Where should a photographer go to shoot in Arizona?
January 14, 2011 11:03 AM Subscribe
2 days for a photographer to explore Arizona, where should I go?
I'm shooting a wedding in Scottsdale in February and will have a few free days. I'll have a rental car and would like to get out and explore with my camera...any suggestions?
I'm shooting a wedding in Scottsdale in February and will have a few free days. I'll have a rental car and would like to get out and explore with my camera...any suggestions?
Best answer: Sedona is only a couple of hours from Scottsdale and has some really beautiful scenery. The red rocks covered in snow are really breathtaking.
The Painted Desert, Monument Valley and the Petrified Forest are all really amazing to look at (especially the Painted Desert) but they are out in the middle of nowhere and are hours from any sort of civilization.
If you're looking for something closer to Scottsdale, the Desert Botanical Gardens are really nice and usually good for a photo op.
posted by TooFewShoes at 11:32 AM on January 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
The Painted Desert, Monument Valley and the Petrified Forest are all really amazing to look at (especially the Painted Desert) but they are out in the middle of nowhere and are hours from any sort of civilization.
If you're looking for something closer to Scottsdale, the Desert Botanical Gardens are really nice and usually good for a photo op.
posted by TooFewShoes at 11:32 AM on January 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
How far are you willing to travel in a day? These are both effectively day-long trips out and back:
Miami/Globe might provide some interesting non-nature photography (think ghost town, run-down, weed-sown), and a ways past that up on the 60/77 is the Salt River Canyon gorge. That'd be about a 2-hour drive out, 2-hour drive back, but with all the stops along the way it'd fill up a day.
Same south-wards toward San Xavier del Bac. There's not a lot between Phoenix and Tucson on the 10, but the back way south on the 87/79/77 through Florence is better. And there's plenty of good vistas and photography once you get to the Saguaro National Monument and just a bit south of there.
posted by carsonb at 11:35 AM on January 14, 2011
Miami/Globe might provide some interesting non-nature photography (think ghost town, run-down, weed-sown), and a ways past that up on the 60/77 is the Salt River Canyon gorge. That'd be about a 2-hour drive out, 2-hour drive back, but with all the stops along the way it'd fill up a day.
Same south-wards toward San Xavier del Bac. There's not a lot between Phoenix and Tucson on the 10, but the back way south on the 87/79/77 through Florence is better. And there's plenty of good vistas and photography once you get to the Saguaro National Monument and just a bit south of there.
posted by carsonb at 11:35 AM on January 14, 2011
I love Saguaro National Park, Canyon de Chelly, and the waterfalls of Havasupai, but you really can't go wrong anywhere in the state. The Heard Museum in Phoenix is also not to be missed.
posted by analog at 11:38 AM on January 14, 2011
posted by analog at 11:38 AM on January 14, 2011
The Petrified Forest is one of the coolest places ever.
posted by Flood at 11:58 AM on January 14, 2011
posted by Flood at 11:58 AM on January 14, 2011
Best answer: Stuff I know of to see within Reasonable Distance of Scottsdale that might make good photographs:
To the West
Estrella Mountain Park
To the North:
Go to Prescott not on the Interstate then over to the Verde Valley also not on the Interstate. It is the curviest road in the State (in probably many states actually) and some great little towns:Wickenburg, Prescott, Jerome, Cottonwood and some other landmarks: Mingus Mountain, Old state capital in prescott, Tuzigoot National Monument, Montezumas Castle, Montezuma Well,
then coming back on I-17 you can stop and See The only Arcology at ArcoSanti and be home after a very long day.
You can go east to Roosevelt Lake and see a really great bridge and some iconic old west imagery due to the old roads, cactus and authentic old mining country
To the south is Tucson with Tombstone, Kartchner Caverns, Davis Monthan Boneyard and lots of other Stuff.
As for the Pueblo Ruins on the reservations in the north it is a long drive for even a Two Day trip, is in the middle of nowhere and not travel to be taken lightly this time of Year. The north half of the state is over 6000 feet in elevation and the climate is pretty much Montana, and so is the population density. People get stuck in the snow storms, and are usually rescued by someone in time, but not always. If you are not used to winters in the high desert they are not a joke, and most of the high country gets more snow than Denver or Salt Lake City (some gets more than both combined). Even A trip Up I-17 to Flagstaff (which was my home for 15 years)can be...trying in a snowstorm, and for several days after. If the weather and roads are clear an overnight trip to the Grand Canyon is really cool and you will see it free of crowds this time of year, but PLEASE pay attention to weather and don't get caught. The canyon is still 2 hours from Flagstaff and there is ONE gas station between and may not be open this time of year and one station at the canyon. Plan Accordingly.
posted by bartonlong at 12:04 PM on January 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
To the West
Estrella Mountain Park
To the North:
Go to Prescott not on the Interstate then over to the Verde Valley also not on the Interstate. It is the curviest road in the State (in probably many states actually) and some great little towns:Wickenburg, Prescott, Jerome, Cottonwood and some other landmarks: Mingus Mountain, Old state capital in prescott, Tuzigoot National Monument, Montezumas Castle, Montezuma Well,
then coming back on I-17 you can stop and See The only Arcology at ArcoSanti and be home after a very long day.
You can go east to Roosevelt Lake and see a really great bridge and some iconic old west imagery due to the old roads, cactus and authentic old mining country
To the south is Tucson with Tombstone, Kartchner Caverns, Davis Monthan Boneyard and lots of other Stuff.
As for the Pueblo Ruins on the reservations in the north it is a long drive for even a Two Day trip, is in the middle of nowhere and not travel to be taken lightly this time of Year. The north half of the state is over 6000 feet in elevation and the climate is pretty much Montana, and so is the population density. People get stuck in the snow storms, and are usually rescued by someone in time, but not always. If you are not used to winters in the high desert they are not a joke, and most of the high country gets more snow than Denver or Salt Lake City (some gets more than both combined). Even A trip Up I-17 to Flagstaff (which was my home for 15 years)can be...trying in a snowstorm, and for several days after. If the weather and roads are clear an overnight trip to the Grand Canyon is really cool and you will see it free of crowds this time of year, but PLEASE pay attention to weather and don't get caught. The canyon is still 2 hours from Flagstaff and there is ONE gas station between and may not be open this time of year and one station at the canyon. Plan Accordingly.
posted by bartonlong at 12:04 PM on January 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Grand Canyon! The best hole in the ground anywhere!
posted by cool breeze at 3:01 PM on January 14, 2011
posted by cool breeze at 3:01 PM on January 14, 2011
Best answer: Everything in Sedona was incredibly beautiful. Schnebly Hill Road was my favorite.
posted by slowtree at 11:28 AM on December 30, 2011
posted by slowtree at 11:28 AM on December 30, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Chaco canyon has some incredible ruins and a, IMO, much prettier canyon than the Grand one. Shiprock is a town surrounded by a plane full of old weathered mesas. One of them looks like a ship. It's pretty cool.
posted by cmoj at 11:21 AM on January 14, 2011