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Home/Sedona Photography/Capturing the Landscape

Capturing the Landscape

Sedona Panorama | Photo by Larry Lindahl
Sedona Panorama | Photo by Larry Lindahl

Living in Sedona since the early 1990s, I have seen a lot of changes. Visitors increasingly lament how roads and houses encroach on the hillsides and ridgelines. Landscape photographers moan and grumble, then go to work using the rolling hills and bushy junipers to hide the architecture. It generally works.

Serious photographers often wait until just before sunset, the golden hour, to set up their cameras. This may not always be the best bet. Boynton Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, and West Fork sink into shadow by early afternoon.

Avoid shooting canyon scenes that include bright sunlight and large dark areas. Our eyes can quickly adjust to both extremes in one view, but cameras generally can’t. Take advantage of overhead lighting without large shadow areas, or wait for a light overcast.

Most mesas and mountain cliffs, of course, catch every last ray of sunlight. To capture the sandstone formations ablaze in color, turn your back to the sun and aim your camera east. Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, and the Nuns all stand tall enough to turn fiery orange in the last few moments before sunset. Shadows from the Transept, the tall ridge to the west, overtake Bell Rock by late afternoon.

Observing each season in Sedona, along with weather patterns and foliage changes, reveals a constantly changing landscape. Landmark rock formations catch the light differently as the seasons change. A perfect example is Coffee Pot Rock.

If you want the orange glow of sunset, plan on photographing it in the winter. After winter solstice, in late December, the rising and setting sun steadily moves northward. From early spring to late autumn, the shadow of Capitol Butte, or Thunder Mountain, falls on Coffee Pot at sunset.

Photos along Oak Creek require thoughtful preparation as well. Canopies of greenery above the cascading waters provide refreshing summer scenes. But this is no secret, so expect to see families picnicking, people fishing, or romantic couples sunbathing around every corner.

To photograph Oak Creek without crowds, come in early spring or late summer when cold water discourages swimmers. If possible, plan your shoot on a weekday, early in the morning. Yes, the creek will be locked deep in shadow at that hour, but another way of looking at “shadow” is “consistent indirect light.”

Some recommended products below may include affiliate links for which I may receive a commission if purchased when clicking through. Please note that I only recommend products that I feel are worthy, and you will not pay any extra when purchasing through these links. Click here to read the full disclosure statement.

Larry Lindahl’s Publications

Four Corners USA: Wonders of the American Southwest
Four Corners USA: Wonders of the American Southwest
  • Jim Turner (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 104 Pages - 09/11/2018 (Publication Date) - Rio Nuevo Publishers (Publisher)
$18.95
Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping
Secret Sedona: Sacred Moments in the Landscape (Arizona Highways Special Scenic Collections)
Secret Sedona: Sacred Moments in the Landscape (Arizona Highways Special Scenic Collections)
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Larry Lindahl (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 80 Pages - 10/01/2005 (Publication Date) - Arizona Highways (Publisher)
$15.95
Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping
The Ancient Southwest: A Guide to Archaeological Sites (English and French Edition)
The Ancient Southwest: A Guide to Archaeological Sites (English and French Edition)
  • Gregory McNamee (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 96 Pages - 01/29/2015 (Publication Date) - Rio Nuevo Publishers (Publisher)
$19.95
Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping
Arizona Kicks on Route 66
Arizona Kicks on Route 66
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Roger Naylor (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 96 Pages - 03/31/2012 (Publication Date) - Rio Nuevo Publishers (Publisher)
$16.95
Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping
New Mexico Kicks on Route 66
New Mexico Kicks on Route 66
  • Martin Link (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 96 Pages - 10/01/2016 (Publication Date) - Rio Nuevo Publishers (Publisher)
$12.95
Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

Last update on 2023-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Published on: August 19, 2018

Categories: Sedona PhotographyTags: Boynton Canyon, Cathedral Rock, changes of season, Coffee Pot, Courthouse Butte, Golden Hour, Sedona, sunrise, sunset, Thunder Mountain, West Fork of Oak Creek

About Larry Lindahl

Larry Lindahl is a professional travel and nature photographer with images published in international magazines, award-winning books, and scenic calendars.

His photography takes you deep into the American Southwest to witness breathtaking scenes of the Grand Canyon, the red rocks of Sedona, ancient Indian dwellings and rock art, celebrations of Native American cultures, Route 66, and the national parks of the Southwest region.

Lindahl is a photography workshop leader and instructor and an inspiring guest speaker at photography conferences, book signings, and camera clubs.

LarryLindahl.com

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Sedona Photography

Chimney Rock's Shadow on Shiprock | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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Sedona Sunset | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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Sedona Panorama | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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Fay Canyon | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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Larry Lindahl taking photos at Grand Canyon | Photo by Mike Buchheit

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Loy Canyon Pictographs | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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Autumn's glory along Oak Creek | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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Sedona at Dusk | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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Tlaquepaque | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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The best show of color bursts forth from March to May--especially after a wet November and …

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Cathedral Rock | Photo by Larry Lindahl

Places of Interest in Sedona

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Palatki Ruins | Photo by Larry Lindahl

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The Sinagua populated Sedona, the Verde Valley, and the Flagstaff area from about A.D. 650 to 1400. …

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Tuzigoot National Monument | Photo by Larry Lindahl

Ancient Indian Sites in the Verde Valley

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