Navajo National Parks will stop running photo tours of the famous Upper Antelope Canyon due to strong negative reviews. The last tour will run next week.
The cessation of the photo tours does not mean no one will be able to take pictures, but it will be much more difficult now. Photographers will still be allowed to take images, but they will have to join the regular tour and will not be allowed to use tripods or monopods. In addition, the photo tours specifically designated a short slot of time where the area was cleared to allow photographers to work, which will no longer be offered. We have visited Antelope Canyon before, and the experience shocked us, particularly when we paid approximately $200 for the chance to shoot the area for a mere minute, with the tour guide throwing sand in the air to recreate the famous scene.
You might remember Antelope Canyon as the subject of a Peter Lik photo that sold for a whopping $6.5 million. Since then, the location has only become more and more popular. This popularity has caused the quality of the experience to nosedive and led to many complaints, which led to the eventual decision to end the photo tours.
This was a great site to photograph.
I can understand their reasons.
The pro tour had people crowd management that gave more time and unobstructed views for a price.
I did it in May just before peak season and it was all very manageable..
Can't say I blame the Navajo nation. The canyon is very narrow, and sun rays penetrate it only during certain times of the year. I've photographed it in winter when it's much less busy. My photo tour only had 3 other photographers. During the high season, it's beyond crowded. Good for them. As for Peter Lik - when you have an unlimited budget, you can book a full day just to yourself, so it doesn't speak much of his photographic merit.
As for Peter Lik, if anyone paid him $6.5mil for that (or any) photo then I'll go he. Kudos to him, though, as it was a masterful marketing stunt.
That never actually happened.
This is a good thing, they even had people there who's job it was to kick up dust to get this photo. It's become completely contrived, and I'm sure the foot traffic has caused alot of damage to the area too
This is great news! Long overdue.
Was only a matter of time...
I was there 3 years ago and again last year. Both times it was an utter shit trip. I mean people were herded into the canyon like cattle. It was crowded so you could barely take photos with your phone let alone with your camera. As beautiful as both Upper and Lower canyons are it isn't worth it. I understand that the Navajo who control these sites are trying to get as much money out of this magnificent place, but there is a limit how greedy one can be. Looking back, it was an utter rip off at $55 for around 40 minutes of literal sprint through the canyon 3 years ago and $85 last year. I'd much rather purchase a permit and wonder off on my own outside of Page where there are plenty of these canyons to be found. If you really like to see the large slot canyons I'd recommend Rattlesnake and Owl canyons. Fewer people and just as pretty.
This is probably going to make walking tours worse because aspiring photographers will constantly be in the way. As a photographer and hiker, I’m in favor of photo-specific tours. When I’m hiking I just want to soak up nature and not have to stop every 10 feet for a family photo session or Instagram selfie.
Glad I got to experience this at least once. Too bad I'm not getting a second opportunity.
When I went (probably 7-8 years ago), it was absolutely crazy. For the general population, it's probably going to get even worse. For photographers, we're mostly out of luck now.
I’m sorry they’re ending this. So that’s what Complaining on social media gets you. A hard lesson. Now it will be 1000 times worse. No, it wasn’t a surreal experience but I did the photo tour and I got my moneys worth in pictures. A beautiful poster size picture on metal is on my wall in my living room, photographed last year. Thank God I went.