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"

The Many Moods at Oxbow Bend

Photos from a single morning in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.

Alpenglow at Oxbow Bend Oxbow Bend is one of the most photographed spots in Grand Teton National Park. The area is conveniently located along the road to and from Yellowstone. Oxbow Bend has ample parking and stunning views across the river,  Majestic Mount Moran  is staged as a perfect backdrop for the scene. Mirror reflections are possible on calm, early mornings. Continue reading "The Many Moods at Oxbow Bend"

American Bison in Grand Teton National Park

Bison at the Mormon Row Barns American Bison are often the most dependable photographic subject in Grand Teton National Park—roaming the open sage flats and grasslands in the Jackson Hole valley. Unlike Elk, Deer, and Moose that usually duck back into the forests just after sunrise, Bison and Pronghorns remain visible throughout the day. Of course, that doesn’t mean they are always close to the roads. It is also worth noting that Bison are seldom in the same area one day to the next, typical of a grazing prairie mammals. Bison Lip Curl Bison bulls can weigh up to a ton! Females can weigh in at about half that, or up to 1.100 pounds. I read some documents suggesting they can run 40 miles per hour and can jump six feet in height, making them one of the most dangerous animals in the Park. Tourists are often seen behind the “safety” of the short fences along the highway at Elk Ranch Flats, but they can easily jump any fence I know of in GTNP. If they don’t feel like jumping a fence, they just go through it! Continue reading "American Bison in Grand Teton National Park"