Blue hour long exposure taken along the South Rim.

For this trip we stayed on the North Rim for two nights. Had been to south rim for one day before about 10 years ago on a bus tour from out of Sedona that was for sunset. Knowing how crowded it was and doing some research, figured a stay for couple days on the quiet side would be about perfect for the mid-point in this years vacation. It turned out to be perfect there, and we had one terrific time and lots of photos taken there too.

Prior to the two days at the G.C. North Rim, we were to be staying in Sedona for three days (and they were pretty glorious as well). As the trip approached and I did some more thinking about possible photo spots, it dawned on me that getting some sunrise shots from the South Rim would be fun ... it only meant that we had to get up at 2 am to drive to the south rim from Sedona.

Took some naps and planned it so this was possible. Hence it turned out that we arrived about an hour before sunrise allowing me to get set up here along the breezy rim. Was all alone at first here for the first couple captures ... then was joined by other photographers as the sunrise approached. Ended up being quite crowded by sunrise. By that time though I was already walking out along the rim for new spots to shoot from.

What is interesting in this blue hour photo is what appears to be lights from below if you look closely where the river and canyon make a "Y", right there in the V part of the Y.

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The layers in the rocks exposed there at the canyon are amazing to see and even better under rising and setting light. Here the layers can be seen zoomed in, taken from the south rim here in the morning after sunrise.

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On this particular evening while we were visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, the skies started to clear. Decided to go out and get some sky captures along the rim. This was one of the early captures with the clouds as they were still clearing from the sky. Liked the way they were obscuring the Milky Way ... and the sky was lighting the clouds some there as well.

The light on the bushes on rim rocks was from the Lodge there on the north rim.

The lights across the abyss of the canyon is the South Rim visitors center and hotels.

The north rim, with only the cabins and camping ... is a much quieter place, and we really enjoyed our two days spent there.

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When I planned our excursion and the chance of getting sunrise at the Grand Canyon south rim prior to heading to the north rim where we were staying, I knew the drive from Sedona where we left at 2 a.m. in the morning was going to be a bit scary with deer and elk along the road.

On the road from I-40 up to the rim, we passed a bunch of deer as well as at least 5 male elks. Of course no good light at 3:30 in the morning for wildlife captures ...

... but after shooting the sunrise along the south rim, as we headed further east along the rim drive we came across some eating their breakfast. Snapped off some shots with the long lens at first, then got just a little closer with the 105mm.

Here is one of the captures taken with the 420mm combo.

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Had to laugh while I was taking this capture of the selfie capture out there on that outcrop ... her family was yelling to her to come back and get off there.

She was 'not that' close to the edge ... but what caught my attention was her shoes ... those flats were not the best shoes to be wearing when scrambling out on these rocks and loose stones / earth.

Also, if she looked real close at that rock she was on ... looks like it could start slipping free at any moment ... just needs a little extra weight ... just do not know what it will take to set if free.

In any case, she survived ... and I hope she ended up with the selfie she wanted!!!

... and yes, another thunderstorm was brewing out there over the Canyon, seemed this weather was following us where ever we went on this trip to the southwest. Made for some nice drama in the skies.

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