Embarking on a U.S. National Parks Photo Expedition is the dream of any landscape photographer.
The United States contains 59 national parks, hundreds of state parks and ancestral Native American reservations that can be just as breathtaking through a camera lens. It would take years to tour all the places where nature remains pristine despite human impact.
However, some National Parks hold visits quite essential for those passionate about landscape and nature photography.
The US West Coast region has some of nature`s most remarkable sights, and within its borders one can find canyons shaped impossibly and ever-changing with endless deserts and valleys housing new scenery around every bend.
Throughout this article, we will help you plan a US National Park photo expedition on your own, and we will show you where to capture the best photos of the West Coast.
Further, we offer helpful guidance to optimally operate your camera and return from photographic excursions with works of true merit.
Table of Contents
American Photo Tours
These are some places I recommend visiting when taking a photography tour of the West Coast of the United States.
Yosemite Landscape Photography Workshops
Yosemite, in California, has continually attracted indigenous tribes, artists, explorers, climbers and, of course, photographers. We spent more time in this NP than in any other during our West Coast US tour.
If you want your United States National Parks photography tour to include dreamy panoramic views, you can not leave Yosemite outside. However, Yosemite is more than vast landscapes and granite walls.
In Yosemite, we can photograph natural phenomena as spectacular as the Firefall or the Moonbow, but for this, we must travel in February and June respectively.
Here we discuss profoundly the best things to photograph and to see in Yosemite National Park.
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
Though often overlooked by many travelers passing through on their way between Las Vegas and Yosemite, the desert landscape of Death Valley holds remarkable photographic potential from its massive North American dunes to the highly colorful sedimentary mountains.
If you really want to fully experience all that Death Valley has to offer, I suggest taking photographs at sunset and dawn, otherwise the intense sunlight in the morning will erase all the colors of the landscape. Additionally, doing night photography among the high dunes provides an otherworldly encounter. The light pollution in Death Valley is non-existent and we can delight in photographing the Milky Way Core during the summer months.
Another option is to photograph Death Valley in spring, to see and capture the extraordinary natural display of wildflowers covering the desert landscape. We discuss further plans for things to do in Death Valleyhere.
ANTELOPE CANYON PHOTO TOURS
Although it is not a National Park, taking part in an Antelope Canyon photographic tour is one of the best experiences you can have during an American photographic expedition.
This chasm is situated in northern Arizona, near the border with Utah and within the Navajo Indian Reservation. It includes two main segments: Lower Antelope, narrower and longer, and Upper Antelope Canyon, shorter and wider. The latter is usually experienced by most photographers as you have the option to do a dedicated photographic tour.
It is valid that the Upper Antelope Canyon photo tours are costly, that you can’t do them independently, nor spend as much time as desired working on each composition, but I can say they are completely worthwhile.
The ideal time for an Antelope Canyon photography workshop is from June to August since the sun is directly overhead during midday allowing the observation of the light rays that made this Canyon famous.
Only one day is required from your United States photography tour to discover this natural wonder, so combining it with nearby national parks would be sensible.
If you are incorporating this destination into your photographic touring of America`s West Coast, be sure not to neglect our guide on visiting Antelope Canyon where you will find all the applicable facts in addition to a complimentary ebook packed with compositions, techniques and tips aimed at photographing it successfully.
Another prime spot to take one of the best snapshots of the West Coast of the United States is Horseshoe Bend,just a 10 minute drive from Antelope Canyon. The optimum time to photograph the most renowned curve of the Colorado River is during sunset. Be certain to arrive well ahead of sunset as it is a really crowded and popular place.
MONUMENT VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
Like the previous one, Monument Valley is not a national park, but it is located within the Navajo Indian Reservation, in Arizona, three hours away from the Antelope Canyon.
However, it is one of the most photographed places in the American West and I highly advise your visit during a United States photo tour.
While visiting Monument Valley can be done independently, certain excursions necessitate hiring a Navajo guide and a four-wheel-drive vehicle. One of the most informative experiences is the Hunt Mesa overnight photography tour. During this tour, we will participate in a night photography session, where techniques for capturing images of the Milky Waywill be covered and the next morning we will shoot one of the most stunning scenes of the valley at dawn.
Whether you decide to hire a photography tour group, or if you want to experience it independently, you cannot miss this valley during your US West Coast photographic trip. You can check the prime vantage points of Monument Valley here.
GRAND CANYON PHOTO TOURS
The Grand Canyon, located in Arizona, presents one of the most photographically challenging settings during a photo tour of national parks in the American West.
The prescribed scenic viewpoints may not capture the area`s natural beauty most photographically. Furthermore, the hordes of visitors that swarm key lookouts at dawn and dusk make it tricky to seize the true scale and splendor of the Grand Canyon.
Additionally, more so than anywhere else on the West Shore, unforgiving light circumstances (like clear and level skies) will cause the Grand Canyon to lose its magic.
To capture with your camera each detail of the Grand Canyon I recommend you to hire an aircraft tour. The photos you can get from the heights surpass in creativity and detail to any you can take from the best viewpoint.
Even so, try to be the earliest to arrive during sunrise and sunset at the viewpoints that we cover in this guide of things to do in the Grand Canyon.
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK PHOTO TRIPS
Stopping over to photograph the reddish rocks of the Valley of Fire should be obligatory for those traveling through the city of Las Vegas, since it is considered one of the finest attractions nearby Las Vegas.
This state park located just an hour from Las Vegas, Nevada features some unique photo opportunities. Like the Grand Canyon, sunset and sunrise present the best times to photograph it.
ZION NATIONAL PARK PHOTO WORKSHOPS
If planning your trip well in advance, consider adding Zion National Park in Utah to your itinerary. You will need a unique permit to photograph The Subway, which is arguably the most scenic place in this national park from my perspective. However, accessing this area necessitates obtaining a permit. Here you can find more details about this and other activities available in Zion National Park.
BRYCE NATIONAL PARK PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP
Bryce Canyon, also located in Utah, is one of the most surreal landscapes that can be experienced during our tour of the US National Parks dedicated to photography.
The unusual rock formations known as hoodoos invite us to experiment with different camera lenses.
One day provides ample opportunity to photograph the most notable viewpoints and hike an easy trail where finer details can be observed up close. If you decide to include Bryce in your West Coast photographic expedition, do not miss all that can be achieved in Bryce Canyon.
ARCHES NP PHOTO TOURS
Found in Utah, Arches National Park is a favorite spot for most photographers. Who does not wish to form a composition utilizing one of their many rock arches in the frame? If photographing this national park, I recommend spending at minimum two days, since besides unlimited photographic possibilities, the most impressive pictures are often captured during summer nights, when the Milky Way crosses some arches.
Additionally, paying close attention to the hours you intend to visit will be crucial since obtaining quality images may become more challenging if the arches are photographed with a low-light backdrop.
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK PHOTO WORKSHOPS
Near Arches National Park we discover another national park that we will like to feature during our Western United States photography trip. It is Canyonlands NP, where, as its name suggests, we find infinite canyons carved into the ground.
Similar to viewing the Grand Canyon, the best occasions to experience Canyonlands are at sunrise and sunset. Another nearby location we might explore is Dead Horse Point, where photographs of another bend in the Colorado River can be taken, somewhat less striking than the Horseshoe curve noted earlier, but also suggested.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK PHOTO TOUR
In Wyoming, we can find the historic Yellowstone National Park, another must for landscape photographers and also, in this case, for wildlife photographers.
Within this national park, photographers can capture a wide range of landscapes including geysers exemplifying the terrain`s geothermal activity, hot springs full of colorful bacteria, and large snowy peaks.
If your primary interest lies in making a wildlife-centered photographic trip, I do not recommend visiting Yellowstone NP during the summer, since the massive number of visitors that go to the park during this time scare the wildlife away to more remote regions: Grizzly bears, black bears, buffalos, moose, wolves, coyotes, foxes …
You can check here the greatest activities in Yellowstone National Park.
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK PHOTO TOUR
Connected to Yellowstone to the south is the Grand Teton National Park, located where the Rocky Mountains cross from the United States into Canada.
The landscape is fairly comparable to those of Yellowstone, with a tall mountain range consistently in the background. The wildlife moves between one park and another through greenways, and so do visitors who usually explore both parks on the same trip.
The photographs that we can expect in this park are usually mountainous landscapes and the best time to visit it is during the spring and the fall during the leave peeping season.
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK PHOTO WORKSHOPS
One of the most notable national parks that could be incorporated in our American photography is the Olympic NP, found in Washington. This park usually stands apart for its lush and humid forest of natural beauty where remote untouched beaches with sea stacks and faraway glacial peaks can be seen.
Frequently, during an Olympic National Park Photo Tour, it is very common to also include Mt. Rainier National Park, only two and a half hours away. In this National Park, we can photograph during the spring a stunning subalpine meadow covered with wildflowers.
US WESTERN NATIONAL PARKS PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS
All the places mentioned above deserve to be included in any US National Parks Photo Tour. However, distances in this country are large and we cannot visit all the mentioned locations in less than two-three months.
Most photographers focus their work within a single subject area. Examples include:
- Olympic + Mt. Rainer within 10 days
- Yellowstone + Grand Teton in 10 days
- Arches + Canyonlands in 7 days
- Zion + Bryce + Antelope Canyon + Monument Valley + Grand Canyon + Death Valley + Yosemite in 10 days ( you can see a route similar to the one we took in our 10-day West Coast road trip)
- Arches + Canyonlands + Zion + Bryce + Antelope Canyon + Monument Valley + Grand Canyon over 15 days
- Arches + Canyonlands + Zion + Bryce + Antelope Canyon + Monument Valley + Great Canyon + Death Valley + Yosemite in 20 days
We provide examples of two itineraries – one spanning 15 days and another 20 days – for an photographic expedition across Western America.
15-DAY US NATIONAL PARKS PHOTO TOUR ITINERARY
This potential 15-day US photography tour itinerary centers on the most characteristic National and State Parks in Utah and Arizona.
Day 1: Arrival in Las Vegas
Day 2: The Valley of Fire State Park scenic reserve.
Day 3: The Zion Canyon National Park protected area.
Day 4: Bryce Canyon National Park
Day 5: Capitol Reef National Park
Day 6: Goblin Valley State Park
Day 7: The Canyonlands National Park federal land.
Day 8: Dead Horse Point State Park + Arches National Park
Day 9: Arches National Park
Day 10: Arches National Park + Monument Valley
Day 11: Monument Valley
Day 12: Monument Valley + Horseshoe Bend
Day 13: Antelope Canyon + Gran Cañón
Day 14: The Grand Canyon
Day 15: Las Vegas
20-DAY US NATIONAL PARKS PHOTO WORKSHOP ITINERARY
In the scenario that we can design a 20-day photography tour, we would follow the previous itinerary and then we would expand the experience with the following 5 days:
Day 16: The Mojave National Preserve conservation unit.
Day 17: Death Valley National Preserve
Day 18: Yosemite National Park
Day 19: Yosemite National Park
Day 20: San Francisco
PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR NEEDED AT THE US NATIONAL PARKS
We earlier wrote an article about the prime photography equipment for traveling.
In this part, we will discuss specifically about the photography gear necessary for traveling to U.S. National Parks.
DSLR OR MIRRORLESS CAMERA
The optimal option is consistently to employ an interchangeable-lens digital single-lens reflex or mirrorless camera since, with a phone camera or a compact camera, it will be difficult to capture all the natural wonder hidden in the national parks.
LENSES
Most of the scenarios we plan to photograph are extremely expansive landscapes, like the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley or Death Valley, so we will require a lens providing, not just a wide, but an extremely wide angle of view. Also, if we are doing night photography, the lens ought to allow a good deal of light (we advise choosing lenses with apertures (f) wider than 4.
A telephoto lens will also be really helpful for photographing wildlife, for example, if we travel to Yellowstone or to photograph details of vast landscapes.
To learn more about the specific lenses we suggest, do not miss the section in our article focused on travel photography gear.
TRIPOD
A trusted tripod is essential, not just for capturing sharper images and lengthening exposure times. On some tours, a tripod is made mandatory, as is the case for the Upper Antelope Canyon photo tour.
Additionally, we ought to carry a tripod that is as sturdy yet lightweight as feasible to allow us to bring it along during our hiking excursions when necessary. A leveling base/L shape plate will prove very useful when photographing panoramic views composed of various shots.
You can see our suggestions here.
FILTERS
As previously examined in our guide on lens filters, utilizing filters is essential if we want to take our photos to another level. And for such a trip, I would not hesitate to carry at minimum a 6-stop ND filter and a 10-stop ND filter. We routinely rely on Lucroit filters, as they provide the lens photography filters best suited to our needs as delineated in the above article.
We also work together with them, offering a 10% discount when making a purchase through this link.
10 TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING THE US WEST COAST
These are some tips that we hope you find useful during your US National Parks Photo Tours:
1. Capture images in RAW format. This applies to any photographic expedition. RAW files collect more data than formats like Jpegs; fundamental for optimizing our photos when we edit and process them once returning from our trip.
2. Travel during the optimal time. Research beforehand what is the best time to visit each of the locations you want to photograph. For instance, when you can see the Yosemite Firefall, spot more wildlife in Yellowstone or catch the beams of light in Antelope Canyon.
Although Fuerteventura is the island with the second largest size and considered the finest among the Canary Islands,its dimensions make it possible to remain in one location and be able to access the rest of the island by car. It will take you at most 2 hours to tour the island from north to south.
4. Be among the initial ones. If you travel during peak season, try to get there well before the primary viewpoints and finest locations prior to sunrise and sunset.
5. Utilize all your lenses. You will find it intriguing using all your lenses with varying focal lengths in most of the US National Parks. It may be convenient to photograph both with a wide angle to capture the whole scene yet do not forget to employ the telephoto lens to focus on specifics from the equal vantage point.
You are able to reserve this excursion to gain further understanding about this legend and enjoy a lovely hike through Ventejís, the lush forest where the Garoé tree resides. It’s undoubtedly one of the most fascinating activities to participate in in El Hierro.
7. Capture panoramic shots. In numerous parks like the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon or Yosemite, employing panoramas is fundamental. The landscapes are incredibly broad and frequently a single photo struggles to encompass the full scene.
8. Picture even when conditions are unfavorable. At times the most unique scenes and moments don`t always arise during comfortable instances for visitors. Storms can transform the entire landscape making it the finest opportunity to capture unprecedented photos.
9. Plan the photo compositions. For those not currently using it, I suggest starting to utilize Photopills to arrange shots including the moon, sun or Milky Way galaxy.
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” This line encourages taking creative photos that show one`s unique perspective rather than conventional postcard shots to engage viewers
The best Western U.S. photo locations
These are the prime locations to take top-quality pictures on the US West Coast:
- Delicate Arch crossed by the Milky Way – Arches National Park
- Mesquite Sand Dunes at dawn – Death Valley National Park
- Grand Canyon during an airplane tour – Grand Canyon National Park
- Horseshoe Bend at sunset – Page
- Light from Upper Antelope Canyon – Page
- Sunrise seen from Hunt Mesa – Monument Valley
- Taft Point at sunset – a breathtaking view within Yosemite National Park
- The Subway trail – Zion Canyon National Park
- Sunrise Point at dawn – Bryce Canyon National Park
- Grand Prismatic Spring – Yellowstone National Park
We haven’t seen all these places yet, but we hope to photograph them very soon.
To demonstrate some of the areas referred to above, you can find a selection of photographs I took during my US National Parks photography expedition in our West Coast gallery here. I hope my photos inspire and aid you in planning your next photographic venture to the American West.
CAPTURE THE ATLAS PHOTO TOURS
We intend to organize picture excursions for small groups through Capture the Atlas. Obtaining permission to operate in the United States, despite residing here, proves somewhat difficult, therefore we cannot supply dates for upcoming group trips just yet.
However, if you intend to voyage to the West Coast (or to the East, since we reside in Philadelphia) and you want us to be your photographic guides, do not hesitate to contact us.
