Upper Antelope Canyon, the sacred place of the Navajos, where the light dances with the shadows... [Can you see the bear in the shadows ?]

Antelope Canyon is more than just a geologic wonder. It is a sacred place for the Navajos, full of mysteries, where the shadows play with light. And if your soul is open, the canyon will offer you mystical appearances...

The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means "the place where water runs through rocks.", because the canyon was formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, primarily due to flash flooding.

As said, it's a mystical place... so I will start with the famous mystical bear you can encounter there:

If you are lucky, you can see it when the light is right, somewhere between 10am and 3pm. A guide is needed to show you exactly where to find it, and how to see it. Most people go across the bear without even noticing it...
NOTE: If you cannot see it on this pic below, check at the end of this post for a hint or post a comment.

Shooting pictures in this environment is a difficult exercise. The high contract between dark and light often makes grainy pictures and blurry backgrounds... You have to play with the aperture and find the perfect focus for the perfect shot.

But if you get it right, you can get a glimpse of the amazing light effects of Antelope Canyon, and witness how light can create these outstanding colors on the walls.

Most people try to get there around noon, to get the sun rays and light beams, but I think that the canyon is at its best right before noon, between 11am and 12am.

At this time, you have less light, but colors and contrasts are reinforced. Reds are more powerful and blacks deeper.

On your way out of the canyon, towards a more open path , reds become pink as more light enters the canyon...

Antelope Canyon belongs to the Navajos. You can only enter with their permission (and pay cash...), and you must visit through a guided tour. If you find the right guide, he will show you WHY this place is sacred, and you will see a lot of things you did not expect to see in a canyon...

like the famous mystical bear... can you see it now ?

Hint: the bear head is below

Now it's time to leave the canyon and to give it back to the Navajos...

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