Travel Photography - The Pyramids in Gizah - best time to shoot?

I have one day (and two evenings/two mornings) in Cairo to visit the Pyramids. What is the best time of the days to shoot - early morning, late afternoon, etc, etc?

Any specific advice on the subject?

I have one day (and two evenings/two mornings) in Cairo to visit the Pyramids. What is the best time of the days to shoot - early morning, late afternoon, etc, etc?

Any specific advice on the subject?

Egypt has the most boring sky during the day time. If you can get access sunrise and sunset are the best.

Sunrise and sunset are always best. I tend to prefer sunrise as I think it provides better light. But sunset does sometimes present better twilight conditions - sun down but sky still lit with pinks/purples.

I got some really amazing shots around 2/3pm. I liked the clouds as a backdrop to a very blue sky. I bet sunset would have been beautiful too.

I like the look of pyramids at sunset, it's much more dramatic for me.

Egypt has the most boring sky during the day time. If you can get access sunrise and sunset are the best.

I agree. All my photos are quite boring of the pyramids

I guess at sunrise you would also have fewer tourists around to spoil your shots.

They are a gr8 sight and the best shots I love to take is during sunset and at times during evening where they have cloud covers over them

Sunset is the best time to take shots at the pyramids of Giza.

just do sunshine. put in a people, traveling companion or camel to add a bit. it that's the place that also has the sphinx, add that.

check the top of the pyramid first. some have antenna on them.

i also do not like the ones that change color as they go up.

I guess at sunrise you would also have fewer tourists around to spoil your shots.

Well, the place was nearly deserted. Between 8-11 am only a busload of Asians + max 10 Westerners in the whole (!!) area. Also hardly any hawkers of trinkets. Excellent - for me at least! ^

I had a guide hired at the hotel, she said I was her 11th "group" this year, while she had at least one group per day last year.

Sunrise and sunset are always best. I tend to prefer sunrise as I think it provides better light. But sunset does sometimes present better twilight conditions - sun down but sky still lit with pinks/purples.

Kind of a blah subject, but you can get good pinks and purples at dawn, too. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/muhe-e/959147077/in/set-72157600384988492) (It's Alexandria port)

sunrise or sunset I'm sure. Shows more dimension and shadow

Plan to spend a bit of time checking things out, and do not go as part of a tour group if you want decent shots. As others have noted, the sky is boring and the colors of the pyramid... also boring. They scream for a b&w treatment with the right filter; could be that with appropriate post-processing you could come up with something decent. Haze is definitely an issue.

You can come across some interesting angles walking around them; intersecting visuals by stacking one behind the other.

You'll have some interesting opportunities with fairly wide angle lenses (the difference between a 17 vs 15mm lens on a cropped camera like the Canon Rebel will astound you).

When my wife and I were there two years ago, it wasn't too crowded but people were being rushed through some areas. Beware the kids hawking camel rides; some great photo opportunities but they'll try every which way to extort more money out of you (some even charging you money to get off the camel).