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As a photographer who would like to see great scenery, why are you rushing through all this magnificent countryside? Wonderful photo opportunities along I-70 - pity you don't have time to drive UT12. UT128 and UT163 for spectacular scenery.
For photo opportunities I would definitely try to catch a sunset and/or sunrise at the GC.
Lifey
The places I mentioned, Glenwood Canyon and San Rafael Swell, are places that the interstate drives through. You don't even have to get off the road for a few miles to get a teeny-weeny peek at them. Get off at the rest areas between Denver and Rifle and you'll see a number of photograph opportunities -- though you won't have time for much more than a click, click. Around Glenwood Springs, the freeway appears to be "hanging" - it's actually been featured on the TV show "Modern Marvels".
In the San Rafael Swell area, there aren't a lot of places to get off the freeway anyway. It's 108 miles of no services. There are a few scenic pullouts, and only one has a bathroom of any type (porta-potty), but they are marvelous for photos. Do make sure your tank is full by filling at either Grand Junction/Fruita (less expensive) or Green River, as your next fuel and food services are at Salina and Richfield (more available, less expensive than Salina).
As has been said, Google/Mapquest driving times are fantasy. They are just that: DRIVING times, and those are best-case-scenario. They don't leave anything in there for fuel-food-rest area stops, construction traffic.
Las Vegas to Anaheim in 4 or 4-1/2 hours???? Only in the middle of the night. The traffic between LV and LA is horrendous at most hours of the day, but at least mid-week should not be as bad. However, one accident can cause a 4-hour backup.
Donna