Antelope Canyon was like entering a cathedral. They would probably pause before going in, to be in the right frame of mind and prepare for protection and respect. This would also allow them to leave with an uplifted feeling of what Mother Nature has to offer, and to be in harmony with something greater than themselves. It was, and is, a spiritual experience.
Grand-canyon-az-from-the-south-rim
Buy my photographs of the Antelope Canyon here at Fine Art America. Click on the link.
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/louis-dallara/collections/southwest+usa
Photograph-of-the-grand-canyon
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