Shelley and I awoke on our second morning at the Grand Canyon hoping to photograph Sunrise at Mather Point. Well, I was really hoping to find a composition that would work for predawn and sunrise. And after seeing how crowded the rim trails were at sunset the night before I was worried. If you have not read Part 3 please do so by clicking here. It talks about our journey photographing the sunset at Yavapai Point.
Predawn at Mather Point 2019
I know that other photographers will agree that the blue hour light at the Grand Canyon is simply mind-blowing. It was my hope to find a composition of the Canyon prior to the blue hour that morning. As luck had Shelley and I arrived at the parking area with the blue hour already underway. Once we had the hiked up to the rim trail and found ourselves in less of a crowd than the previous night’s sunset. Nonetheless, it was still a crowd.
I found an open location along the rim trail facing in the direction of the rising sun. From my position, I was able to frame up a composition that allowed me to stay in place throughout the sunrise that morning. I made this photograph with my Nikon D600 at ISO 100, 24mm, f16, and 1/15 of a second.
Sunrise at Mather Point 2019
I waited there at the rim of the Canyon through the remaining of the blue hour until the sun had risen. This composition is roughly the same as Predawn at Mather Point, with the exception that I am cropped in tighter. There is also a difference in the quality of the light that is seen hitting the walls of the Canyon. I made this photograph with my Nikon D600 at ISO 100, 24mm, f16, and 1/40 of a second.
On to Page
After the best light has gone and the morning was fully on us Shelley and I made our way back to the car. Once there went to breakfast, packed up our things, and headed on our way to Page.
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