Winter Wonderland
Sunset Point - Bryce Canyon, UT
WINTER WONDERLAND
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WINTER WONDERLAND
Sitting atop the Grand Staircase in southern Utah, Bryce Canyon provides some of the most breath-taking views found anywhere in the American Southwest and provides endless views and composition opportunities for photographers.
And at sunrise, the hoodoos in the Bryce amphitheater glow with an almost un-natural saturation of colors that mesmerize visitors and photographers alike. When the sun first crests the horizon, everyone witnessing it seems to stop what they are doing and are totally captivated by the moment. Add snow to this special place, and you truly have a Winter Wonderland!
Image by Don Metz @ www.donmetzphotography.com
Bryce Canyon has many, many different viewpoints to visit and photograph. This summary is focused on the image above (taken just below the Sunset Viewpoint Overlook). Other locations in Bryce will be provided under different summaries.
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH WINTER WONDERLAND SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 or 2 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The walk to the location of this shot is a simple 150 yd from the parking lot. However, if you visit with snow on the ground, the short walk can get dicey with ice on the trail and slow/careful trekking is important.
Bryce Canyon has 5 primary visitor overlooks and 2 other interesting locations (along the 3 mile rim trail) which provide great, but different places to find the photography composition that might appeal to you. The viewpoints are: Fairyland Canyon, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. The 2 other interesting locations to visit are: Thor’s Hammer and Wall Street (which are both off of Sunset Point). Most photographers find Sunset Point, Thor’s Hammer, Inspiration and Bryce Points provide the best photographic compositions. Don’t be confused, some of the best shots are sunrise at SUNSET POINT.
Most of the overlooks face eastward so you will find most great shoots are at sunrise and early morning (with exceptions)…
The views from Sunset Point are absolutely remarkable - with jaw-dropping scenes north, east and south. At first, it may be tempting to shoot an extreme wide-angle or to even attempt a 200° panorama. However, I have found it best to isolate a specific section of the hoodoos and compose from there. Sometimes, less is more…
Bring your full bag of lenses and try different compositions. Wide-angle, standard, and telephoto as this location is truly a cornucopia for photographic compositions.
The above image was a 3 image vertical pano with a 100mm equivalent lens. This would be equivalent to a 80mm prime lens on a 35mm camera.
8,010 Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
