A monthly journal of wildlife reports, scenic opportunities, and tidbits for both photographers and Teton visitors!
Recent Daily Updates Archives:
2015: 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:
Check out the July Overview!
Monthly Overviews for JH / GTNP . Get a quick look at 12 months side by side.
July 7, 2015 :
Click to view slideshow.
I added a little fill flash to my Wildflower shots this morning. The clouds in the East were dulling the light on the flowers at times.
Wildflower and Clouds: Nikon D800and Nikon 24-7-mm with Strobe
Tetons in Shadows:This group of Widlflower shots were taken along Antelope Flats Road. Nikon D800and Nikon 24-7-mm with Strobe
Meadowlark: Taken along Mormon Row Road. Nikon D800and Tamron 150-600mm
One Flowers and Aspen Trunk: Nikon D800and Tamron 150-600mm
Buck Mule Deer: Two bucks were milling around near the Gros Ventre Junction as I was heading home. Nikon D800and Tamron 150-600mm
Buck in Shade: This buck was standing in the shade of a small cottonwood tree. It looks like he is still adding points to his velvet covered antlers. A minute or so after this shot, he bedded down in the sagebrush. Nikon D800and Tamron 150-600mm
Shadow Mountain Wildflowers: I prepped another half dozen Wildflower images I took this morning on Shadow Mountain, but figured I already had enough images for today. There were Sticky Geraniums, One Flowers, Indian Paintbrush, Fireweed, Penstemon, Scarlet Galia, and a number of species I couldn’t identify.
Upcoming Plans? If you are planning a trip to the region, here are a couple of suggestions:
- This Weekend: Pinedale, WY: Green River Rendezvous Days: July 9-12, 2015 : Parade, Trader’s Row, Mountain Man Museum, Pageant
- This Weekend: Antique Show at Teton Village
- This Weekend: First of two Center For The Arts outdoor Art Shows ~ Miller Park
- Fort Hall, ID ~52nd Annual Shoshone-Bannock Festival & Pow Wow ~ August 6-9, 2015
- West Yellowstone, MT: Smoking Waters Mtn. Man Rendezvous: July 31-August 9
- All Summer: Jackson, WY: Farmer’s Markets ~ Saturdays on the Town Square.
- All Summer! Jackson, WY: Rodeo on Wednesday and Saturday nights all summer.
- All Summer! Jackson, WY: JH Shootout on the Town Square at 6:30 nightly (except Sunday).
July 6, 2015 :
Golden Morning at Mormon Row: Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70mm
Chambers Homestead on Mormon Row: Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70mm
Wildflowers on Antelope Flats Road: Nikon D800 and Nikon 14-24mm
Oxbow Bend: Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70mm
Penstemon at Colter Bay: Nikon D800and Tamron 150-600mm
A Day in the Park: I took a couple out for a “One-on-One” photo excursion today. Light was beautiful in the morning following overnight rains. In between helping them with their photography and shots, I was able to sneak in a few captures for today’s entry. Besides the landscape opportunities, we managed to find a Great Gray Owl. I believe both of them were able to get some great captures. Flowers along Antelope Flats Road are still in peak shape.
I have a couple of openings for photo excursions for later in July. For more info: Mike Jackson’s One-On-One Photography Excursions in GTNP. (Golden Era Studios / Mike R. Jackson is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service and the National Elk Refuge.)
Lily & Benson’s Bumble Bee: The goal was to capture a Bumble Bee in flight. I shot my still image with a Nikon D800. I switched the body to a Nikon D4 knowing it can shoot at 10 FPS. I let Lily & Benson take some images while I walked to the Colter Bay Visitor’s Center for a pit stop. When I returned, they had captured several nice images with a Bumble Bee in the air. I have no way of knowing which of the husband and wife team took the shot, so I included both names. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
July 5, 2015 :
Eclectic Sunday! I did a quick zip around the southern part of GTNP and stumbled upon a variety of subjects. By comparison, today was cool and pleasant. Clouds rolled in after the Fireworks last night and there was a light wind to help keep the temperatures down.
Pronghorn Buck with Summer Wildflowers: This nice looking buck was crossing Mormon Row when I saw him. All I had to do was wait until he moved into the flowers and hope he’d look up for a few seconds. I typically photograph Pronghorns either out the window (over a bean bag) or standing against the door and shooting over the hood. They often spook if you pull out a tripod and get out into the open. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Pronghorn Doe: The variety in colors and texture behind this Pronghorn attracted me initially. She was also along Mormon Row. On a sunny morning, I would have been shooting into a backlit situation, but the slightly overcast skies made the shot work. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Bluebird: I would have preferred to capture this male Bluebird on a more natural looking branch, but this happens to be the kind of object they land on all the time. He let me pull up fairly close in my van and shoot out he window. This would have been a very tough shot into the sun on any of the last mornings. I’ve seen Bluebirds near the TA Moulton Barn almost every time I’ve been there in the past month or so. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Uinta Ground Squirrel: This little critter near the parking lot at Schwabacher Landing seemed to be begging for a photo. It posed on a buckrail fence for quite a while. I photographed this one out the window of the van (always with the vehicle turned off). Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Tree Swallow: Unlike some of the other subjects from today, this Swallow allowed me to capture two exposures and then was off the perch and flying around Schwabacher Landing searching for insects. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Sora Rail: Richard Pontius sent me a note to identify this bird as a Sora Rail. This bird made a loud, distinctive call, similar in many ways to some of the Kingfisher calls. This was also taken at Schwabacher Landing. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Schwabacher Landing Tidbits: I bumped into a “Best of the Tetons” subscriber this morning that has been spending a lot of time there. She said she saw a Black Bear one day and a Grizzly another, along with beavers, Mallards with babies in tow, and other waterfowl. Moose are seen at Schwabacher Landing at times, but she hadn’t seen one.
Molting Mallard: At the time I took this shot, I wasn’t sure about this bird either. After seeing it on the computer, I am fairly sure it is a Mallard drake going through a molting stage. I can see some of the blue green feathers in its head. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Driggs Fireworks 2015: Last year, I spent one night photographing the Fireworks at Huntsman Springs in Driggs, ID. It was such a wonderful show. This year, I suggested my wife and her friends go there to see it for themselves. Things changed, however. Hunstman turned the fireworks event over to the town of Driggs and the golf course was closed to non-Hunstman Springs members. Maybe the event went off well and all were satisfied, but my wife and friends came back to Jackson Hole to watch our event. That gave me a chance to try a new spot several mile south of town and at an elevated position. The photo is at the end of yesterday’s entry. I’ve never seen a Fireworks photo from there.
Trumpeter Swans: Recently, I caught a glimpse of a pair of Trumpeter Swans with four or five babies. If you are driving by Flat Creek, keep an eye out for them. This is about the same time we first saw them last year.
July 4, 2015 :
Happy 4th!
Dusty Trail Horses: Morning’s gold light on area horses. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
An Upcoming Year of Wishes: Western images are on the wish list: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Pronghorn Buck: Taken along Mormon Row Road. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
The Gros Ventre: Bull Moose posing along the river this morning. 150mm. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Bull Moose in Summer Grass: 600mm. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
New Feature Post: Downtown Red, White & Blue ~ Patriotic Colors on Display at the 4th of July Parade.
For additional recent shots, click the June 2015 Daily Updates and Photos Page. July was active and busy last year, and I expect it to be again this year, so please check back regularly! The image above was taken on July 1st of 2014.
Upcoming Plans? If you are planning a trip to the region, here are a couple of suggestions:
- TODAY! Jackson, WY: 4th of July Parade & Fireworks: Saturday, 4th of July
- TODAY! Driggs, ID: Celebrate America, large fireworks display: Saturday 4th of July
- TODAY! Driggs, ID: Hot Air Balloon Festival, early mornings July 02 – July 05
- West Yellowstone, MT: Smoking Waters Mtn. Man Rendezvous: July 31-August 9
- Pinedale, WY: Green River Rendezvous Days: July 9-12, 2015 : Parade, Trader’s Row, Mountain Man Museum, Pageant
- Jackson, WY: Farmer’s Markets begin on Saturday, July 11 downtown.
- TODAY! Jackson, WY: Rodeo on Wednesday and Saturday nights all summer.
- TODAY! Jackson, WY: JH Shootout on the Town Square at 6:30 nightly (except Sunday).
Fireworks at Jackson Hole’s Snow King Mountain: Taken from the hillside on East Gros Ventre Butte. Nikon D800 and Nikon 70-200mm ~ 3 seconds, F/8, ISO 1250
July 3, 2015 :
4th of July Weekend Begins! I was out early and found three Bull Moose along the Gros Ventre River.
Bull Moose in Willows: Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
Gros Ventre Approach: Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
Gros Ventre Crossing: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Morning on the Gros Ventre: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Side Channel Crossing: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Notes for iPhone users: The Moose images above were taken at roughly 45 yards from the subjects with a telephoto lens. The only way to get a similar shot with an iPhone is to be very close. That would be dangerous and illegal! I was speaking with Bill Kerr last week. He’s a Yellowstone ranger. He pulled out his cell phone then said, “This is the worst device ever invented for Yellowstone…people get way too close with them.” The shot above was taken in 2008. I was ready to get bloody shots on all the news feeds that day!
Wildlife Notes: Days are still very long right now, with highs in the low to mid 90°s. Most of the dark mammals bed down as soon as the sun starts heating their backs, so if you want to see them, be out very early. Sunrise is at 5:46 am and first light over the eastern mountains is close to 6:00 am in many areas. Many of the moose, deer and elk will pull back into the shadows early. By 7:30am, expect them to be down and out of sight for the bulk of the day. Moose will often stand up in the daytime just long enough to move to a new shady spot. By about 6:30 pm or so, watch for them to start moving around a bit and feed on fresh willow branches and leaves. Great Gray Owls are having to feed their hungry babies and may be hunting more in the middle of the day than when they are only hunting for themselves. This should also apply to Foxes and Coyotes until the young are hunting on their own.
JH 4th of July Tidbits: It has been warm and dry lately. Fire Danger ratings are high. Fireworks are prohibited in Teton County, except for the big events at Teton Village and Snow King. Gasoline is running around $3.05 per gallon for self-serve unleaded at many stations.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird: Nikon D800 and Nikon 200-400mm with Nikon Strobes
Broad-tailed Hummingbird: Nikon D800 and Nikon 200-400mm with Nikon Strobes
Summer is Here! …a bonus section today!
I took this shot last September. I have similar ones taken at Oxbow Bend around that time, too. A recent newspaper article said Yellowstone is smashing visitor records this year, and I’m sure the Tetons are well above averages. Each morning, I see a group of photographers at both of the famous Mormon Row barns and the parking lot is almost always full at Schwabacher Landing.
In October of 2013, the Parks went through the infamous “Government Shut Down“. I “got on my horse” (slang for got busy) and created this page: Outside the Park: Alternative Places to Visit, Hike, Fish, and Photograph. If things begin to feel crowded here, take the short drive down the Hoback, then up Granite Creek to Granite Falls. It should be running clear by now. Also check out: Granite Falls and Granite Creek: If you have a good 4-Wheel Drive, consider a trip down to Bar BC Dude Ranch or up Shadow Mountain on the other side of the valley. Fall On Shadow Mountain. The post was created in the Fall, but it’s still a great option in the summer, especially for wildflowers.
Occasionally, a person or group will already be in your shot. Actually, that’s almost always the case at any of the popular spots. Sometimes you can wait them out. Other times, I’d suggest just taking the photos with them in the scene and then removing the person or distraction in post production: Abracadabra: Now You See Them—Now You Don’t!
Evening Outing:
Bull Moose on the Gros Ventre: I only managed to get one shot of the bull Moose today. I believe there were at least three bulls and I saw one cow. People have been telling me about a cow with a calf in the area. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
Mountain Bluebird with Insect: Also taken along the Gros Ventre. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
July 2, 2015 :
Early Morning Barn: Alpenglow at the TA Moulton Barn. Also, check out: Alpenglow: Morning’s Fleeting Phenomenon Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70mm
Setting Moon: The full moon was my catalyst for being up so early this morning. If you like photographing rising and setting moons, check out this old post: Shooting the October Moon: Tips for Being at the Right Place at the Right Time. This is a three shot pano image stitched in Lightroom. Why? I walked out into the field to photograph the setting moon at 600 mm. (See below) When I pointed the lens at the barn, I found I could not get the entire scene in the lens at 150mm, and I knew I didn’t have time to get back to the vehicle for the 70-200mm lens. With a set of vertical orientation shots, I knew I could capture the shot before the moon dipped behind the mountain. I’ve used this same technique a few times when I wanted to capture a full rainbow, but didn’t have a wide angle lens on the body at the time. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
Setting Moon: Taken from Mormon Row over Blacktail Butte. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
Northern Mountains: Stitched pano looking north from Mormon Row. (Click the image to see it much larger). This image ended up being 14″ tall and 68″ long when left at the native resolution of 300 DPI. Four 35mpx images can create a huge file! Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm at 260mm
Light Rays over Shadow Mountain. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
If you have been paying attention to the most recent set of Feature Posts, you might notice a wide variety of subjects. GTNP, with its wide array of landscapes and wildlife possibilities, is always at my doorstep, but there are plenty of other regional events and subjects. Back in January, I created this Feature Post: An Upcoming Year of Wishes. I have been systematically going through the list. We are planning on going over to the Fireworks display in Driggs next Saturday and I’d like to experience one of the days at the Hot Air Balloon Festival. There are a few upcoming Mountain Man Rendezvous and I’d like to go photograph the Wild Mustangs again soon. The rivers are clearing, so it is also time to begin photographing fishermen on the rivers and streams.
I can always use your help if you have a chance to spread the word about this site. It is constantly growing, but your help would be greatly appreciated!
July 1, 2015 :
The year is now half over! Wow!
Morning Shots:
Flat Creek: Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70mm
“When something worthwhile catches your eye, stop then and there and snap the shot!”
That’s advice I gleaned from Dave Ryan many years ago while I was taking a photography class at the JH Art Center. No telling who passed the advice along to him! I’ve mentioned it here on Best of the Tetons a few times over the past couple of years. The advice paid off for me today. As I was driving through town to head north, I saw the clouds begin to light up over Flat Creek. I turned into the pullout and set up on the observation platform where I took at least a hundred shots. I loaded up and continued on North.
The small photo above was taken at the Gros Ventre Junction only a few minutes after the shots at Flat Creek. I was expecting similar clouds and color over the Tetons, but instead, it was devoid of clouds and lacked any kind of color. There may actually be times when the shots down the road will be equal or better than the one at hand, but in my experience, that is the exception and not the norm.
Gros Ventre: Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70mm
Tall Summer Grasses: Taken along Mormon Row Road. Pronghorns and Bison are common along the road, but also watch out for Wolves, Raptors, Meadowlarks, Coyotes, and various songbirds. In the Fall, Grizzlies have begun to travel along Blacktail Butte following gunshots during the Elk Reduction Program. I’ve seen both Grizzly and Wolf tracks in the snow going up and down the road. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
One Flowers: Taken along Antelope Flats Road. Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70mm
Morning Photographers: Want to make the Tetons loom huge over the barns? Check out this post: Distance and Scale Relationships in the Tetons ~ Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Taken on July 1st of 2014…the date is incorrect.
One-On-One Excursions Openings: I have a couple of openings for mid/late July. The trips are designed to help people learn to use their DSLR cameras and help photographers find some of GTNP’s nice shooting locations. Click the link for more information. (Golden Era Studios / Mike R. Jackson is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service and the National Elk Refuge.) The Snake River is starting to clear. If you are a fisherman/photographer, you might enjoy this trip: Hybrid Photography & Fly Fishing Trips in GTNP
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