Nikon D810, 86mm, ISO 200, 1/200 sec, f/14
This is a much better Yaki Point sunrise image than the one presented in the 29 January 2024 post. The 29 January image featured a blown out sky where the sun is located. While the rest of the 29 January is a quite strong composition, that blown out area turns it into an average image.
For this image, I zoomed in my composition to the top right corner of the 29 January image. I took multiple images, exposing for the sun in some, and the foreground in others. During post processing I combined images so that I have a strong sun and sky and some interesting detail in the canyon.
If you ever wonder why photographers take multiple images from the same location, this is one reason for that. This image and the one posted on 29 January were taken minutes apart. Using different compositions and different techniques in post processing results in two unique images.
Yaki Point: 36.058614° -112.083175°
Nikon D810, 30mm, ISO 200, 1/6 sec. f/14
So close, yet so far. This is a pretty good composition, except for the blown out sky in the upper right corner. This image was captured at sunrise, with the sun itself at that brightest point in the image. The overcast sky keeps the rest of the sky from blowing out and allows for a decent exposure of the landscape. I did try exposure bracketing to compensate for the bright sun; it was just too bright no matter the exposure setting.
That single ray of light is the highlight of the image.
I did have two very noticeable dust spots in the clouds on the left side of the original image. The spots appeared on several images before I noticed them while reviewing images in-camera. I used the cameras Image Sensor Cleaning function which knocked the dust off the sensor. Subsequent images were fine. Dust spots in the image above were easily fixed during post-processing using Photoshop’s Content Aware function.
Yaki Point, 36.058613° -112.083175°
Grand Canyon Weekend Photography Locations (click to enlarge)
The map above shows the locations where I spent time during my Grand Canyon weekend. By the way, a single weekend is not enough time to photograph the Grand Canyon properly. Unfortunately, I was limited by my work schedule to a late Friday to early Sunday visit. I would have liked more sunrises and sunsets to photograph from different locations.
During summer hours, you must ride shuttles to many of these locations, especially to the west of the main visitors center. No worries tho, the shuttles run early enough to catch sunrise anywhere in the park.
I planned my days around sunrise and sunset so there are lots of pictures taken at several of the points. I started on a Friday at the Grand Canyon Visitor center for sunset at Mather Point. Sunrise Saturday was at Yaki Point, sunset Saturday at Yavapai Point, and finished with Sunday sunrise at Moran Point as I was leaving the park. Each number on the map represents the number of images taken at each point.
Photographing sunrise and sunset, combined with the drive back to Tusayan every night, made for one sleep-deprived photographer.
From left to right, using the numbers as a guide, here are the areas I visited during the weekend.
- 9 – Mohave Point
- 20 – Hopi Point
- 33 – Village Area
- 19 – Verkamp’s Visitor Center
- 136 – Yavapai Point
- 23 – Grand Canyon Visitor Center
- 51 – Yaki Point
- 26 – Moran Point
- 4 – Lipan Point
- 41 – Desert View Watchtower
