I left you last in the wide open spaces of Monument Valley, where you can see for miles across a desert spiked with rock formations that lend themselves to imaginative interpretations.
And what’s the opposite of wide open spaces? Why slot canyons, of course!
A slot canyon is exactly what it sounds like, a narrow canyon formed by wind and water, winding it’s way through rock.
You’ve probably seen photos taken in slot canyons, the orange, reds and greys swirling rock and light together. The images look like modern art.
And if you’re a photographer or a painter you’ve wanted to see one of these for yourself.
I know I’ve always wanted to.
So I was excited when we were able to book a tour to one of the Antelope Canyons near Page, Arizona.
I didn’t really know what to expect.
But we were lucky, our group was small and our guide was all about photography. He stopped us at several places and told us where to look for the iconic shot.
He even suggested camera settings and took a few pictures of each of us using our cameras.
I wasn’t sure what I got until that evening when I downloaded the images. There were a few that made me stop and say ‘oh’ and then grin.

I can’t tell if I was shooting straight up, or along a wall. Doesn’t matter, it was beautiful in every direction.
I hope they made you grin too.
And for absolutely sure, if you’re near Page you need to get yourself booked on a tour. Try to go in the off season so you get a smaller group, but go, no matter when you can go, just go.
Camera or no camera, you’re going to be in awe as you walk through these canyons. And you won’t forget it, guaranteed.
One more post about this Southwest trip is coming up. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile…Katie-girl, we’re coming home soon sweetheart. I’ll make it up to you I promise.
February 22, 2020 at 10:30 pm
Beautiful photos. I’ve always wanted to see these first hand.
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February 23, 2020 at 1:37 am
I hope you get the chance to go!
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February 22, 2020 at 10:56 pm
Oh wow, oh wow, oh WOW!
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February 23, 2020 at 1:37 am
I know…
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February 23, 2020 at 12:59 am
Omg Dawn!!! I lived there!!! In Page!! In 2016 from Feb to November. Did u do the upper or lower canyons? I did the lower and had a tour guide just like yours. I used to work for the campground at lake powell resorts and marinas and lived at Greenhaven outside of town. Did you make it to Lone Rock Beach??
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February 23, 2020 at 1:35 am
I think we did upper. It was stunning.
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February 23, 2020 at 1:01 am
Please tell me u made it to Horseshoe Bend!!
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February 23, 2020 at 1:35 am
Yes we did!
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February 23, 2020 at 6:58 am
Oh! Yes! I’ve always wanted to visit places like this (and photograph them, of course!). You captured some wonderful images, Dawn. Well done! 🙂
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February 23, 2020 at 11:04 am
We were so lucky. We took the 12:30 tour because husband had read that when the sun was at it’s highest you get the best light in the slots. We had a small group of 6, we had a TERRIFIC guide, and my camera had high ISO settings that I could use. Still, it would have been better with a tripod, but this particular tour didn’t allow those. There ARE some tours that are for photography and allow tripods. But I think we did just fine with hand held. I am not a fan of messing with a tripod especially when others are waiting. I’d go back and just walk through someday without the camera, to experience it in a different way. But I’m so glad I got what I did this time!
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February 23, 2020 at 7:41 am
Oh wow! These photos are amazing. So unique and pretty.
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February 23, 2020 at 11:02 am
Thank you!!! It was so much fun!
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February 23, 2020 at 7:51 am
You have just got to win awards with these Dawn… every single one of them are beyond awe. You truly captured the magic. Looks like you made the right decision of where to go next.
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February 23, 2020 at 11:02 am
Well thank you. So many shots were not quite what I wanted, but several made me grin like a kid. And I was grinning throughout the tour, so even if I never got any shots it was all worth it.
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February 23, 2020 at 8:14 am
So pretty. You were lucky to have a small group and good guide.
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February 23, 2020 at 11:01 am
We sure were!!
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February 23, 2020 at 9:40 am
Absolutely gorgeous. I have seen photos of slot canyons but these are especially fabulous. How long a walk was it?
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February 23, 2020 at 10:59 am
It was about an hour and a half all told, so maybe 45 minutes in the slot.
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February 23, 2020 at 10:00 am
Wow, Dawn. I couldn’t begin to paint something like this. The photos are beautiful! And what a great guide to provide camera settings, too!
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February 23, 2020 at 11:01 am
I know! I felt like we were really lucky. I heard some of what the guide for the group in back of us (who were also with the same company we were with) and all he said was things like “feel free to take your pictures now,” whereas our guide said, ” stand right here, set your camera f stop at x…and look right above and to your right, see the dragon face?”
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February 23, 2020 at 11:25 am
So beautiful!! WOW! Thanks for sharing, a must see vacation I need to plan. 😃❤️👍
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February 24, 2020 at 3:19 pm
Definitely, try to get there!
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February 23, 2020 at 2:40 pm
These are stunning photos, Dawn, but no way could I go into something called a slot canyon — I’m just too claustrophobic for that! I’d be afraid the entire thing would close up, and I’d never emerge back into daylight and fresh air, ha! But hey, I’m glad YOU enjoyed it — and the colors are certainly pretty!
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February 24, 2020 at 3:20 pm
It was really much more open then most of these images show. Most of these were shot straight up, the walking area was much wider, groups could pass each other.
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February 23, 2020 at 5:21 pm
So very beautiful. Like Debbie I am not sure I could have gone in.. thanks for sharing.. such amazing colors, such beauty
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February 24, 2020 at 3:21 pm
I think you would have been fine. The bottom of the canyon was wider than the top which is only slits letting light in. You’d have been going oooooh and ahhhhh along with the rest of us!
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February 23, 2020 at 8:43 pm
Well, Dawn, you managed to go to another spot I couldn’t go to…Antelope Canyon. We had reservations and everything, but being snowed in at Sedona delayed the trip and I had to cancel that whole part of the trip in January 2019. Timing and time of year are everything and I am so glad you got to experience this! I’m jealous but your pics are incredible!
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February 24, 2020 at 3:21 pm
That’s so sad you didn’t get there. Add it to your next trip to the Southwest.
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February 24, 2020 at 7:26 am
Gorgeous photos – I’ve never been there, but I love to see the photos. That’s so cool the guide gave photo tips too! Nice!! You did great capturing the textures and leading lines!
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February 24, 2020 at 3:22 pm
Thank you! Mostly I pointed at things that seemed interesting, waited till my camera would focus, checked the shutter speed and moved the ISO up, then tried again!
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February 25, 2020 at 5:50 am
You’re welcome! That’s my technique too! It’s fun to see what the camera will do when you play with the settings.
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February 24, 2020 at 7:51 am
Oh wow and oh wow!!! This is one of the places that I keep telling myself that if I have a chance to visit the States, I wanna to see them with my own eyes and feel the feel. LOL! I was ooooos, ahhhhhs , wowwwwsss while reading your post and I was smiling and am still smiling. Thank you for sharing the photos, Dawn.
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February 24, 2020 at 3:23 pm
There are so many places in the Southwest that you would love to photograph, but this has to be high on my list of places that you should see.
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February 24, 2020 at 12:07 pm
This is a place I want to visit US one day to see the deserts of Arizona.
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February 24, 2020 at 3:23 pm
I hope you get to do that! There is so much to see there.
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February 26, 2020 at 2:42 pm
So beautiful! I’m glad you had such a small group and a good guide to enhance the experience.
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February 27, 2020 at 7:05 am
I felt really lucky to be there with that guide.
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February 26, 2020 at 5:25 pm
Beautiful shots! We loved Antelope Canyon!
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February 27, 2020 at 7:06 am
I can’t see NOT loving Antelope Canyon!
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February 28, 2020 at 11:56 pm
More wow. You are a terrific photographer! Thank you!
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February 29, 2020 at 7:01 am
Thank YOU!!
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March 2, 2020 at 8:38 am
Incredible. I’ve never been in a slot canyon. Definitely bucket list item.
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March 2, 2020 at 9:07 am
You would definitely love it…though there are way more people than I wish were there.
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March 4, 2020 at 12:31 am
Beautiful place! Our daughter was there over New Years and loved it! I so enjoyed your photos! 🙂
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March 4, 2020 at 6:55 am
It was sooooo beautiful!
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