Amazed Photography by Shelly Wayne

Amazed Photography by Shelly Wayne Fine Art Photography & Workshops. Capturing the natural landscapes of the desert southwest.

I cannot come close to capturing canyon light in its pure, perfect form. I can try. And I do. But to convey the actua...
09/08/2026

I cannot come close to capturing canyon light in its pure, perfect form. I can try. And I do. But to convey the actual warmth of the glow is impossible.

You have to hike in just after sunrise. And stand within the towering hoodoos as the sun rises to the perfect angle.

This image was on my hike out of Navajo Loop in Bryce Canyon NP last week. The bite of an autumn chill was in the air & the walls radiated and glowed in gold & orange. A gritty Ponderosa growing from crack and crag. All of this, the perfect salutation for the coming season of changing leaves, frosty mornings & warmer hues of fall. Cheers to the changing of the seasons…

southernutah

I have never been late for a hike. Not once. So when I got a flat tire yesterday at 5:30am on my way to Bryce for sunr...
09/04/2026

I have never been late for a hike. Not once. So when I got a flat tire yesterday at 5:30am on my way to Bryce for sunrise: I was frustrated!

The mechanics I performed (I just changed a tire) took longer than I anticipated (it was early). When I finally arrived at Bryce, my girls Amy Smith and were waiting for me. When we descended into the amphitheater of Bryce, the hoodoos were just beginning to glow with the last low rays of sun rise light. The timing turned out to be perfect.

Take a look at the last few images. This is true friendship: Amy helping Toni to the edge for an epic portrait. Anyone that will hold your hand when you’re shaking scared… is a sister. ❤️

Monsoon clouds that had grown and drifted in during the afternoon, raced away across the sky just as golden hour came.Pa...
09/04/2026

Monsoon clouds that had grown and drifted in during the afternoon, raced away across the sky just as golden hour came.

Patience is one thing. But hope for clouds is another. ❤️ So, with no clouds I found something beautiful anyway. Soft light. Sun star. Subtle, ancient sandstone (chinle formation).

It works.

09/02/2026

Monsoon season has been no joke this year. Pivoting and knowing all the routes has become a very useful talent: rerouting, detours and dodging storms has kept me busy.

I have never cancelled a tour. And have never not made the destination. I tell my guests that my mom didn’t raise a quitter. But she did raise a smart, adventurous and (mostly) cautious woman. No way in hell I will ever put someone at risk. Nope. Not gonna happen. But I will fill your bingo card with adventure, memories and lots of mud!!

Please use caution and good judgement while exploring my backyard. It’s sure beautiful, but it’s also dangerous under certain circumstances. Check the weather. Look at the clouds. Understand that flash floods can happen hours after the storm passes (as seen here). Be aware that roadways can wash out at any time: what may have been an easy drive at 8am is now a gapping hole at noon.

And always ask a local!! Call or stop in at a local guide company or the BLM office for info before you head out. You can also message me!! I’m happy to help. I also offer 20% Off tours to those who reach out.

Happy trails! Be safe!
Kanab Tour Company

What was supposed to be a birthday full moon hike turned into 2 of us alone on the edge of the canyon for sunset. The w...
08/31/2026

What was supposed to be a birthday full moon hike turned into 2 of us alone on the edge of the canyon for sunset.

The weather Saturday afternoon was turbulent… heavy monsoon storms with patches of light and rainbows. Mike and I hunkered down between the rains within the Ponderosas. (Yeah, I know… lightning. The lightning came after dark. And I wasn’t about to retreat from this tree to sit in my car just because it was pouring). So…

Not a soul around. Just us.

We stayed above the amphitheater until darkness and another monster of a storm set in on us. A night hike was not in the cards this trip. But that’s ok! I’m beyond blessed with this backyard and can come back anytime. And look at those rainbows I managed to capture as storms rolled in and out. This one was the “3rd Illumination” between those epic rains.

My birthday hike looked different this year. It turned into a very wet and most unexpected light show with my favorite person.

I hate tripods. Even though I just bought one (invested is more the term), I have only used it once. And that was for ...
08/25/2026

I hate tripods. Even though I just bought one (invested is more the term), I have only used it once. And that was for the Milky Way.

Tripods are so restrictive. They lock you in to one composition. I’ve never seen anyone move freely with a tripod. Never.

This image was one I wanted to shoot as the sun slid across the sky. Sadly: a group of tripod enthusiasts set up right on TOP of this lovely little shrub and shot over the top of it all evening. Not one time offering to move their clunky gear to share. I was frustrated. I was shooting this scene when they rolled up on top of me. And in front of me. But: it’s the Grand Canyon with endless compositions and beauty. I just felt bad for the smooshed vegetation. (It’s still there and doing fine. I was able to shoot it 2 nights later with zero people around). I’m a lucky girl and can come here whenever I want. So it wasn’t worth the argument with the camera club that rolled up from out-of-state. I just came back later and had an even better sky. This location is special so arguing over space isn’t something I’m willing to do. But do want to bring a little awareness to others…

Note: share the space. Don’t setup your gear and refuse to move for others in popular areas like the Grand Canyon. Don’t force others to ask you to move. Offer the space. Step aside (even for a few moments). We’re all trying to capture beautiful images in special places. Also, don’t leave your gear all over. Keep your pack on your back. Or move your items out of the way of others.

And PS: you can handhold your shots to 1/30 second before needing the assistance of a tripod. Move around. If you have physical shake that prevents this slower shutter: then yes: shoot on the tripod all day long. ✌️

Moral of the story: don’t focus so much on the big things that you miss what is right at your feet. Sometimes those little details make the biggest foregrounds and incredible composition.

Before the sun set last night, we had some time to meander and wander…Within the banks of the ever fluctuating Paria Riv...
08/19/2026

Before the sun set last night, we had some time to meander and wander…

Within the banks of the ever fluctuating Paria River, I found mud. Smooth, satiny, untouched mud. And a small cottonwood leaf so perfectly lit; I felt it needed some attention. In a massive, colorful and demanding landscape: sometimes the magic is right at our feet. (I mean… look at that movement within that light!!).

I stood on the edge. Trusting the limestone to hold me. Inches from the staggering depths: I ignored the internal warni...
08/16/2026

I stood on the edge. Trusting the limestone to hold me. Inches from the staggering depths: I ignored the internal warnings my body was giving me. Although I am terrified of heights, put a camera in my hand and an epic light show before me and I’ll traipse along any edge.

I had been watching the weather (and was in the weather) for days leading up to this moment. Clear skies for sunset didn’t look promising: but we went anyway. And I’m so glad we did.

Being a photography guide means people trust me with their memories, their safety, the light and my intuition!! Where we go matters. And sometimes I think maybe my little prayers are heard. Because on this evening everything I asked for: came to pass. All of it. Light radiated thru clouds that were not supposed to break. Cliff faces glowed gold when they should have quietly faded into the blue night. A monsoon swept though the canyon and then slowed… just as the sun set; casting a golden mist that changed everything. Everything about this evening had the hand of a great artist at work. And it wasn’t any one of us standing there. We were just the audience.

This was my first visit back to the North Rim since the Dragon Bravo Fire last summer.The last time I stood here the can...
08/14/2026

This was my first visit back to the North Rim since the Dragon Bravo Fire last summer.

The last time I stood here the canyon was filling with smoke: the first whispers of devastation.

Last night the canyon filled with the mists of monsoons and golden light. And hope.

When I drove here I tried so very hard not to allow anger to cloud my heart. I waited for it to rear its ugly head. But instead: I felt peace where I expected sadness. And I was greeted with something I never expected.

I stood in wonder and felt a comforting, Heavenly hand on my shoulder. There was no room for anger here. All the months I’ve resisted coming back… this felt like a homecoming. A beautiful, sacred and powerful message of forgiveness, hope and release. And yes, there were tears.

We can wait for accountability. We can hold tight to anger and frustration and heartache. But what good does this do when something so beautiful is still here and so willing to welcome us, humble us and embrace us. Today I feel guilty for waiting so long to say hello to an old friend. The homecoming was a gift. And a very good reminder to let go. If the forest and canyon can start healing… then so can I.

This stop wasn’t on the agenda. But a road closure with a left hand turn towards the ocean got us here. Sometimes the ...
08/12/2026

This stop wasn’t on the agenda. But a road closure with a left hand turn towards the ocean got us here.

Sometimes the smallest twist in a plan creates the biggest memories.

I ditched my shoes, rolled up my pants and hiked/waded to this beautiful falls outside Whittier, AK. The Freezing cold water that numbed my feet didn’t bother me at all… I was way too focused on the light glowing through the trees and illuminating the water.

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