National Parks Photography Guides

Updated

The National Parks photography guides library is being built park by park. Each guide maps the best photography locations in one U.S. National Park with GPS coordinates, exact camera settings, sun direction notes, and access details – available as a free article here and as a downloadable $47 PDF field guide.

First light at Mesa Arch, the Virgin River at sunrise, alpenglow on the Grand Tetons – these guides are written for shooters who plan around light. The first volume, Acadia, is live below. New parks are added as each guide is finished.

Grand Canyon ridges and the Colorado River beneath a warm sunset skySave

Available now

Guides in production

These guides are being researched and written park by park. Each entry goes live here as its guide ships:

  1. Canyonlands National Park – guide in production
  2. Death Valley National Park – guide in production
  3. Olympic National Park – guide in production
  4. Mount Rainier National Park – guide in production
  5. Crater Lake National Park – guide in production
  6. Big Bend National Park – guide in production
  7. Shenandoah National Park – guide in production
  8. Capitol Reef National Park – guide in production
  9. Mesa Verde National Park – guide in production
  10. Saguaro National Park – guide in production

What every guide includes

  • GPS coordinates for every location – drop them straight into Google Maps
  • Exact camera settings – aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and focal length per spot
  • Sun direction notes – where the light hits and when
  • Best season and best time of day for each location
  • Access notes – shuttle stops, parking, permit and lottery info, 4WD requirements
  • Safety briefings – flash floods, heat, hypothermia, fall risk, lightning

Free reading while you wait

Build your landscape technique alongside the location guides at ShutYourAperture Academy.

Frequently asked questions

How are the PDF guides different from the free articles?

The free articles cover the top locations with GPS data. The downloadable PDFs add the full location list, offline-ready maps, and a print-quality layout built for use in the field.

Are the guides updated?

Yes. Fees, permit rules, shuttle schedules, and seasonal conditions change, and guides are revised when they do.

Can I print the PDF?

For personal use, yes. The license is single-user – no resale, redistribution, or commercial reproduction.

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