From Stars to Sun ~ Stages of the Morning
6°F, Fresh Snow, Clear Skies, Stars, and No Wind.
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 24 mm, 25.00 seconds at f/3.2, Manual Mode, ISO 4000, 5:30 am
Night and Stars: Yesterday, I saw stars and a crescent moon out my windows here in town. When I made it to the top of the hill just past the National Fish Hatchery, it was apparent clouds were covering the Teton Range. Today, Teton skies were actually clear and filled with stars—exactly what I was hoping for yesterday. A crescent moon hung low in the east to help supply just the right amount of natural light. Persistence can pay off!
I parked at Schwabacher Landing at 5:15 am. Sunrise would be at 7:06 am, giving me a couple of hours of night photography. This two hour window is often called the “blue light” period, followed immediately by several different stages of the morning sunrise. I was outfitted in my heaviest goose down jacket, gloves, waders, wading boots, bear spray, and a couple of flashlights. Before I left the house, I opened a couple of chemical hand warmers which were warm by the time I made it to Schwabacher Landing. I didn’t wade today, but I was prepared—and the extra layer was welcomed.
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 35 mm, 25.00 seconds at f/3.2, Manual Mode, ISO 2000
Grand Reflections: I pulled into the parking lot just after the “nautical twilight” period and set up quickly. Stars were still visible, but the area was quite dark. I used a small flashlight to light some of the close shrubs. 5:54 am
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 27 mm, 20 seconds at f/5, Manual Mode, ISO 800
Beaver Lodge: As the eastern skies begin to lighten, stars become less visible, yet the snow covered peaks begin to brighten. I used a 2 million candle power strobe to add some light to the grass, dam, dead trees, and beaver lodge during the long exposure. 6:10 am
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 34 mm, 15 seconds at f/10, Aperture priority Mode, -1/3 EV, ISO 800
Frozen Pond: The upper beaver pond was frozen with the frigid overnight temperatures. The stars were mostly gone by the time I made it to this spot. The mountains reflected onto the ice. I added some light with my flashlight on this one, too. 6:21 am.
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 24 mm, 13 seconds at f/10, Aperture priority Mode, -1/3 EV, ISO 800
Pre-Alpenglow: After a few shots at the upper beaver pond, I returned to the channel and set up to wait for the lavender and pink of alpenglow. This is a pretty time of morning. 6:26 am.
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 42 mm, 1/5 second at f/11, Manual Mode, 1 EV, ISO 800
Alpenglow: This period is short lived, but well worth witnessing and photographing. Of course, you have to get up very early! I like to be set up about 30 minutes before the posted sunrise. I usually ask Siri for sunrise times on my iPhone. This shot was taken at 6:52 am.
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 24 mm, 1/13 second at f/11, Manual Mode, 1 EV, ISO 800
Dwindling Alpenglow: The colors soften and the sky starts turning towards a dull gray. 7:00 am
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 36 mm, 1/80 second at f/11, Aperture priority Mode, -1 EV, ISO 800
First Hint of Light: At the end of the dull gray period, first light starts hitting the tip of the peak. 7:04 am
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 29 mm, 1/25 second at f/11, Aperture priority Mode, -2/3 EV, ISO 100
Fully Lit Range: Within about 10 minutes, the rose colored light covers the entire range. Within a few more minutes, the rose color disappears and is replaced by amber light. 7:13am. After taking this shot, I packed up and left the area this morning . I would have stayed longer if we had clouds above the mountain range.
Morning With Clouds: This shot from 2011 shows how clouds can add a lot to a sunrise shot. They are not great for mornings when I want to capture stars and the setting moon.
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 34 mm, 1/320 Second at f/11, Manual Mode, -1/3 EV, ISO 140, 9:02am
Mid-Morning Light: When there are clouds over the range, it can be worth waiting for sunlight to bathe the middle ground trees and grasses. By that time, most of the rich colors of lavender, pink, rose, and peach are seldom present. This photo was taken on the following day.
Typical Sunrise: The stages illustrated on this page can be seen on many of the mornings year round. Times change, of course. The same sequence usually occurs all around the valley—not just Schwabacher Landing. Clouds are the big variable. Too many clouds in the east, and a sunrise can can be very dull. Clouds over the Tetons can cover the stars or the mountains themselves. It is always a gamble getting up early for Alpenglow, but when I hit it right, the skies are spectacular and worth the effort.
Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 36 mm, 1/500 Second at f/11, Manual Mode, 0 EV, ISO 220, 9:23am
Schwabacher Downstream: Over the past few years, beavers have been busy building dams downstream from the main parking area. There’s another parking lot a few hundred yards south of there where I parked for this shot. Additional reflection pools can be found in this section of the old channel.
Beaver Dam: Shooting Data: NIKON D810, 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 55 mm, 1/500 Second at f/11, Manual Mode, 0 EV, ISO 280 9:36am
Short lived Winter access at one of the Park’s most photogenic locations.
In 2013, Grand Teton National Park made changes to the regulations for the Elk Reduction Program (Elk Hunt)—eliminating hunting in the Snake River river bottom. Prior to the changes, Schwabacher Landing remained reliably open until the end of the hunt in that area. Since the changes, the road into the popular area can be closed at any time, based on the volume of snow or drifting snow covering the road. The area is officially closed to all human activity on December 15th. As I make this post on November 7th, access via the road is still available, but the still pools are beginning to freeze over. In short, get there soon!