Photo Essay: Yellowstone and Tetons, Wyoming

Photography © John Baker, Travel Images

This photo essay represents the typical range of subjects on a Travel Images photo tour, and are selected in the knowledge that every client is able to obtain similar images. That is the goal for each of my clients.

Yellowstone + Tetons autumn by Micah Kaplan | Yellowstone + Tetons winter by Bill Wisecup
Yellowstone and Tetons autumn by Julio and Renée Mulero

This is a 'no click' zone! . . . just scroll on down to winter and beyond!

The autumn trips start in Jackson with a large dose of Grand Teton National Park. This spot is a Teton classic at dawn, and is found by exploring the gravel roads, and this particular scene changes in accordance with Beaver activity in the area. Although lacking in broad-leaf color, the Rockies compensate amply with Cottonwoods and Aspen set against towering peaks such as the Grand Teton in this image.
	Before setting off for Yellowstone our groups take in some of the best spots in Grand Teton National Park with the knowledge that we'll be returning at the end of the trip for the better morning light. This is a barn out on Antelope Flats.
Switching now to Yellowstone, Old Faithful geyser, named for on-time eruptions in recent centuries, has not been quite so 'faithful' following a moderate earthquake in 1984. It is however still one of the most photographed American icons that Yellowstone possesses today. My personal preference is to photograph it against the light for more drama, and the foreground of geyser run-off I feel adds to the interest in the image. Yellowstone National Park was the world's first national park, and opened on March 1st, 1872.
	Sometimes what was once healthy woodland gets drowned by a collection of wet years, or a nearby geyser emitting too much sulpher than can be tolerated. This brings about some nice abstract subjects such as this. When composing this kind of shot I suggest you try and keep distractions such as branches out of the viewfinder.
Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River sits at the top of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and is one of the Park's major attractions. Although the Artist's Point scene is a common favourite, my personal preference is to take groups closer in at mid-afternoon each autumn and shoot from the north rim where the back-lit spray is a subtle enhancement to an already spectacular scene.
	The Elk rut is an annual autumn event throughout the west and Yellowstone in particular provides the opportunity for full-frame images without too much effort. Forward planning is however a plus, and understanding and anticipating Elk behavior is helpful in bring you the best photo opportunities available from such situations. The light-colored rump in the background is that of a Cow Elk.
Bison are fairly sedate beings most of the time, and this fella obliged for images by being close to 'humanity.' It was an ideal opportunity to get a really sharp eye, and get the exposure just right.
	This is the first of three shots at Yellowstone's geysers, and I highly recommend that clients take a slower, closer look at the patterns and color created in some of the the formations. They make for some interesting photography subjects.
The second image is from Mammoth Terrace and is all about color as there is no composition to speak of. The rising mist takes out some 'flatness' but color is the only pleasing aspect for me with this shot.
	The third has the emphasis on the repeating layers, and when shooting at 45 degrees to the subject plane like this, it's important to stop down sufficiently to achieve sharpness from front to back.
Back to the foot of Mammoth terrace for this one, but it should be noted that some years the colors are very good in one spot, then 'plain' for a spell, before returning it's colorful best. Canary Spring is typical of this, because as of 2006 the colors at that spot are much paler than usual.
	No, this isn't the winter section, but one of a couple of autumn trips when we had snow! When it only lasts around a day or few hours it works nicely, and gives everything another perspective.
Fresh snow in amongst the Lodge pole pines. There is art in there somewhere, but you can't see it at this resolution!
	Seriously, this is rare Yellowstone grass in a stream bed the name of which escapes me at present. Look for it on the west side just south of Roaring Mountain.
Another shot lost in the low-resolution bucket. It's the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone which sorta looks yellow! The Indian name for the park was 'Burning Mountains, which tells you that fires in the Park are nothing new.
	This Gray Jay is easily photographed in Yellowstone's picnic areas, and is not to be confused with the Clark's Nutcracker which has similar coloring but a much larger beak and darker wings. I cut my photographic teeth on bird photography back in Wales in the 70's, and one needs to plan ahead, be patient, and get a sharp focus on the eye.
Pronghorn Antelope are mostly found in the northern reaches of Yellowstone, and just beyond the boundaries if you know where to look.
	This was one of those rare magic moments but having said that, one has to be there to actually create it. This was shot with a 210 mm lens and an aperture setting of f5.6. No 'deep' depth of field needed in this situation.
Knowing the best spot to find Moose on Yellowstone Lake leads to a little bit of time lingering in that area in the hopes of an image such as the previous shot with Moose. However, when the 'stars' forget to show one can turn one's attention to other worthy subjects such as the silhouette of the dead pine tree.
	Then it's back to Grand Teton National Park, and one year there was nothing to shoot on the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway except this reflection which I promptly turned upside down.
Dawn at Oxbow Bend in the Grand Tetons where many photographers gather but miss this beautiful watery expanse when opting to shoot from the road. Each to his own of course, which makes for better positioning at water's edge for my small groups anyway! The peak is 12,605' Mount Moran and the expanse of water is an oxbow off the Snake River.
	Another year and another time. The low hanging cloud adds interest.
Then I zoomed in for a little more impact.
	As one trips one's way to the first image at the top of this page, one could easily miss a very simple but effective classic such as this. Well, erm, not Travel Images' groups though!
Back to Oxbow Bend for a couple of sunset images. The first really explains why we need clouds in some skies. Take away the clouds, and you have nothing for the light to 'dance' with.
	On a trip in the mid-nineties, a long day terminated lazily with a disappointing 'monochrome sunset' back at Oxbow Bend. As the group created various images of an impressive scene in almost any light anyway, the grey cloud to the right of Mount Moran suddenly lit up a 'fierce yellow'. Needless to say it was shot to bits, and in this image I have opted to leave in the monochromatic tones above and below for a bit of added perspective.
Still in Grand Teton NP and Mount Moran once again featured, this Bull Moose was very obliging not far from a collection of Cottonwoods that I nick-named 'Mooseville' a few years ago. This fellow was followed by my group and a few others to this spot on the Snake River, and it could not have been better could it?!
	The community of Moose, formerly Menors Ferry, is where you'll find the Chapel of the Transfiguration. It is blessed with a view from the altar window befitting the Creator himself too. There is only one drawback to this scene, and that is the 50 plus flies I had to clone out of this image!
Buck and rail fences are fairly common in the west, and every group I've taken to the Tetons since 1989 has had to endure my 'encouragement' to point a wide-angle lens at this composition. My feeling is that the fence provides not just a frame to strengthen the composition, but also a strong sense of place. Note the yellow Aspens in the middle of the picture which were far more abundant at that spot prior to a fire ravaging the area in the early 1980's.
	The Tetons have a nice collection of Aspen groves especially on the east side of Jackson Hole. Shots like these are all about symmetry, and being able to master the technical side and capture the image that you have visualized.
Getting a little closer to and Aspen leaf, and you see something to rival New England . . . well, sorta. Collectively though, groves of aspen trees make very nice 'frames' for peaks in Grand Teton and Rocky Mountain National Parks.
	Having returned to our accommodations following a dawn run, we were walking to breakfast and this appeared. Wouldn't you know it, everyone just happened to have a camera with them!


We visit a Wyoming ranch on each photo tour for 'real' Wrangler images. No two visits are the same, and subsequently the pictures are always very different. For this shot we asked the Wrangler to lead his horse up the slope . . . then headed to the laptop to work on some visual options.
Dust is the enemy of digital cameras, but it's worth the risk for images such as this one.
	Looking barn-wards, images such as this are in abundance at such places.
With this kind of image you need to 'see' it first. I call this type of shot, 'Still life on the run.'


Maybe you can't make a horse drink, but set them free and they'll gallop for you!

	OK Rand-McNally, it's yours for a reasonable fee! This is the Cathedral Group of peaks topped by Grand Teton peak.
Ever seen the movie 'Shane'? This was the cabin used in the movie starring Alan Ladd. The distant mountain is Mount Moran.
	Another classic Teton barn that used to have some very photogenic old gates in the foreground. They were replaced by a barbed wire fence in the early 90's, so one has to find some fresh foreground interest.
The Chapel of the Transfiguration framed by a buck and rail fence.
	The Moose thrives in Grand Teton, and this is a young fella being carefully watched by it's mother nearby.
The 'Old Patriarch' has long been a Grand Teton classic, but these days the hike is considerably longer due to the re-alignment of the road. Again, I have photographed into the light but toned down the image with a graduated blue filter [split density]. It was also the middle of the day, so who says you can't capture good images in the midday sun?!


Nothing more than the Grand Teton mountain range at twilight. Beautiful.


We start at dawn at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park.

The Yellowstone and Tetons winter photo tour commences in Bozeman as there is no road open between the parks. When leaving Bozeman and going east this image is among our first shots.
	Into Yellowstone National Park for close-ups of Bison and more. It's tough going through the snow in the winter, so one often sees Bison using the roads to get about.
'Me and my shadow' just waiting for spring to arrive.
	A heard of Pronghorn Antelope grazing in the Montana section of Yellowstone.

The frost on the young Aspen tree in the foreground stands out because I placed it against a dark background. The rest is down to cold morning atmospherics and being there! Shot in Grand Teton National Park.

It looks like an ice close-up, but it's actually falling ice crystals catching the light. There wouldn't be an image without the dark background.
	Looking skywards one might see a Golden Eagle or this Bald Eagle.


Two Coyote studies. One howling at left, and the other on the prowl at right. I often ponder how the re-introduction of Wolves to the park has impacted them since 1996. Are they prey themselves, or do they benefit from what is left of the wolf kills? Maybe none of the above, or? . . .


A pair of Trumpeter Swans on the Yellowstone River.

	On Travel Images' winter trips to Yellowstone there are spots just north of Yellowstone where my groups have pointed their long lenses at Elk, Pronghorn Antelope and Mule Deer such as this one. It seems that some species aren't aware of their protection inside Yellowstone, but for us photographers we point cameras at them wherever we can find them!
Finding 'art' in the snow.
	An Otter surfaces for some cool air. They're more visible in the winter months than the rest of the year in the Park.
An Aspen tree trunk in the snow.

An An 'edge of the fog' image from Mammoth Hot Springs on the north side of Yellowstone.

	Lower falls on the Yellowstone River. That is a huge block of ice that has formed at the foot of the falls . . . and half way back up again.
To get from Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park one has to go via Bozeman, and through eastern Idaho to get to Jackson. This fresh snow on bare trees was shot near Livingston, Montana.
	Then past Hebgen Lake, Montana, for this long lens composition not too far from West Yellowstone.
Then in Idaho, near Driggs, one looks east for this shot . . .
	. . . and immediately west for this image shot into the light.


The following morning is the first Teton sunrise. This is the bulk of the range as seen from Glacier View.

Without the winter cold there is no fog, so this is a good compromise. This is a 200mm shot from the valley floor.
	A lone Bull Elk forages near the Gros Ventre River.
We can't go without the winter perspective of Alan Ladd's 'Shane' cabin now can we?! The mountain is Moran, this time in full view.
	When Grand Teton National Park was open in the 1920's there were a number of ranches that were allowed to remain. This is the entrance to one, and the gate makes a nice frame for Mount Moran at right.
This a Bull Moose, and above the eye you can just make out the base remnant of it's antlers which are dropped every winter.
	Part of our photo tour includes a sled ride to photograph Elk on the National Elk Refuge just outside Jackson. This image was spotted close to where we boarded the sled one year.
It's early light on Grand Teton, but without some fog or cloud, the image lacks drama.
	The Snake River view of Grand Teton.
Grand Teton peak framed by bare Aspen trunks. When the light is flat like this, one should endeavor to find something to add a little bit of interest, and my choice was the trees on this occasion.


Oxbow Bend at sunset to round things off.

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