Feed your creativity, improve your skills, meet your peers.
Photographers are often travelers. One of the challenges is deciding between clothing and camera gear. Aaron talks about his technique for washing clothes every day so you can bring more gear instead.
Get items in this video at Amazon:
Icebreaker Men’s Boxers: https://amzn.to/2qtpQmM
Icebreaker Women’s Underwear: https://amzn.to/2NjdKWl
ExOfficio Men’s Give-N-Go Boxer: https://amzn.to/2oR7qMD
ExOfficio Womens Underwear | Panties for Women | Give-N-Go Full Cut Brief: https://amzn.to/36Cettz
Head south through the Snake River Canyon and eventually you’ll find yourself in Alpine, WY. Continue south from there and you’ll be in the heart of Star Valley. For a photographer, the area is rich in vintage subject matter. Sure, there are towns and subdivisions packed with new houses, but you don’t have to look too hard to find old barns, homesteads, vehicles, and structures. Typically, I don’t drive there just for this gritty slice of Americana, but instead fill some time while waiting for Lewis Woodpeckers, Barn Owls, or Mountain Goats to appear. While driving around looking for the historic or grungy subjects, I keep and eye out for coyotes, foxes, eagles, mule deer, and hawks.
In reality, Star Valley is not unlike most of the west, east, north or south.You can find barns, farm houses, windmills, silos, and rusting vehicles everywhere. If your “stutter finger” is twitching, or if you simply want to practice, jump in your vehicle and drive around the back roads in your area! Stated another way, there is ALWAYS “something” to photograph!
Once you find a worthy subject, work it! I look for interesting, distinctive elements and then try to find a workable composition.Of course, many of the subjects will be on private property. Instead of trespassing, shoot from the road or right of way and try out your telephoto lenses. If you are up for it, knock on the door and ask permission to go on their property. You’ll likely get a puzzled response like, “Why do you want to take photos of that old junk”? They’ve seen it for decades and see no value in their rusting and deteriorating vehicles and buildings. Of the ones I’ve asked, most have said okay.
I photographed this old truck, including the details, from the road. If the land owner gives you permission, you could use any of your lenses, including macro/micros.
The Tetons have been photographed heavily since 1927, or longer. It’s difficult to take a photo that dozens, hundreds, or thousands haven’t already taken. The photos have been in books, calendars, and on sites. A lot of photographers come here to recreate a photo they’ve already seen. In an area like Star Valley, those preconceived images are not necessary. Everything is fresh!
This set of structures are the same as the ones in the previous image. They are similar, but completely different!
A few weeks ago, I bought a Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens. For the past few years, I’ve often used a Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens. I like both of them, but I really do like the extra 90mm on the wide end for the typical “landscape” look as seen in the previous image. The image above, and the previous image, were taken from the window of my truck. There’s not a lot of traffic on the back roads, so temporary “parking” isn’t a problem. The previous image was taken at 68mm while this one was taken at 170mm. The zoom let me isolate just the barn.
From the same spot, I was able to zoom in on some of the barn’s details. This one and the image below were taken at 600mm.
I was able to do this texture shot of just the failing shingles from the same spot as the previous two images.
I am not positive, but I believe these tanks are alongside an old creamery. I was able to shoot this one at 60mm (and I could have backed up a little). This image might be a little tight on both edges, and definitely so if I were going to print it as a gallery wrap. Just to be safe (and without changing lenses) I also shot it as two captures. While in the field, I gave myself several options. I could have also turned the camera to portrait mode and taken five or six pano parts for an even larger file.
I shot this one from the road in front of the old creamery.
A lot of the images were taken at 1/1250th second since I had plenty of light. Most of the time, I was shooting hand held out the window or over the bed of my truck. This shot was taken in the shadows so I dropped the shutter speed to 1/320th second and turned the vibration reduction option to ON on the lens. This new Sigma lens does a great job when the vibration reduction is turned on, and not on a tripod.
I took a lot of images at the old creamery. This is part of an end cap on another tank. Grunge textures abound in many areas of an old structure like this. I always like going to towns with a railroad running through it. Often the tracks are a block or two off the main road. Main Street in many towns have had many facelifts, but a block away, I can usually find a variety of subjects. The town of Jackson never had a railroad, though there was a temporary railroad when crews were building the Jackson Lake Dam.
I took this interesting barn in both landscape and portrait mode. In landscape mode, I had to deal with a few distracting elements. The vertical shot worked fine, even though I liked the square crop here.
The old town of Freedom is very interesting. The Wyoming and Idaho state line runs down the middle of town. These old structures are on the Idaho side.
I took this one out the window, as with the previous image. I also took a lot of texture photos of the corrugated metal and peeling paint.
Again, the flexibility of a good zoom lens gives me a ton of options. I took this one at 420mm. Often, there is a lot of clutter and distractions (like a new car) near a subject. The zoom lets me isolate the cleanest parts of the scene. I could have used the rest of the 600mm reach to isolate other interesting details, or pull back to get the entire piece of farming equipment. I am always looking for broken patterns. I think this one would be less interesting if the wheels went all the way off the right side.
What the heck! When I saw this telephone pole and transformers, I thought it needed to be photographed! I think every image today was taken at F/8. You’ve probably heard the expression, “F/8 and be there!” This one is amazingly in focus in almost every area of the photo.
There were so many options for photographing this scene. The barn and corrals are next to a road, so I was able to walk up to the edge of the fence and shoot over it. When I looked at all of the images on my computer, I liked the diagonal fence and partial road.
Of course, this is the same barn taken from another position. I captured another half a dozen versions and liked most of them.
I opted to process the photos from today with sepia toning. I have a “sepia preset” loaded in Lightroom, so all I have to do is click one button and it does all of the heavy lifting in seconds. Afterwards, I can tweak the image as necessary. The newer versions of Lightroom temporarily apply the preset as I roll over my presets. This is a great feature for anyone wanting to quickly experiment and check various presets. Thousands of Lightroom presets are available, both for purchase for free download. Any preset can be tweaked and saved as a new preset with the name of your choice.
I originally drove to the mouth of the Snake River Canyon hoping to find Mountain Goats. I got there at 8:30 am and didn’t see a single goat—even up high! Lacking furry white mammals, I spent two hours driving around Star Valley. At 10:30 am, I headed back to the canyon and came up empty. Even so, I came home with 500 images, plus I gained even more confidence in the new Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens.
All of the images on this page were taken on November 5th, using a Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens. They were all hand held, usually supported over the window of my truck or over the bed. Most were taken at 1/1250 second at F/8. I was using Auto ISO all day.
Check out these Feature Posts.
Rural Wyoming
Nostalgic Captures of the Northern Rockies!
The West of Yesteryear and Today
I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.
Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole
Mother Nature is an unparalleled designer! Imagine how many snowflakes fall in Wyoming during any particular storm. Then consider that no two snowflakes are the same! Aaaaamaging!
At this time of the year, if temperatures drop low enough, creeks, streams, and lakes freeze over. Early winter a great time to take an hour or two and capture what Mother Nature offers up. As I mentioned earlier, she’s amazing! Like the snowflakes, there is no end to the possibilities. Later in the winter, snow will cover the creeks, and unfortunately, hide the little design gems for the rest of the season. With that said, Mother Nature simply reloads and delivers a new set of winter gems like mounds of snow, icicles, and tree trunks coated on one side with heavy, wet snow.
Mother Nature’s design skills are always on full display for anyone willing to stop and explore. In reality, Mother Nature’s designs are everywhere—in every state and in every season. Many photographers drive or fly long distances to see our mountains, lakes and wildlife, but great subjects are everywhere.
You might enjoy the work of Freeman Patterson—author of many photography books on learning to see the opportunities. Click Here to see a selection of his books available on Amazon. I have quite a few of his books. My favorite is probably “Photographing the World Around You”, but all of them are very good.
For this page, I limited my scope to subjects with frozen water, rocks, bubbles, and late fall leaves. Again, opportunities are everywhere. There is a portion of Freeman’s book where he explains how he dropped everything to photograph the iridescent colors of an oil slick on his driveway.
Mother Nature does all of the “heavy lifting”. A photographer simply has to “see” and then photograph small chunks of the “real estate”. Unlike most landscapes and wildlife photos, a photographer can move around the subject for a pleasing composition. In other words, there isn’t an up or down. Additionally, it’s difficult to say there is a right or wrong!
Interestingly, all of these icy subjects have a very short life. They are here today, and possibly gone today! Gone today, but, if it freezes again, they are back tomorrow in an entirely new configuration. Mother Natures goes back to the “drawing board” each night.
As an “artist/photographer”, we are not confined to a lot of rules, but they DO come in handy. For example, repetition, harmony and balance are principles of design. Same for gradation and variation. I liked the repetion of the warm blues and the overall texture in this photo.
A “broken pattern” is often more interesting than a consistent pattern. In other words, this photo might have been okay if there were six leaves equally spaced, but the unexpected shape of the exposed rock draws your eye there. Conventional wisdom might suggest your eyes would be drawn to the shapes with the color.
Over the years, I’ve been around a lot of woodcarvers. You might ask on of them how they did it, and they’ll reply, “Well, I start with a big log, then carve away anything that didn’t look like a bear!” Similarly, Mother Nature creates the scenes. All I do is crop away the rest of the big world into a small rectangle.
Some of the images on this page contain “literal” subjects. In other words, you see the subject is a group of leaves, or a single leaf. Other images are totally abstract designs. A viewer might have to decipher the image, or maybe not be able to figure out exactly what it is at all. When viewed as a group, as on this page, the clues are supplied.
I took several shots of the ice texture, then included one with a captured leaf. Rich morning light adds to any photo.
Hoar frost can form on objects after a little overnight fog. Without the hoar frost, this would be an ordinary leaf. The holes in the leaf make it more interesting, and the soft background texture adds to the capture. Most artists would also notice the complimentary (opposite colors on a color wheel) in this shot. Blue and orange are complimentary colors, along with red/green and purple/yellow. Tertiary colors also have a corresponding complementary colors.
Colors are also broken into warm and cool colors, or hues. Each hue can have varying degrees of saturation and luminance. The mystery object in the lower right adds a touch of warmth to an otherwise cool image.
I found a treasure chest of textures and subjects in this little stream. I liked the variety in the leaves, the moody light shapes, and the ice texture in this one.
One of my college art professors might suggest this one is “busy”. Another might like it because it has a lot of movement and variety. The image gives a viewer plenty of reasons to keep studying it.
This one is more simple, but still offers plenty of data and a lot of variety of textures.
“Simplicity is the key to good design”. A lot is said in this image with only four leaves and a rock.
There is a lot of freedom in shots like the ones on this page. As I mentioned earlier, there is no up or down, or left and right. I could easily rotate around my chosen slice of the creek bottom. About the only technical issue would be to shoot the image so my shadow didn’t cause problems.
This photo is essentially the same as the previous capture. I just rotated over the subject. I chose to let the main diagonal fracture run diagonally (more pleasing to me), or I could have turned to run it either vertical or horizontal. A artist would tell you it “just looks better”, but my college professors would tell us why!
Of the group, this image feels a little more “experimental” than the rest. The leaves flow in from the upper left, looking a lot like they are actually floating above the ice. The lower right is in the shadows, adding unexpected variety. I chose to leave the tidbit of a leaf in the upper right. When I look at the image, my eyes move around a lot, roaming up to the upper right but not off the page. The diagonal line does a good job of pulling me back to the leaves near the middle.
I have to ask myself if I would like this one better without the crack on the left side? If I thought it was a distraction, I could clone it out, but I think I like it.
I found numerous rocks in the stream that were partially exposed, but gravitated to the ones with a captured leaf.
Earlier in the year, I photographed some leaves submerged in Cottonwood Creek. They looked interesting at the time, but when I viewed them on my computer, they just looked like blurry leaves. Lesson learned! In the photos above, the exposed portion of the rock and the exposed leaf explain what is going on with the layers of ice and submerged leaves.
I might have preferred one more leaf in this one. Remember the “rule of odds”! One is better than two, three is better than two or four, and so forth. Other than for making a point on this page, I would probably delete this one.
I liked the variety of textures in this one. It also has good eye movement. When isolated from the group, it might take a viewer a minute to decipher it.
When I first noticed, this subject, it was still in shadows. I returned to it just as the sun was glancing across the frozen stems of ice.
Two leaves, a shadow, and some ice. How simple can that be! Still, this one tells a story about the transitions of the seasons..
A couple of days ago, I photographed 1200 pound moose crossing a stream. While taking those photos, I made a mental note to go back for some winter detail photos. Even though I own a macro lens and a tripod with an extension arm to help me get overhead, I opted to use my Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, and instead of setting up every shot on a tripod, I hand held the photos. Most of the images were captured at 1/320th second to 1/500th second. My previous experiences with that lens and body combination were always very good, so I felt confident for these images. The lens focuses amazingly close—even at 400mm on a 1.5 crop body!
Not everyone, especially wildlife purists, will like images like the ones on this Feature Page. I get it on “some” level. I spent 45 minutes or so taking one of the sets of the photos for this page. Interestingly, when I made it back to the truck on the second day, I saw a beautiful bull Moose cross the road near my truck. I changed bodies and lenses and headed back with my tripod for another hour of wildlife photos. Most of photography is “timing”, right? If I hadn’t stopped to “smell the flowers”, I would have missed him. A wildlife photographer might suggest that if I hadn’t “wasted” a couple of hours taking ice photos, I might have found other wildlife subjects somewhere else. Yes, I get it on some level, but I LIKE taking these!
For this page, I took hundreds of ice, rocks, and leaves photos over a period of two days. I could have easily taken hundreds more! I processed a lot more that could have made it onto this page, too. It’s difficult to suggest that any or all of the images on this page would make good “wall hangers” as an isolated image. I might print a grouping of them and cluster them together on a wall to add some context. Additionally, small photos like these make great images for anyone creating a coffee table book or doing an article on winter travel or winter photography.
I had a friend and photographer, Gary Pumplin. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago and I miss him a lot. I used to tell Gary, “I went all Freeman Patterson today”. He knew exactly what I meant, and usually got a smile out of it.
The photo tours help me pay bills and continue to add content to this site. Keep me in mind if you are going to be in the valley! My tours are licensed by the National Park Service and National Elk Refuge.
I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.
Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole
Please take a minute and register to sign up to follow this site. I’d love to have another couple hundred new subscribers from the group visiting the site this Winter! MJ
Antler Arch: The Jackson Town Square was lit up Friday evening. I took this photo early this morning as I was heading out of town. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Moose Bull: I spotted a lot of Moose this morning but only had a minute or two with one close enough for photos. This one bedded down shortly after I got there. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bighorn Ram: There were a couple of mid sized rams on Miller Butte when I was there. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Magpie: Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bighorn Ram: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
The photo tours help me pay bills and continue to add content to this site. Keep me in mind if you are going to be in the valley! My tours are licensed by the National Park Service and National Elk Refuge.
I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.
Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole
Sparring Bull Moose: It snowed off and on all day, including the time when three bulls were close to the road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Sparring Moose: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bull Moose: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Trumpeter Swans: Captured along Flat Creek. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bighorn Ram: This ram is not as big as the one I saw a few days ago but he’s showing some rut behavior. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Moose Covered in Snow: Well, it looks and feels a lot more like Thanksgiving! I got out for a couple of hours this morning. Snow is now covering much of the valley and offering up some unique photography for people willing to get out into the wilds. This bull was out in the sagebrush, then made a quick move towards the river bottom. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Moose Covered in Snow: I got lucky…he stopped and looked back at me for a few seconds. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
TA Moulton Barn: Taken along Mormon Row. The road won’t be open that much longer, so I like to get my shots when I can. Antelope Flats Road will remain open until after the Elk Hunt in mid December. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Wagon Wheels: I usually go out looking for wildlife first, but then fill in my day with other subjects like this old wagon along Mormon Row. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Remnant Wildflowers: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Wagon Wheel: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Sparring Thanksgiving Moose: This pair of bulls were sparring along the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Winter Bull Moose: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull Moose: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Thanksgiving: My wife has been working hard preparing a meal for around 23 people this year! I might be able to get a new photo, but opted to repurpose a Thanksgiving 2017 photo.
Steamy and Foggy Moose: I like “bad weather”! This bull was in the steam from the Kelly Warm Springs along with light snow. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Moody River Bottom: I stopped along the Gros Ventre Road for this three or four shot stitched pano. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Historic Miller House: I take this shot several times a year in a variety of weather conditions. I was checking the National Elk Refuge for new Bighorns, but didn’t see them early this morning. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Trumpeter Swans: I did a little “classic soft focus” on this shot taken along Flat Creek. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Herd of Moose: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone: A great day in the Park! Lots of Moose, numerous landscapes, and a nice Bighorn Ram! This bull was part of 10 Moose seen near the Gros Ventre Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone and Laramie: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Sparring Bulls: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Lip Curl: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Lip Curl: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shane Cabin Pano with Low Clouds: Nikon D5 and Nikon 24-70mm Lens, Handheld.
Window View: This is a “stacked image” from two captures. One was focused on the logs and the second one was focused on the Grand. Nikon D5 and Nikon 24-70mm Lens, Handheld.
East Boundary Road Pano: Nikon D5 and Nikon 24-70mm Lens, Handheld.
Tetons Clouds: Taken near Elk Ranch Flats. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Elk Ranch Cabins: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Chimney: Also taken at the old Elk Ranch Dude Ranch. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Frost: At one time, my truck read 3° F this morning. Yes, it was cold until the sun cleared the ridges. The cold temperatures create unique frost crystals and the low cloud bank over the valley floor. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bighorn Ram: This is the largest Ram I’ve seen on the National Elk Refuge so far this year. I expect a lot more as this week’s snow rolls through the valley. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bighorn Ram: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
We received a little snow overnight. I had hoped the sagebrush would be covered with the white stuff, but the sage flats received only a dusting.
Moose Choir Practice: This morning, there were six bulls clustered together for a little sparring. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Moose Sparring: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bull Moose: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone: After a fairly long hike through the sagebrush, I got a few photos before he bedded down.Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hooded Merganser: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Sunrise Pano: Another beautiful morning in Jackson Hole! Throughout the day, additional clouds rolled in in anticipation of a new Winter storm. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Sunrise Pano: Gotta love the clouds! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Sunrise and Kelly Ditch: You can see at least three bulls in the distance. Most people I know are anxious for some snow on the valley floor now. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull Moose and the Distant Range: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull Moose and the Distant Range: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull Moose: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Red Dog: Wow! It’s November 24th and there were at least two red colored bison calves at Elk Ranch Flats. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison Rut: Wow #2! Traditionally, the bison rut happens in August, but this bull was still courting a cow today. I guess this activity this late in the year will result in a late calf next year. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison Bull: It appears the bulk of the Bison are staying much farther north this year. I would expect them to move south, but after several years of being hunted on rthe National Elk Refuge, they aren’t in any hurry to move south. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Snake River Overlook Under the Milky Way: Skies were clear at sunset Friday night, so I did a quick run to Snake River Overlook for some star shots. My Sigma 24mm, F1.4 lens seems to be sharper at the top than the bottom. Right now, I have a piece of gaffer’s tape holding the focus in place, but it looks like I need to adjust it some. I’ve had pretty good luck shooting it a F/1.4, but will stop it down a tad next time. Nikon D5 and Sigma 14mm Art Lens, Tripod.
Snake River Overlook Under the Milky Way: Generally speaking, the Milky Way is sprawling diagonally across the valley floor, and mostly directly overhead. Nikon D5 and Sigma Art 14mm Lens, Tripod.
Schwabacher Landing under the Stars: Nikon D5 and Sigma Art 14mm Lens, Tripod.
Trio of Bull Elk: This one was taken along Spring Gulch Road, long before the sun came up, at ISO 12,800. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Frosted Bison: Seen near the Golf and Tennis Club. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull Moose: I saw over 25 Moose this morning. This one was near the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Low Cloud Bank: Of course, taken of the John Moulton Barn from Antelope Flats Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Tree, Homestead, Tetons: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Hooded Merganser: Taken along Flat Creek. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Hooded Merganser: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Snow King Snow Maker: Temperatures dropped to around 15 degrees this morning. Both Snow King and JH Mountain Resort are both blowing snow in preparation of the upcoming ski season. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Weather: If things go well, we may get actual snow all week! It’s time!
First Light at Schwabacher Landing: I had clouds as I was driving to the parking lot, but they disappeared as I was setting up. Still nice, but not as dramatic as I had hoped. We had some snow in town overnight and I hoped it would have snowed even more in the Park. Nikon D850 and Nikon 24-70mm Lens, Tripod.
Barrows Golden Eyes: There were a few moose and elk tracks at Schwabacher Landing, along with a few Mallard Ducks and Barrows Golden Eyes in the ponds. I later went to the Kelly area where I saw a cluster of around 8 or 9 bulls, but they were around 200 yards out. There were another scattered bulls. I left there to look for other opportunities. These Barrows Golden Eyes were along Flat Creek. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Barrows Golden Eye: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
American Dipper in the Snake River: (Also known as Water Ouzel) Overnight we captured Raccoon #15. I took it about 8 miles south of town to release it near the Snake River. I saw this elusive little bird feeding along the Snake River. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
American Dipper in the Snake River: This little bluebird size birds are able to dive and disappear into the water where they feed on the bugs on the river bottom. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
“American Dippers live almost solely on rushing, unpolluted waters and can be found in mountain, coastal, or even desert streams of the West. Dippers forage in streams with rocky bottoms, and they use streams with overhanging banks for cover and nesting locations. American Dippers don’t migrate south, though they may move to larger, unfrozen rivers in winter or follow insect hatches in spring or summer.”
Hooded Merganser: This is another Merganser I took a couple of days ago along Flat Creek. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
I worked in front of the computer most of the day today. I updated this site’s software, checked on some options for selling metal prints, and culled a couple of folders of images. Throw in an hour or so on tech support, and much of the day was shot!
I received an email from Paul Gore in Bozeman, letting me know they are having an “outbreak of Bluejays” this year. Dave, my fishing buddy let me know he had one in his yard and I saw and heard one fly overhead yesterday. I put out some seeds and peanuts this afternoon, but other than a few Chickadees, it was quiet. The weather reports suggests some snow off and on in the coming week. I’m ready for snow, just to change the face of the valley.
Schwabacher Landing: Early morning with Mt. Moran as a backdrop. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mt. Moran: I used the Sigma 60-600mm lens for both Schwabacher Landing photos above. The 60mm wide end of that lens makes it almost an “all-in-one” landscape/wildlife lens. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
John Moulton Homestead: I took a similar photo from Antelope Flats a few days ago. I included the entire homestead in this one. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mt. Moran: I don’t believe this is one of the bulls I have been seeing over the past month or so. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
New Moose: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull Moose: Wow! I saw a lot of moose this morning! They were scattered all over the sage flats north of Kelly. I watched this bull for quite a while, waiting for him to raise his head for a quick shot. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Trumpeter Swans: I wish I had an extra minute to be ready for these two Trumpeters. I drove up, saw them getting ready to fly, but took off at about the time I opened the door. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Ice, Leaves, and Rocks: These opportunities won’t last all winter, so I stopped for a few more photos. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Ice and Leaves: I shot with a wide open leaves and at an angle to them to end up with a shallow depth of field. It’s a different look than the “straight down” shots I took a while back.
Ice: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mormon Row Details: The Elk Reduction Program (Elk Hunt) will continue until around mid-December. The Park Service will close a 2.5 mile section of Antelope Flats Road and eliminate vehicle access to Moron Row soon after the hunt. For now, It’s still open. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bailing Wire: A detail along Mormon Row. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Hooded Merganser: I spotted three of these beautiful ducks a few days ago, and finally had a chance to photograph one today. He was on Flat Creek. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Trumpeter Swans: Also spotted on Flat Creek. There are quite a few species of Ducks and even a few Muskrats. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Sleeping Indian: I liked being able to include a couple of Swans in this landscape photo. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Sludge: Earlier in the morning, I saw large snowflakes falling out my office window. I packed up and headed to the National Elk Refuge hoping to catch a few Bighorns in the falling snow. When I came up empty on the Bighorns, I headed back through town and north to Flat Creek. This sludge, from the Refuge Road, was on the side of my truck. I love capturing this kind of texture, both as a single photo and for possible uses on composite images. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
I spent morning yesterday at Granite Falls. Last night, I created a short video about my trip down there and posted it on Instagram in my IGTV panel. Here’s the link:
Granite Falls Details: Another photo from yesterday. It was captured in Aperture priority at ISO 100, 1/8th Second, F/13—of course on a sturdy tripod. I included a map to the Falls at the end of the video. I used my new Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens on yesterday’s shoot. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Here’s a link to a previous Feature Post: Granite Falls and Granite Creek:
Worth noting: The JH region is quiet in November, but Granite Creek and Granite Falls is almost is almost deserted! I didn’t see a single vehicle on the 9 mile section of gravel road, or a single other person all morning.
In case you missed this April 2017 Feature Post, check it out! Telephoto Lenses For Landscapes:
Grizzly 610 and Cubs: Another photo from yesterday afternoon. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Grizzly Sow 610: The trio of Grizzlies were “grubbing” in an area just off the road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Grizzly 610’s Cub: Looks like this little bruin is ready for winter! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Seed Cleaner Pulley: Darla and I went to Idaho Falls today for some “around the house” shopping. On the way back, I stopped again in Ririe, ID and took this photo from an old “seed cleaner”. Unfortunately, it has been sold and won’t be around much longer. The piece of equipment reminds me of a Rube Goldberg machine. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Granite Falls: I took Macey down to Granite Falls today for a morning shoot. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Granite Creek: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Granite Falls: I probably took enough photos for a new Feature Post, along with enough video for a new Instagram video. I’ll work on that tonight. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Grizzly 610 and Cub: Today was the first time I’ve photographed 610 and her cubs all year! The cubs are fairly large and very plump. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Swan in Gold: Taken along Flat Creek late in the day. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Murphy Barn and the Big Cottonwood: I was up early to photograph the setting full moon, but a few large clouds covered the Grand. I didn’t take a single photo of the event. I took this photo along Antelope Flats Road as the first light skipped across the valley floor. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Early Morning Pronghorns: Taken in the fields north of Kelly. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Shoshone in Rusty Bushes and Golden Grass: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone: Seen feeding on aquatic vegetation along the Gros Ventre. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Great Horned Owl: This beautiful raptor was in the forest next to the Gros Ventre River. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone on the Move: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Blacktail Ponds Overlook: I went to this spot early, hoping for a nice bank of clouds behind the Teton Range. It looked promising originally, but the morning clouds thinned at about the time the sun was starting to hit the range. On some days, the thin clouds I see as I am driving north get even thicker and more impressive…so it is always a gamble. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm G2 Lens, Tripod.
Morning Sparring: Eye to eye with two nice bulls seen near Kelly. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
The “Cowboy Walk”: Notice the angled antlers, down ears, and though you can’t see in a still photo, slow approach between two equal sized bulls. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Refreshments: This is at the outlet ditch from the Kelly Warm Springs. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Stream Crossing: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Oxbow Bend with Frozen Water: A quick shot showing the status at Oxbow. I’ve heard of a couple seeing River Otters there last week. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bald Eagle: Spotted along the Snake River near Pacific Creek. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mystery Clouds Over the Tetons: There were quite a few twisted and woven clouds over JH this afternoon. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Sunset Pano: Stitched from three horizontal captures late in the evening. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
I am still downloading two other cards, but these photos should give you a good idea of the possibilities from today!
Curtis Canyon: I did a quick buzz out to the National Elk Refuge and took this mid-day shot of the rocks at Curtis Canyon. I didn’t see any Bighorns. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Raven: Some low life threw a bag of fast food leftovers along the road on the National Elk Refuge, attracting a variety of scavengers, including this Raven. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
And a few Black-billed Magpies:Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Trumpeter Swan: It seems today was mostly a “feathered” subject day! I took this shot along Flat Creek.Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Hooded Mergansers: November is a good Waterfowl month. I spotted three pairs of Hooded Mergansers and was lucky enough to be ready when two of the males took off. My shutter speed was 1/1250th second. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Hooded Merganser: Along with Harlequin Ducks and Mandarin Ducks, Hooded Mergansers are some of my favorite ducks to photograph. Nice to know a few are around again this year! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
South Teton Range: The Grand had a cloud covering the tip, so when the light hit the peaks, I concentrated on the other peaks. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Wagon Wheel: One of the deteriorating wagons at the edge of Kelly. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Cow and Calf: The big bulls were either hiding, resting, or too far out today. I found quite a few cows and calves, along with a few smaller bulls. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Cow and Two Calves: The mother Moose has two calves of the year. Their legs are long enough to maneuver the deep sagebrush and upcoming snow. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Little Bull: There is a very good chance I am photographing some of the biggest bulls now that I photographed when they were only newborns 15 years ago! Hopefully, I’ll be around to see this one mature, too! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bighorn Ewe and Young Ram: I checked out the National Elk Refuge after lunch time and found a couple of Bighorns near the road. There should be more as snow covers the mountains between now and Thanksgiving. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Young Bighorn Ram: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Freemont: I had planned on going south today, but ended up looking around Kelly. I saw a bunch of Pronghorns and a few Mule Deer, plus quite a few Moose. There were also a LOT of hunters out this morning. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bitter Brush: This isn’t a “wall hanger”, but I included it today to show the light colored Sagebrush and the darker Bitter Brush they are feeding on right now. I haven’t been hiking around the river bottoms lately, but I don’t believe they are using them as much. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Trumpeter Swans: Taken along Flat Creek. The warmer after temperatures have melted most of the ice and they are resting along the bank. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Cattails: The back light and random patters attracted me today. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mountain Ash: At some point in the Winter, I hope to catch Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings feeding on these berries. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mountain Ash: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Golden Willows: I took a few “studio shots” today, then went out late in the day for some landscapes. This well lit circular cluster of Golden Willows caught my eye as I was driving up Spring Gulch Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Hansen Homestead: I guess it was a Golden Willows sort of a day. I liked the way they stood out against the dark background. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Box L Ranch: The Teton Range was in shadows, but some of the farm lands were still lit. I’ve always liked this old barn. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Supreme Pizza: This is one of the photos I took here in my office just before lunch. I did the photos quick so I could polish off the pizza while it was hot!
Pizza Setup: This is an iPhone photo of the setup. The variable temp LED light was shot through a 12 pane window onto the still life. The D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens was supported over the subject using a heavy duty tripod and an extension arm. The shot was processed in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Ice and Leaves: If you are fly fisherman, you’d know that if you had a great day one day, the odds are very good you’ll be back at the same place the next day. You’d probably also know it seldom repeats. Yesterday, I had a great day photographing Moose, taking around 2500 images. This morning, I went back and saw a few Moose, but non of them were close enough to photograph. I took some time and found a few more creek bottom photo, this time backing up a little for a slightly different look. Nikon D500 and Tamron 180-400 mm Lens, Handheld.
Ice, Leaves, and Rock: Nikon D500 and Tamron 180-400 mm Lens, Handheld.
Ice and Leaves: After a few warm afternoons, some of the creek had thawed, then froze over again last night. This created some cavities of interest. Nikon D500 and Tamron 180-400 mm Lens, Handheld.
Ice Patterns: I processed this one as a Black and White image. I like the texture, details and movement.
Ice Patterns: Nikon D500 and Tamron 180-400 mm Lens, Handheld.
This new page is loaded with seasonal subjects with ice, leaves, and stones. Click the link above or the photo below!
Dark Cash Register: A friend gave me a few suggestions for an interesting technique. I tried it this afternoon on a photo I took years ago.
Cash Register: The vintage cash register was in a museum in Montepelier, ID. I used it as the starting point for the previous image.
I was milling around on B&H’s site and see the announcement of a new Nikon D6. They didn’t have specs, but are taking pre-orders.
Morning Tetons: Taken from the highway as I was headed north. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Trio of Bulls: I took over 2500 images of Moose this morning! Light was beautiful and several of the nicer bulls were close to the road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Slim Jim: This bull crossed, then backtracked to the other bulls. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Slim Jim Lip Curl: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Slim Jim and Mountains: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Slim Jim and Southern Mountains: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Freemont: I photographed this beautiful bull several days ago. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Freemont and Slim Jim: Sparring is fairly common between bulls now. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
It’s a great time to be in the Tetons!
If you are an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber, you might have noticed some new update notices. Check out this “What’s New in Photoshop 2020” YouTube video. The AI (Artificial Intelligence) selection features look they are going to make life much easier for making tough selection.
Lightroom Classic also received an update which requires converting your catalog to a new catalog. Mine seems to have converted flawlessly. “What’s New in Lightroom Classic” One of the features appears to be a form of Content Aware to fill in open edges of a stitched Panoramic Image.
This morning, I headed down the Snake River Canyon anticipating finding Mountain Goats. They were out yesterday…so why not go down. They were no where to be seen! To kill some time, I drove south to Star Valley and took a lot of photos of barns, homesteads, and textures. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
There are a lot of Raptors in Star Valley, including Eagles, Harriers, & Hawks. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Star Valley Barn: As it turned out, I took around 500 images, all with the D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Instead of filling up this page with photos from today, I have a brand new Feature Post ready to upload. It has at least 20 photos and a lot of comments. Sign up to follow Best of the Tetons with the subscription form below!
The Old Homestead: Okay…I like this one a lot! I had to wait for the right clouds and a thin band of light to hit the trees and structures, but it was worth it. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Macey, our little Golden Retriever, is now over 8 months old! Check out this new page!
Shoshone!: I’ve seen this bull feeding in the sagebrush flats off and on over the past week, but finally decided to go back to him for a few captures. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Slim Jim: When possible, I like to photograph bulls in the river bottoms. Even though the background is a bit busy, it is still more interesting to me. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Slim Jim: I can identify this bull by the fork on his right brow time. Otherwise, his paddles are very narrow. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Slim Jim and a Sparring Partner: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bannock and Slim Jim: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I checked the weather report last night. The forecast was for clear skies. NOPE! It was cloudy. I switched the Sigma Sport 60-600mm back to my D5 for the better high ISO. I probably saw a dozen moose today, but concentrated on three bulls. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bannock and Slim Jim: Regular readers at Best of the Tetons probably already know I prefer a zoom lens for most of my shooting. The photos on today’s entry illustrate why. The zoom allows me to work tight on a single moose, or pull back and get two or more in one shot. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bannock: It’s not always possible, but I prefer to catch the bulls with their ears facing forward. This bull has a very distinctive dewlap. If you scroll down to yesterday’s bull, Freemont, you’ll notice he has a bell, but no dewlap. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bannock and Slim Jim: The other bull I photographed was one I saw in the Fall at Blacktail Butte. He has a scruffy left ear. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Ice Bank: It wasn’t as cold today as it has been for the past few mornings. Still, ice is continuing to build on some streams. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm Lens, Handheld.
You might enjoy this four or five minute video I created today. I went all “gadget geek” in this one, showing some the specialty tools I use on some days.
Trapped Leaves: This is the photo I spent the most time on in the video. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm Lens, Tripod.
This new page is loaded with seasonal subjects with ice, leaves, and stones. Click the link above or the photo below!
Sunrise Range: I was up early again today. Clouds were almost no existent over the Grand, but were beginning to flow in farther south on the Teton Range at first light. Worth a shot! Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Freemont 2019: I believe this is the same bull I called Freemont last year. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Freemont 2018: While they are still maturing, the bulls add an extra tine or two. Besides the lack of a dewlap, these two photos show very similar antlers. Each year, I add the name in the keywords in Lightroom, making it easy to find them in my catalog from year to year. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm G2 Lens, Tripod.
Freemont and the Grand: The photos from this morning illustrate why I like zoom lenses! Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Freemont and Cow/Calf: Opportunistic bulls are still open to finding a cow still in season. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Lip Curl: Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Alert Bull: Moose aren’t hunted inside Grand Teton National Park, but they are still leery of any sounds or movement. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Mother Nature’s Wintery Masterpieces: I am still working on a new Feature Post featuring ice, snow, rocks and interesting textures. Sign up to follow Best of the Tetons and be one of the first to receive a notification of the post!
Sage Green Bling: Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
November is a GREAT month to photograph Moose! This morning, November 1st, I counted at least 27 of them! They are on the tail end of the rut, but bulls still court the cows.. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Moose and Mt. Moran: Moose are moving from the river bottoms and onto the sage flats, making them much easier to spot. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Sizing Up: These two bulls were doing the “cowboy walk” as they approached each other. The smaller one knew he was overmatched. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Sizing Up: Bannock is one of the larger two or three bulls in the valley. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Mother Nature’s Abstracts: Nikon D500 and Tamron 180-400 mm Lens, Handheld.
Temperatures have been hovering close to zero degrees F on many mornings. That’s typical for much of November. Additional snow storms will frost the mountains and valley floor. The freezing cold captures fall leaves, at least temporarily, in area streams. I took several hundred similar images and should be making a Feature Post for them soon! Sign up to receive an email notification of this and all new Feature Posts.
Trumpeter Swans: November is a great month to photograph Trumpeter Swans. At one point, there may be 150 or more along Flat Creek. Right now, there 30-40 or so. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Trumpeter Swans: This shot was taken with morning back light. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Trumpeter Swan: I spend most of my time waiting for a Swan to stretch its wings, fight with other Swans, or catch them flying, taking off or landing. (Action or interaction) Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Lone Elk: The Elk Reduction Program inside Grand Teton National Park begins tomorrow. This smart bull beat the hunters and made it to the Refuge a day early. This is not the best of photos, but it documents the first bull I’ve seen on the Refuge this year. As the month progresses, I can expect others. Additionally, some of the Grizzlies will be hearing hunter’s gun shots and moving towards the gut piles. I heard someone say they saw a Gray Wolf at the Kelly Warm Springs yesterday. They will be following the Elk as they migrate towards the Refuge. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bighorn Lamb: In early November, Bighorns make their way to the National Elk Refuge. By late November, some of the Rams will be bashing heads prior to, and during the rut. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
The photos on this initial entry were all taken today! I had to get back to teach a class, so I didn’t have a chance to stay out as long as I might have wanted.
November is an other “sleeper month”…meaning it is a GREAT month that most people neglect. There aren’t many rangers around, and most of them are busy with keeping an eye on hunters. If you came here in the summer and felt pushed around by the crowds and Wildlife Brigade Volunteers, November is your month!
Yesterday, I photographed a Badger on the National Elk Refuge. They do not hibernate, so watch for them. Short-tailed Weasels will be turning white soon. Pine Martins also hunt all winter. Watch for Wolves and Coyotes about anywhere in the Park. Great Horned and Gray Gray Owls have been seen more this year than in the last couple of years. Most of the Great Grays have been farther north. Owls will become easier to spot now that most of the leaves have fallen. Elk and Deer should be visible throughout all of November. Bison won’t be heading to the Elk Refuge anytime soon, so watch for them in the Park. A few Mountain Goats have been coming down to the highway in the Snake River Canyon already. Expect Bald Eagles to show up in numbers soon. Eagles will be around the hunt zone, also looking for the gut piles. Ravens, crows, and Magpies will be looking for an easy meal. A few Northern Harriers and a few Red-tailed Hawks may still be seen in November.
Snow is already covering the Teton Range. The middle sections of the Moose-Wilson Road and Teton Park Road are closed to vehicle travel for the winter. Antelope Flats Road should remain open until the middle of December. I believe Schwabacher Landing will remain open for a little while longer. There is no hunting in that area of the river bottom anymore. The middle section of Mormon Row will probably close tomorrow (beginning of the hunt). Access to Curtis Canyon and upper Flat Creek is still open. The bike path along US Highway 89 and 191 is closed next to the National Elk Refuge. All campgrounds and most facilities inside GTNP are closed. Dornan’s will close on November 3rd and will reopen around Thanksgiving. Fill up with gas and bring your own food if heading into the Park. Access to the Mormon Row historic cabins and homesteads is still available through all of November and about half of December.
Fall Back on November 3rd! Days will be the same length, but we’ll be getting an extra hour of sleep. Unfortunately, our days will be done much sooner! November is a good month for night time Milky Way shots.
As always, you can view any of the Daily Journals for the past five + years. Check out the last few years of November Journals!
Daily Updates Archives:
2020: Apr: | Mar: | Feb: | Jan:
2019: Dec: | Nov: | Oct: | Sept: | Aug: | July: | June: | May: | Apr: | Mar: | Feb: | Jan:
2018: Dec: | Nov: | Oct. | Sept: | Aug: | July: | June: | May: | Apr: | Mar: | Feb: | Jan:
2017: Dec: | Nov: | Oct: | Sept: | Aug: | July: | June: | May: | Apr: | Mar: | Feb: | Jan:
2016: Dec: | Nov: | Oct: | Sept: | Aug: | July: | June: | May: | Apr: | Mar: | Feb: | Jan:
2015: Dec: | Nov: | Oct: | Sept: | Aug: | July: | June: | May: | Apr: | Mar: | Feb: | Jan:
2014: Dec: | Nov: | Oct: | Sept: | Aug: | July: | June: | May: | Apr: | Mar: | Feb: | Jan:
2013: Dec: | Nov: | Oct: | Sept: | Aug: