Shoshone: One of my favorite GTNP Moose

By August each year, many of the bull Moose have developed their antlers to a point I can start identifying many of them. As a bull nears maturity, they’ll add an extra tine or two and their paddles gain more size and mass. Interestingly, their antlers grow in a very similar pattern from year to year. Shoshone in Velvet Shiras Moose, the smallest of the three Moose species, can be found in most areas of Grand Teton National Park. Moose are high on my “favorites” list, along with Wild Horses and Mountain Goats. I’d probably include Wolves and Bears, but both involve and incredible amount of time and dedication. Moose are more plentiful, and generally less elusive in the Park. Continue reading "Shoshone: One of my favorite GTNP Moose"

November 2018 Daily Journal for GTNP & JH

A month filled with numerous photographic opportunities!

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November 1st, 2018 – Thursday

Resting Bulls
Resting Bull Moose: Seen in the sagebrush north of Kelly.
Elk Hunt

Important Information!

The Elk Reduction Program Began Saturday, October 27th in GTNP. Click the link to get more details. Consider wearing orange when in the hunt zones! The Elk are not trying to cross the valley floor to start the month of November, but with each new snow, expect more movement and more hunters. Continue reading "November 2018 Daily Journal for GTNP & JH"

Old and New Photographic Technology in One Challenging Shoot

A few days ago, I took a quick photo of the T.A. Moulton Barn along Historic Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park. I included it below. Clouds weren’t exactly inspiring, but there were at least a few low clouds in front of the Grand. It wasn’t much of a photo, I readily admit! I think of these kind of images as reconnaissance photos or record photos. I make a mental note of the spot, then plan on going back when conditions are more to my liking. Over the years, I’ve taken thousands of photos of the Mormon Row Barns. It’s a challenge to photograph them differently than the thousands of photographers that have stood in the same spots over the past 75 years!  I am always looking to photograph them at different distances or different angles. An irrigation ditch runs under the road, through a head gate and then diagonally across the pasture in front of the T.A. Moulton Barn. A few times a year, water in the ditch is high enough to offer unique opportunities if you set up just above water level. TA Moulton Barn The photo I took earlier was okay, but it needed some extra time at the point of capture. I focused on the close bank, and even at F/11, the barn was slightly out of focus. If I had focused on the barn, the water, reflections, and close leaves would have been out of focus. Lastly, I was there a little too early in the day. Early morning shadows from the cottonwoods stream across the foreground and across the left half of the barn. Like I said earlier, was a reconnaissance shot. Continue reading "Old and New Photographic Technology in One Challenging Shoot"

October 2018 Daily Journal for GTNP & JH

Foliage Reports September/October 2018 

Plan Ahead! Expect a 30-50 minute delay at the Gros Ventre Roundabout today and for the next four or five days. You won’t want to be stuck in a line of traffic while the pink skies are happening at your destination sunrise spot!.” Note: On Saturday, construction didn’t begin until 7:30 am. 
Roads: If you are driving between Jackson and Rock Springs on Highway 191, keep an eye on the Highway Reports. The highway is occasionally closed near Bondourant due to the Roosevelt fire. Moulton Barn in Grand Teton National Park Quick Foliage Overview: I am still seeing a mixed bag of conditions. In some areas, it’s over. It’s prime in others like Oxbow Bend, and there are green trees in quite a few places. In other words, Foliage Season is far from over. Across the board, colors haven’t been as vivid this year as in some of the previous years. The photo above was taken yesterday with dark, moody skies. Nikon D850 and Nikon 24-70mm lens, Handheld. Continue reading "October 2018 Daily Journal for GTNP & JH"