Horseshoe Bend – Day Three

Shelley and I left Desert View and the Grand Canyon behind.  We headed north to Page Arizona.  Home to both Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Our intention was to catch one the mid-afternoon tours of Antelope Canyon.  Unfortunately, we missed the tour by 5 minutes because of the time year.  If you’re not aware and Antelope Canyon requires that you go with the guide is located on Navajo nation’s land.  The ladies that were manning the check post for Antelope Canyon were quite helpful.  They gave us information about what time of year would be best for missing the peek crowds.  They also told Shelley and me how to arrange a photographic tour.

Off to Horseshoe Bend

With Antelope Canyon being off of the menu for the day Shelley and I headed over to Horseshoe Bend for the remainder of the afternoon.  We arrived in the parking lot and we were able to locate a parking spot.  Depending on the time year as well as the time day it can be hit or miss for actually being able to get a parking spot.  Horseshoe Bend is on most of the tours group routes now.  To illustrate this fact, within minutes we were sounded by tourists from not one bus, but two.

Shelley and I walked down the trail to the Bend.  I then walked up to the edge looking for the traditional image that everyone seems to love on the Internet.  From my walk on the edge, I found a composition that is very close to the traditional, or obvious shot.  I also thought we were going to seeing a tourist or two fall into the Colorado River below.  The photograph below is my rendition of the typical Horseshoe Bend photo.

After I had the obvious photograph in the bag.  I wandered around looking for other compositions.  While we were both looking for these other less photographed compositions when we were meet another photographer attempting the same goal.  While we were talking about the available compositions other photographers started to show up about 20 minutes prior to sunset. All of which were beginning to jockey for positions on the iconic photographic spot.  You’ve seen the photograph. Where Horseshoe bend is perfectly centered in the frame. Well over 50 photographers were standing out on a rock of sandstone photographing almost the exact same image.  I happened to see another composition that gave not only a sense of scale but emotion to the photograph.