Your favorite Yellowstone/Teton shooting location(s)

Ok,

Since this is will be my first time visiting Yellowstone/GTNP I would like to ask the group where 'You' like to shoot.
Sample shots of the area would be great as well.

Although I mentioned I am not that big on Geysers, I will probably visit some to show the kids and take a few snap shots of them as well.

I know my mornings in the Tetons will be focused on capturing grand scenics:
1. Oxbow Bend
2. Snake River Overlook
3. Schwabacher’s Landing
4. Mormon Row

In Yellowstone I want to capture morning light at waterfalls and try for wildlife:
1. Lower Falls
2. Possibly Tower Falls, etc...
3. Lamar Valley for wildlife

Does anyone have any other 'can't miss' location recommendations, especially for afternoon light?

Thanks,

Hi Derek, You might check into Joseph Lange's book, "Photographer's guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton." ($16.95 at Borders) There's some pretty good info there including times of day that some of the waterfalls display rainbows and what time of day is best for some subjects. I was kind of surprised to see some really nice mid-afternoon images of places I'd always thought of as morning shots. I haven't been to Yellowstone/GNP to shoot since 1991 so I don't have any favorites per se but I'm sure this book will help me a lot during my trip there in May.

Thanks Bill,

I actually ordered that book from Amazon last week. So I should get it any day now.

- Derek

Just spent 30 minutes writing a post and the page crashed on me. Trying this post again.

You can get great photos anywhere in Grand Teton and not just from the classic viewpoints. Here are some.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/80/261068966_fd73504176_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/113/256738417_9bc9ddd632_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/102/254512148_c051dca59b_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/72/172999488_6647ea4a41_o.jpg

For Yellowstone, there are lots of geyser areas that are off the beaten path. Or you can always photograph them at sunset/sunrise. You'll be almost guranteed not to be sharing them with regular tourists then.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/75/174178823_962d784c1f_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/67/173608264_bd0e75c77d_o.jpg

There are also some nice places that are both scenic and historical. This is a view of the Bannock Indian Ford of the Yellowstone River jusr below Tower Falls.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/57/172401334_a186642f80_o.jpg

Yellowstone is loaded with waterfalls. Kepler Cascades is located about 10 minutes from Old Faithful.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/88941739_9f676679dd_o.jpg

If you wanna really do waterfalls, get a copy of the Guide to Yellowstone Waterfalls.
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Yellowstone-Waterfalls-Their-Discovery/dp/156579351X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2434534-5208110?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175534765&sr=1-1

My favorite location is Grand Prismatic Spring. In my mind, this is an afternoon location for the shot from above the spring and morning for shots along the boardwalk, but there are lots of options.
This is my favorite of my own shots from Yellowstone.
http://www.alittlemoore.com/albums/Mels-Yellowstone-Trip/Grand_Prismatic_GND_edited_3.jpg

My second favorite is the Black Pool in West Thumb geyser basin. The edges of this feature offer really interesting abstracts.

I've seen some amazing fountain geyser shots at sunset too and I thought this feature was very interesting.

But you said you weren't into geysers.

So on the non-geyser side of things.
Dawn on the meadows north of Mt. Washburn should yield some awesome shots. I've always camped at Madison, so getting to Washburn by dawn is tough.

Any of the Lower Yellowstone Falls overlooks were good, especially in the morning as the light reaches down on the fall. Uncle Tom's trail is super cool as a side outing when you are over there (unless you're afraid of heights).

On your way back to Mammoth, Undine falls is a nice fall facing west.

For elk, two spots seem real nice to me. 1 is the Madison river just to the west of the Madison campground in the evening. 2 is the meadows west of Norris Geyser Basin in morning or evening. There are some turnouts just to the west of the Artist Paint Pots area in this meadow and I've seen several nice bulls in this meadow every time I've driven through.

I've seen bears in the Lamar valley and in some other areas around Mammoth Springs. Look for the traffic jams .

Derek, a decent morning location is Signal Mountain in Teton NP if you have a medium and/or long zoom lense. If there is a lot of low cloud cover and fog this location gets you above it. In Yellowstone a good evening location is West Thumb Geyser Basin. Don't let the name scare you since you aren't into geysers,Yellowstone Lake is directly to the east and you can get some nice shots that range from wide to zoom.

Jeff

I have actually never photographed at either, but this page looks pretty helpful: http://www.wyofoto.com/Teton_Photo_Map.htm.

Doug,

Great photos I especially like the first one with the horses, fall colors and the Tetons.

Kepler Cascades looks great and because it is so close to Old Faithfull it will be a great one for the whole family.

Mel, nice shot of Grand Prismatic Spring. I've never really been that excited with Geyser shots. But you guys are making me to think twice about them.

Derek, I REGRET not shooting some geysers last fall. They can yield some amazing asbstracts. Check out Dunraven Pass for bears right from the road. The wolves were hanging out in Lamar Valley but long glass 500mm is recomended unless you are willing to hike a bit.
John

Thank you all for the tips! I was thinking about a trip to both parks in late September and have been ordering books en masse to get a feel for photo locations in the parks. I actually purchased the book mentioned above, along with half a dozen others, and plan to read as much as possible in the next few months. what i'm having some trouble with is the images in the books. As a landscape photographer who doesn't particularly care if I get a marmot or baby deer in the picture, I am looking long and hard for motivational images of grand scenics that haven't been too Photoshopped. Any suggestions, besides the ones above? Also looking for suggestions for lodging for a single woman. Not a big fan of living in a tent, but can do just fine with a comfortable bed, hot shower, and clean toilet. Oh yeah, no spiders!

Amy,

May I ask what types of grand scenics you are interested in?

The reason I ask is because Yellowstone has a lot of two things - geysers and waterfalls. Since I am not as much into geysers I will focus in on waterfalls. There are 'many' beautiful waterfalls in Yellowstone as was mentioned above.

The Tetons are most known for mountain majesty grand scenics. Combine both areas and you can't go wrong. Also if you are willing to hike, there are some beautiful high alpine lakes in the Tetons. Check out Solitude Lake:
http://www.pbase.com/pudgy_groundhog/image/34191537

Here are a few galleries I have found inspirational:
http://www.rickkonrad.com/index_files/Page284.html
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGall2.asp?catID=434
http://www.jameskay.com/gallery4/gallery4.htm
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/viewportfolio?id=36505

Derek,

I appreciate the links. As much as I hear about how great the Tetons and Yellowstone are, the images I'd seen up until your links were ok but nothing inspirational. I LOVE the mountains and any shot with a lake reflection, wide open field with interesting foreground (especially flowers), or snow-capped mountains does it for me. I don't know that geisers will float my boat, and while waterfalls shots i've seen from the Yellowstone/Teton area are good, i don't plan to spend a ton of time focusing on either of these. Lake reflections and open meadows with flowers are my cup of tea. Also, anything i can merge into a fantastic mountain pano will work.

I've been researching workshops but most of what i've found is out of my budget (trying to stick to $600 or less for a 3-5 day workshop) and time frame. I'd love to do a wildflower workshop in the parks in june, but won't be able to get out for a vacation until mid to late September. Are the fall colors in the parks as good as the colors in SW Colorado? I'm a big fan of aspen trees and my ideal shot would include some brilliant colors along with snow-capped mountains and a mountain lake reflection. Hiking short distances is ok, but i'm a flat lander (Indiana) and don't plan to camp in the wild (not a fan of being eaten by a bear!). If i can drive to the site and hike a mile or so, that'd be perfect. I know, i know, not a very adventurous photog. compared to many of the folks on this site!

Thanks again for your tips. I'll keep researching and hopefully come up with some good ideas.

Amy

No Problem Amy.

I think this shot from James Kay is a good representation of what it can look like in Fall:

http://www.jameskay.com/gallery4/617-WY-TE-132.htm

Most workshops I have seen to cost quite a bit. Thats not to say they are not worth it if you have the $$. But with all the research you are doing you will probably do fine on your own. Just go at the right time for either wildflowers or Fall colors.

For lake reflections the Tetons are hard to beat unless you go to Glacier NP, which is also a good option. Rick and Darren will be going there I believe this year.

Check out Darren's great trip report from his last trip:
http://www.mycolorado.org/canada_2005/canada_05.html