Slot canyons are the sewer system within the Grand Canyon draining water, often through violent flash flood action, from millions acres of land into the Colorado River. Rushing water carries a slurry of sand, gravels, boulders, and other debris during these flood events causing downcutting in the limestone layers to create slot canyons. And the result of the terrifyingly destructive chaos is … remarkably beautiful. Full of textures, soft light, color, sinuous shapes, idyllic grottos, plants and amphibians. These slot canyons are the secret places within the Grand Canyon that have rarely been seen by humans. In many cases ropes and technical gear are required to see these sites, and I’m quite humbled to have likely been among the first humans to experience these places. A minority of canyons "go" without technical means and were surely part of routes used by Native Americans for eons.

Many of these images contain people which often is considered poor form by landscape photographers. I love images of people in these narrow places because they are the only means to comprehend the tight, sinuous, gargantuan scale of these canyons. In many cases I shot images with and without people, so if you like a particular image but would prefer to keep strangers out of your living room, I might be able to accommodate your request.

If you see an image you like, click on it to enlarge.