One of my favorite spots in Arizona is Antelope Canyon, a magnificent sandstone sculpture created by time and nature. Located near Page on the Navajo Reservation, the slot canyon is a photographer’s paradise because the waters that roar through it after a desert rainstorm have washed away portions of the canyon walls. What’s left behind are gentle swirls and abstract patterns on the remaining sandstone, enhanced by brilliant colors that multiply when the sun peeks over the rim. The walk through the site on the sand-covered canyon floor is relatively short but the panorama is so magnificent that you’ll stop, gasp and shoot many, many times before you’re done.

Those who go there should try to arrive between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is at its highest point above the canyon so its rays filter in and produce unmatched hues of reds, oranges, purples and umbers. The canyon is a few miles east of Page on State Route 98. But you can’t just go there and pop in by yourself. Reservations with one of the local tour operators are required. For details, visit the Navajo Parks & Recreation Department.

And those who want their photos to turn out really good should take a tripod or some other steadying device with them because it gets rather dark in some areas of the canyon.