Antelope Canyon Portfolio 

Antelope Canyon is one of the most amazing locations I know. I first visited it in 1986 accompanied by mother and sister. At the time the location was kept private by photographers and local residents and although we knew roughly where it was we had to explore the area a long time to find Antelope Canyon.

After a long search we came to what appeared to be just a crack in the earth. We could see formations below us but it was dark enough we couldn't judge the exact depth of what appeared to be no more than a slot in the earth. We finally were able to climb up from the lower end of the canyon by using a rope which was left in place by earlier explorers.

Once into Antelope Canyon I was greeted by the most incredible array of sandstone formations imaginable. Shapes which appeared to be faces, human forms and metaphorical representations of dream-like images materialized in front of my eyes. I set up my camera and started working for what was, although I did not know it at the time, the first of many visits to this beautiful place.

Since then I have returned many times to Antelope Canyon always bringing back new and more exciting images from my explorations. Although I have not kept track of the number of visits I have made there I estimate it to be easily over 100.

The canyon itself has not changed much save for the occasional rain pools after summer thunderstorms or the presence of debris brought by these storms. However, there has been changes to the way one accesses the canyon. While for a long time we had to use ropes and rappel or climb down into the canyon we can now use metal ladders installed by the local Navajo care keeper. This has made Antelope Canyon accessible to many more visitors and while the presence of metal ladders is debatable their installation was done as tastefully as feasible.

If you visit Antelope Canyon, located near Page Arizona, make sure you check the weather first. Do not enter the canyon if there is any chance of rain. As in many natural locations beauty hides potential danger and you certainly do not want to be trapped in this narrow canyon if there is a flash flood.


Antelope Light Dance
Linhof Master Teknica 4x5, Schneider 75mm lens, Fuji Provia 100F





Antelope and Sky





Antelope Arch





Blue Antelope





Antelope Bottom





Stone Swirls





Detail number One





Detail number Two





Detail number Three





Detail number Four





Antelope Light Shaft #1





Antelope Light Shaft Number Two






Antelope Light Shaft Number Three





Antelope Light Shaft Black and White





Antelope Panorama Number One





Slot Canyon Arch






Antelope Canyon Vortex





Sandstone Swirls





Swirls of the Earth





Entrance to the Magical World






Bathed in Light





Glowing Antelope





Eternal Presence





Gateway to Beauty





Light Passage





Red Antelope






Unreachable Doorway




Rattlesnake Arch




Rattlesnake Arch Vertical



Wall of Light number One



Wall of Light number Two




Sandstone Wings

 

 

Text and Photographs copyright © Alain Briot 2010
All rights reserved worldwide

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