Capturing an image of Beaver Falls in Havasu Canyon had been on my bucket list for a long time. I had visited this stunning place once before, back in the days of slide film, and I wanted to get an updated shot with my Canon 5DSR.
The first hurdle was obtaining a permit to camp in Havasu Canyon, and after some effort, I finally secured one for a three-day backpacking trip in November. I had initially hoped for a permit in April or May, but I ended up with one for November 22 and planned an entire 18-day Desert Southwest trip around it.
After a 12-mile hike to the campsite, it was too late to reach Beaver Falls on the first day. However, the next day, I set off on the exciting trail down the creek to the falls. First, I had to hike from camp, located below Havasu Falls, to Mooney Falls, which is an adventure in itself. This part of the hike involves going through tunnels and descending a series of ladders to reach the base. After that, I had my first crossing of Havasu Creek, then continued hiking downstream before crossing it again. After more hiking downstream and another crossing, I finally arrived at Beaver Falls in the afternoon. This timing was perfect, as there was no light left in the lower canyon, but the sunlight reflecting off the canyon walls above was still illuminating the area, creating an ideal scene.
I set up my camera on the tripod and captured a series of images, with this one becoming my favorite. It was shot at F/20 with a 0.8-second exposure, using a circular polarizer to reduce glare. I felt a rush of accomplishment—nailed it! After that, I quickly packed up and retraced my steps back to camp as twilight descended. I managed to return just after dark.
At first, I was disappointed about having a permit in November instead of April, but in hindsight, the timing couldn’t have worked out better. The cooler outdoor temperatures meant that no one was swimming in the pools, allowing me to capture this image without any people in it, along with a touch of fall color. Now, this image hangs in both of my galleries. What an adventure!
