Yellowstone Suggestions

I'm headed to the Grand Tetons & Yellowstone for a week next week - Sept. 17-24. Three days in Tetons & four days in Yellowstone. I'm staying in the lodges at each park, not camping. I've gotten some really good intel on Tetons through Robert Hitchman's Photograph America newsletter & Scott Smorra. I'm looking for any info I can get on the "must do's" for both parks, especially for Yellowstone. My limited time there won't allow me to do too much scouting. I'm more interested in the landscapes than wildlife, although I'll have a 400 prime & extenders to reach out & touch anything that moves to some degree

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Wick,
Landscape in Yellowstone is challenging if you try to avoid the cliche shots. I enjoy selective vistas along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. In particular, you can get away from the crowds by walking the trail from Artist's Point to Point Sublime and see colorful erosion forms along the sides of a deep sinuous canyon. I'd also suggest the one way dirt road through the Blacktail Plateau. That road is off the main road between Mammoth and Tower Junction. The Lamar valley area also offers some nice vistas and may have Cottonwoods and Aspens showing fall colors. One thing about Yellowstone, is don't plan on getting anywhere quick. You never know when you'll get stuck in a wildlife traffic jam and the roads are twisty and not in great shape.

Mark

Wick

Just a heads up here..There are fires burning in Yellowstone and in the Bridger-Tetons. How bad the smoke is I have no clue. You can find more information for Wyoming's fires here.. http://www.inciweb.org/state/52/

Harold

Agreed that the Tetons are your better bet for landscapes. I'm more of a wildlife guy, so I can help you on that front if you have questions (email me). If you do want to photograph Yellowstone Falls, there's often a time in mid-morning (9:30 - 10ish) where you'll get a nice rainbow on a sunny day, though I'm not sure if this is accurate for this time of the year.

I would recommend driving the Beartooth Highway (out of the park's NE corner) if you have time. There are some spectacular vistas up there.

Max

I know you are interested in landscapes, but I can't help but suggest you get to Madison Junction - not too far from Old Faithful - about dawn for the elk. You will be close to the elk rut and usually a large heard of elk bed down in the field between the Madison River and the Madison River Road. If you get there around dawn you will beat most people and there will be very little traffic on the roads while you drive there. If you get there later than about 7:30 AM much of the action may be over as the elk tend to migrate across the road and are much less visible and active on the hillside.

Bring a polarizer for sure, but be careful to not over do it. Remember you are at 8,000 ft. I really like the geothermal pools/features. Those are what define the park. Tower Falls is nice too. Be careful to not slip and fall into a waterfall. That is usually bad.


Kent in SD

Get the "photographer's Guide to Yellowstone and the Teton's" by Joseph Lange published by Stackpole Books.

This book is a wonderful resource. I bought mine off of Amazon.

Happy shooting

Bernie

I'll second Max's suggestion of the Beartooth Highway if you have time. Also, depending on your itinerary the road between the Northeast entrance and Casper is quite scenic.

Photographing Yellowstone National Park: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them (The Photographer's Guide) by Gustav W. Verderber

Fast as you can. ORDER THIS BOOK AND OVERNIGHT IT!!!

If I could get one for every place I go, I would order it now. Directions on how to progress along roads and trails for maximum photography chances are included. "Stand 3 steps to the left of the big tree at 7:47am exactly. The sun will come over your left shoulder and a big moose stands there every day". OK maybe the moose part was a hyperbole, but you get the idea. I'm jealous-I'd go back in a heartbeat.

The Lange book that Bernie mentions was also excellent and I used it extensively for Tetons.

And, perfect timing for the Rut. That will be to the north in Mammoth. But be sure to have your shorter lens for that. Those huge guys just stand around on street corners up there waiting for the babes to walk by so they can whistle.

Do keep in mind that large horny animals can be very dangerous. Keep a sane distance from them. If you can make a face-only portrait with a 200mm lens, you are probably too close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDa_EaALMLw


Kent in SD