Every Outdoor Photographer’s Dream: Destinations You Must Visit

Whether you’re a professional, amateur, or a smartphone-camera-fiend, turn your photo expedition into the camping trip of your dreams! Nature has so much to offer us in the realm of beauty and adventure. Capture lifelong memories of all your time outdoors with photography. No matter what your photography experience is, being intentional about snapping photos here can really enhance your experience outdoors.

Look for photo opportunities, and you will soon realize your own creative eye and start noticing all the beautiful things around you. In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the most beautiful outdoor locations to photograph. Make your next camping trip a creative endeavor when you visit! Keep reading to discover new locations, photo opportunities, and the best places to camp nearby.

Our Top 5 Camping Locations for Outdoor Photographers

The beauty of outdoor photography is that it doesn’t have to be a special occasion. Nature is constant. So really, any time is a great time to get outside and try something creative! These are some of our top recommendations for great camping and outstanding photo locations. Enjoy!

The Grand Canyon

The name really says it all. The Grand Canyon is known as the most photographed national park, and for good reason. This place– with all its daring depths, twists, turns– just doesn’t have a bad angle. Visit at any time of the year to photograph everything from the bright warm summer tones to the dusting of winter snow. 

Photo Opportunities

On the Southern Rim of the canyon are multiple landscape photo spots. Mather Point overlooks the canyon, and you can see for miles. Sunset photos are a popular choice here, though it can get super crowded. On the Northern Rim, which is slightly less crowded, Point Imperial offers views from the highest point of the canyon. Cape Royal has an amazing view of the Colorado River curving below.

Check out this helpful article from the National Park Service, all about photography in the Grand Canyon!

Where to Camp

Grand Canyon campsites are available throughout the park. While some are seasonal, a few are open year-round. Mather Campground and Trailer Valley, both in the South Rim Village, stay open all year. These are great sites for positioning yourself near some of the park’s most popular photography sites.

Yosemite National Park

This is one of those places you could visit over and over and still discover new things every time. Yosemite is an outdoor photographer’s dream for just that reason! This one-of-a-kind park has jaw-dropping views from the very entrance, and all throughout. From valleys to world-class climbing peaks, to gushing waterfalls.

Photo Opportunities

Tunnel View is the iconic overview point as visitors enter from the south entrance on Highway 41. Get there early! This viewpoint gets packed and for good reason. You can see for miles over the entire Yosemite Valley. Capture Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, Half Dome, and more all in one photo. 

An incredible phenomenon known as the Firefall is a moment photographers dream of capturing. This happens usually in February when sunset light hits Horsetail Fall just right. The glow on the flowing water causes the illusion of flowing fire. Photographers flock to the scene on this rare occasion for amazing photos.

Where to Camp

There are numerous areas to camp inside the park. The most popular area to camp is in the Valley. Here, there are Camp 4, North Pines, Upper, and Lower Pines. There are additional campgrounds both south and north of the Valley, too. All require reservations. 

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree is the land of quite an otherworldly landscape. This is a one-of-a-kind location, offering some of the most unique scenery and camping experiences. Joshua Tree is perfect for the outdoor photographer looking for something a little unconventional. This desert wilderness is anything but barren!

Photo Opportunities

The park’s namesake tree makes for an incredible photo subject in and of itself. Its crazy branches are unlike anything else in the world. Not to mention the various rugged boulders that cover this desert, which create a moon-like landscape. Visit Cholla Cactus Garden, Skull Rock, and Heart Rock for a few iconic photography spots.

Where to Camp

Camping around Joshua Park is a breeze! The park itself is huge, with 500 campsites. Plan your visit, as some campgrounds require reservations. The Hidden Valley, White Tank, and Belle campgrounds are first-come, first-served. This is definitely a place to bring a sunshade tarp to your campsite. Use it for more than shade! Tilt it to play with shadows and lighting as you photograph your Joshua Tree campsite. 

Capitol Reef National Park

Stay up past your bedtime to photograph Capitol Reef. This is a designated International Dark Sky park, as of 2015. While stunning in the daylight, it’s the stars that really shine here. And the good news is, if you really start craving red rock peaks, they’re not far! Capitol Reef is part of the Mighty 5 national parks of Utah. 

Photo Opportunities

Capture the intense silhouettes of juniper trees and canyon rocks against the vibrant Milky Way sky. Panorama Point is one of the most popular spots for shots of the wide open night sky. Head to the Cathedral Valley to capture silhouettes of some of the most unique rocky peaks and spires against the Milky Way.

Where to Camp

Campgrounds in this park often center around some great photography sites. The Fruita Campground is an amazing spot to set up your tent for photography headquarters. This is right near Panorama Point, Danish Hill, and other locations. The Cedar Mesa Primitive Campground is a small, remote campground that offers a more remote camping experience.

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

This is one of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the country. If you are intrigued by unique angles and warm, glowing light, this is a place for you. This special spot is located on private Navajo land, so visiting will require planning and reservations. Take a guided tour for the best experience.

Explore the depths, curves, and layers of this incredibly unique location. Take a walk through Antelope Canyon, and walk amongst where water has carved for thousands of years. Notice all the smooth curves and unexpected twists and turns of this incredible location.

Photo Opportunities

The canyon is divided into two main sections: Lower Canyon and Upper Canyon. Both areas offer spectacular displays of erosion and sediment layers. While larger equipment isn’t permitted in this canyon, photographers– led by a Navajo guide– can still get incredible shots with patience and creativity.

Where to Camp

Antelope Canyon is located near Page, Arizona. The closest campground, Page Campground, is in a great location for amenities and visiting town, and a convenient entrance to the canyon. Check out this site for great local camping recommendations!

Get the Perfect Shot: Tips for Outdoor Photography

Outdoor photography is an amazing way to catalogue these locations and beyond. Don’t let it intimidate you! You don’t always need all the best, fanciest equipment to take great outdoor photos. Sometimes, a great photo is just a matter of playing with the nighttime settings on your smartphone. Or creating a makeshift tripod out of rocks. Learn how these simple tips can help unlock your creativity as you photograph the great outdoors.

Time for the Tripod

Stabilizing a camera is key to getting a good photo in nature. Various elements like wind, rocky terrain, and heavier weather can often affect the quality of the shot. Take a great landscape or wildlife photo by using a tripod! There are a number of lightweight, portable tripods made to work with diverse terrains. Whether you need one to toss in your hiking backpack or a full-size standing tripod. Or, be a minimalist and create a makeshift tripod! Just remember not to tamper with the natural terrain too much, and leave things better than you found them.

Shoot for the Stars

Practice night photography, and shoot for the stars! It can take some time to learn, but what better place than in a Dark Sky park? Out there in remote nature, the cosmos appears endless. Play with the nighttime settings on your camera, experience with long exposure, and use a trusty tripod to help stabilize! You won’t even have to venture far from your cozy bell tent to get the shot. No matter how the photos turn out, you get an incredible night of stargazing in return.

Golden Hour Photos

Shoot during golden hours for beautiful soft lighting and a warm glow. If morning and evening light intrigue you for their golden hues, this is a great time to shoot. Practice getting photos of sunlight speckled through leaves, a glowing horizon, and gorgeous scenery. The beautiful thing about sunrises and sunsets is that they are always different! Golden hours will always have something new to offer you. So let your creativity shine!

Final Thoughts

Outdoor photography is such a fun way to get creative on a camping trip! Capture lifelong memories and unforgettable experiences. We hope you enjoyed reading about some of our favorite locations to get amazing photos. And who knows? Maybe you’ll feel inspired to book your next camping trip now and start exercising your creativity in the great outdoors!

Happy camping!