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 15, 2015 :
A Morning of Horses and Barns!
Barn with Lit Peaks: Taken near Teton Village on the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D4 and Nikon 70-200mm
Single Horse and Clouds: Nikon D4 and Nikon 70-200mm
Incoming Horses: Nikon D4 and Nikon 70-200mm
Running Horses: Nikon D4 and Nikon 70-200mm
Pronghorn Buck: I did a quick pass through the south part of the park. I found two Moose along the Moose-Wilson road. No Owls again today. Bison and Pronghorns were along Mormon Row. It started raining as I made it to the Gros Ventre, so I didn’t have much of a chance to see Moose there. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
July 14, 2015 :
A Morning of Moose!
Bull Moose in Willows: Lately, there has been three or maybe even four nice bull moose hanging around the Gros Ventre River. They are often seen from the pull-out roughly 2.3 miles from the highway. This morning, one of them was grazing on willows just under the ridge. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Morning Moose Crossing: The bull fed for a while, then headed for the river. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Mid-River Moose: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Moose in Shadows: I shot over 300 photos of this moose crossing the Gros Ventre this morning. Very enjoyable! Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Owls? Like yesterday, I hiked a couple of miles in two areas, but never saw an owl. Maybe others had better success.
Upcoming Plans? If you are planning a trip to the region, here are a couple of suggestions:
- This Weekend: Annual Wilson Fire Department Chicken Cookout: Stillson Parking Lot ~ Wilson, WY
- 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).
- West Yellowstone, MT: Smoking Waters Mtn. Man Rendezvous: July 31-August 9
- Fort Hall, ID ~52nd Annual Shoshone-Bannock Festival & Pow Wow ~ August 6-9, 2015
Kicking Up Dust: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Afternoon Dust: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
The Bison are Back!: This afternoon, roughly 80 Bison crossed Antelope Flats Road. Another herd of about the same size was grazing near Mormon Row—seen in the photo above. Jackson Peak (sometimes called Mt. Jackson) can be seen in the distance.
July 13, 2015 :
Rusting Away: Last Fall, I packed up the truck to drive out to the Bar BC Dude Ranch to do some late evening light painting on this old vehicle. When I got to the turn in, I found the gate locked for the season. Last night, I drove out tonight to give it another try. Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm lens.
Bar-B-C Vehicle with Teton Range: I didn’t return home until Midnight last night, so I’ll post these photos in today’s section. Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm lens.
The historic old Bar BC Dude Ranch is roughly 2 miles east of the Taggart Lake trail head on the Teton Park Road. Head East on the dirt road and park at the top of the hill. The ranch was the second Dude Ranch in the valley, attracting the rich and famous of the day. (Bar B C Dude Ranch via Wikipedia.)
There are still quite a few of the old buildings, some of which have been partially restored or repaired. The ranch was quite large and attracted many writers, poets, and well-to-do travelers from all over. The old outhouse is still standing as seen in this photo. It had a ceramic stool…something you’d expect over a couple of wooden holes seen in “regular” outhouses.
Bar-B-C Outhouse with a little light added. Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm lens.
Cabin in the Dark: Last night, I took a couple of flashlights down the trail. This one was lit with a 2 million candle power flashlight, with a 20° grid and a couple of neutral density gels to cut the light down. The shot on the left is the exposure without any supplemental light.
Cabin Entry with Light: Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm lens.
Bar-B-C Cabin and Stars: Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm lens.
Night Sky: This is 14mm big sky shot from the hill above Bar-B-C. The streaks are vehicles moving across the highway. Blacktail Butte runs the horizon line near the center. The bright areas on the right are lights from the Town of Jackson, the JH Airport, and cars on the highway during a 25 second exposure. Shooting Data: NIKON D800, 14.0-24.0 mm f/2.8 at 14 mm, 25.00 seconds at f/2.8, Manual Mode, -2/3 EV, ISO 3200
Spring Gulch: When I see clouds like this developing, I drop everything and try to make a quick trip to the Park. I headed straight to the flowers on Antelope Flats Road, but they are now past peak. I didn’t see owls this afternoon, but there were three nice bull moose on the Gros Ventre River. Bison seem to have disappeared in the southern end of the park. Pronghorns are more common. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Lone Trumpeter Swan: I’ve been watching for a set of baby swans lately, but have only seen this one loner near the bridge on Flat Creek. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
July 12, 2015 :
Landing in Tight Quarters: I found a few bull Moose along the Gros Ventre this morning, then looked for other subjects. This owl was hunting on the Moose-Wilson Road. I came home with quite a few nice shots from this morning. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Trail Horses near Teton Village: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Young Great Gray Owl: I spent a good portion of my day yesterday trying to get shots of the baby Great Gray Owls. You might get a chance to see them if you keep a keen eye out for them. Recently, I heard there were something like 24-28 nesting Great Gray Owl pairs in the region. Watch for them along deep woods areas along the Snake River, Fish Creek Road and Fall Creek Road. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Feeding Time: Before you ask, I don’t know where their nest is/was. The only thing I can offer right now is they are off the nest and will be learning to hunt on their own. The parents may continue to feed them along the Moose-Wilson road or my move them into the back country. Who knows? Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
July 11, 2015 :
Tetons, Fog, and Clouds: Taken from the side of the highway near the Welcome to Grand Teton National Park sign. Nikon D800 and Nikon 70-200 mm
GGO Take-Off: Yesterday’s Great Gray Owl was back. Maybe I should simply say an owl with no tags or bands was back. No telling how many different owls I have been seeing. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Spit Second of Landing: This owl was near the overlook on the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
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).
Plein Air Painter: Bill Sawchuck is one of around 40 painters scattered around the valley this week painting “in the open air”. I saw him working along Spring Gulch Road and he graciously let me take a few photos. Bill shows his work at Trio Gallery on north Cache. Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm
Wrangler and Horses: Taken near Teton Village this afternoon. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Horses Going to Pasture: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
More Trail Horses: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Calliope Hummingbird: I captured this one in the back yard just before dark. Nikon D800 and Nikon 200-400 mm
July 10, 2015 :
Northern Sunrise: As I was heading north this morning, I saw nice color in the east and north. I didn’t think I could get to Schwabacher Landing in time, so I turned onto Antelope Flats Road and made it to Mormon Row as the color begin to bathe the mountains. Nikon D800 and Nikon 70-200 mm
Moulton Barn and Corrals: Lots of people like to wait until the sunlight hits the barn, which is also great, but I prefer this period of the sunrise. The peach, pink, and lavender hues are usually replaced by amber and gold by the time first light hits the barn. This shot is actually two captures I stitched together into a single, small “pano”. There were four or five photographers in the scene, but I cloned them out in Photoshop. It’s difficult to go there this time of year and not have three or four in your shot. (Click on this image to see it much larger) Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm
TA Moulton Barn: Last Monday, I took a couple out for a One-on-One Photography Excursion. I was showing them how to control depth of field using both distance and aperture settings by focusing on the fence post near the center at F/22 and then F/2.8. After the mini-lesson, the light turned amber gold and we all took shots from this spot. I did the bonehead mistake of not switching back to F/11 and took my shots at F/2.8. They were far from optimal. This morning, I went back and re-shot my scene. Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm
Tetons and Tipi: I shot this one from the vehicle at Dornan’s. I used NIK software to convert it to yellowed sepia. Nikon D4 and Nikon 70-200 mm
Great Gray Owl Taking Off: I spotted “the Owl” early this morning along the Moose-Wilson Road. Yesterday, I created this post New Feature Post! C3 ~ GTNP’s Showboat Great Gray Owl. Interestingly, this is not C3. This one doesn’t have tags, bands, or antenna. This Owl used the exact same perches C3 uses! Shooting Data: NIKON D4, 150.0-600.0 mm f/5.0-6.3 at 350 mm, 1/1000 at f/6, Manual Mode, -2/3 EV, Auto ISO 7200
Wet GGO with Vole: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Out of the Grass: No tags! Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Eyes on the Landing Perch: Great Gray Owls focus on one spot, whether it is a mouse or a branch and then fly directly to that spot. They are so focused they don’t watch for dangers like passing campers or vehicles. Some pay the price and are found along the roads. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Diving Owl: I took quite a few shots of this owl on the various perches and branches, but spent most of my morning trying to get flight shots. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Mule Deer in Summer Flowers: This nice buck was grazing along the Moose-Wilson Road near the south entrance. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
July 9, 2015 :
One Flowers: The skies were overcast and the Teton Range was cover with clouds, so I headed back to Antelope Flats Road to try some experimental photography. The plan was to set up, then focus on a single flower or maybe two and let everything else fall out of focus while shooting “wide open”. And with low, dull light, I took a Nikon SB-910 strobe controlled by a Nikon SU-800. To help with communications, I added a pair of Radio Poppers to convert IR (infra red) signal into RF (radio frequency). Lastly, I used an RFN4-s to trigger the camera as I held my strobe very close to the flowers. The strobe was set to Manual at 1/32nd power. Nikon D800 and Nikon 200-400 mm
Sticky Aster: The camera was set to underexpose by a stop or so, then I punched in some light in the focused zones. I took several hundred images. Some worked better than others, but the effect worked out about as well as I had hoped. I spent a couple of hours of the morning amongst the flowers. Nikon D800 and Nikon 200-400 mm
Wildflowers: Photography Tips, Suggestions & Resources
Great Gray Owl Landing: Before heading home, I made a loop to the Moose-Wilson Road. C3 (numbered by a tag) was out hunting and putting on a grand show. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Diving Great Gray Owl: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
C3/Great Gray Owl: Unless the image is being submitted to some sort of Audubon or National Geographic site, I usually remove the tags and rings. This one also has an antenna wire sticking out its back. I’m not say “you should”…only that “I do” when something man made is causing a distraction. Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
New Feature Post! C3 ~ GTNP’s Showboat Great Gray Owl. This page contains ten photos of this owl—all taken today!
July 8, 2015 :
Trumpeter Swan: Taken along Flat Creek just north of the Visitor’s Center. Nikon D4 and Nikon 200-400 mm
This morning, the sky was gray and clouds hovered in front of the top of the Grand. We’ve had a couple of good morning sunrise days already this week, so I looked for other opportunities. I did a Kelly loop, then a few passes along the Moose-Wilson Road. Bison were far out in the pastures in the Kelly area. Same for Pronghorns. I didn’t see any owls on the Moose-Wilson Road. I saw one two year old moose cow near the old Beaver Ponds, but didn’t get shots. I’ve heard reports of a Black Bear sow with two cubs in the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, so I made a couple of passes there.
Outside the Park “Touron”: I took this shot Monday night along the Teton Village Road near the “R Park”. This bull, a cow, and a young bull caused a sizable traffic jam. I am always amazed how close people think they have to get to take their shots.
Afternoon in the Park
Landing Osprey: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Purple Lupine: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Shaggy Pronghorn Doe: Taken along Mormon Row. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
Pronghorn in Motion: Panning at 1/40th second. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
Moulton Barn with Early Clouds: Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm
Sunset over Mt. Moran: Tonight, the best color was in the northern sections. Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm
While I was on the road taking the photo above, a Badger walked towards me, then passed directly in front of me — apparently on its way back to its den.
Mormon Row Pathway: This is a “record shot” showing the new pathway being built next to the roadway connecting the two barns. Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm
July 7, 2015 :
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 D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm with Strobe
Tetons in Shadows:This group of Widlflower shots were taken along Antelope Flats Road. Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70 mm with Strobe
Meadowlark: Taken along Mormon Row Road. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
One Flowers and Aspen Trunk: Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
Buck Mule Deer: Two bucks were milling around near the Gros Ventre Junction as I was heading home. Nikon D800 and 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 D800 and 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. Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
Afternoon:
Dusty Horse Herd: Nikon D4 and Tamron 150-600mm
Mountain Bluebird: Nikon D800 and Tamron 150-600mm
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