Eileen and I have been taking anniversary trips to the Grand Canyon since February, 1970. When we moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1987 we began going almost every year. Our anniversary month is February. That is a great month to visit the Canyon! Cheaper room rates are available and you have the ability to drive yourself to more locations along the south rim.
This year I was toting a new wide-angle lens designed to be used on my crop-sensor camera the Canon EOS 50D. The lens, a Tokina 11-16mm, f2.8, provides the same field of view as a 17 to 26mm lens would provide on a full-frame sensor camera. This lens is very sharp and is also a great lens to use indoors with a flash.
At the Canyon I was interested to see how the difference in viewpoint would affect my photos. I purposely shot the same scene at different focal lengths in order to test this idea. I'll start with a comparison of the focal lengths and then move on to more general scenic photos with explanations.
Here is a photo taken with my Canon 28-70 lens set at 28mm.
Here is a photo of the same area taken with the Tokina set at 11mm.
Finally, here is the same area taken with the Tokina set at 16mm.
Verkamps was a merchandising icon at the Canyon for nearly 100 years. Last year the family owners sold the building to the National Park Service. It is now a combined Visitor Center and gift shop. The family left behind a very large painting of the Canyon and it still graces its wall.
El Tovar is the queen of the Rim hotels at the Canyon. Over 100 years old, the hotel is famed for its gingerbread architecture and world famous dining room. Its not a cheap place to stay. I was quoted a room rate of $250.00 for one night.
For years Santa Fe railroad served the Grand Canyon from Williams, AZ. That service was abandoned for several decades but 20 or so years ago service was re-opened by the Grand Canyon Railroad. Trains leave Williams at about 9am and reach the Grand Canyon before noon. The train returns to Williams at 3:30. A simple round-trip ticket costs about $50.00. Each car has a cabin attendant to watch after your needs. Some cars are domed, affording excellent views. There is a snack bar car. Western entertainment is included along the rails.
Here is an interesting highway sign we saw in the park. Not only are mountain lions present in the park but they also carry the plague virus.
The view from Hopi Point.
A view of Pre-Cambrian sediments from Moran Point.
I call this view 2 Trees.
The snowy mountains around Flagstaff, AZ.
