Any Grand Teton/Yellowstone Tips?

[Debbi]

We are going to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone at the end of June. We will be camping between the two parks for a week. Any tips or words of wisdom? Even though we are meeting hubby's family there, my main goal will be great landscape pics. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Glen_A]

I have a suggestion...........take me with you

[Debbi]

Heehee. That's not helping!

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Plan to get up an hour BEFORE SUNRISE every morning!

Best View in a Bar Ever is in MOOSE WYOMING!

So block off your day from an hour before sunrise till 2 1/2 hours after to shoot large landscape type shots also about 2 hours before sunset till 1/2 an hour after then the rest of the day do the shots that are more tight and less effected by the sun. If you can try to have the sun over one of your shoulders when you shoot the scene.

[Debbi]

You and I are on the same wavelength. While I love sleeping in (finally) on vacation, I realize that is prime-time shooting. Taking an alarm clock with me. I am also planning on a few hours at sunset for photography. My family can have me the rest of time (minus naptime of course).

Any idea what the name of that bar is?

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

I think it is the ONLY Bar in Moose-Moose is on the Highway and just south of the Grand Teton National Park- The LARGE Picture window over the Bar frames the Tetons!

[Stephen H]

Never been there. But spent a lot of time in a similar touristy park, Rocky Mountain N.P.

To avoid crowds, get to the trailheads at the crack of dawn. For really popular trails , eariler. If you go up a mountain, try to hit the top and be back off by mid-morning. I've hiked from early morning until 4:00 PM without seeing a soul in a place where it was hard to find parking spaces.

Make up your mind before-hand if you're going to hike, photograph, or have fun with the family. Can't do all three in most cases. Don't be afraid to NOT take a picture, or lug 50 lbs of photo equipment with you- it's not like no one ever went there before.

My experience with wildlife is that you'll see more of it when driving around than you will when hiking. With grizzlies about, that's probably a good thing.

[jeffkohn]

I found this book to be very useful in planning our trip there last fall.

I certainly agree on the first light/last light shooting. I imagine it gets tough shooting sunrise up there in June though. The days are very long, I believe sunrise is before 6am that time of year. Which means that depending on how far you have to drive to get to your photo spot, you can plan on getting up at 4:00am or earlier. When we were there in late Sept, sunrise was at about 7:00am, and I found that getting up at 5:30 gave me just enough time to get dressed and eat a quick bite before leaving. And even then there was one morning were I arrived a few minutes late and another where I was rushing and just barely made it.

The approach that worked well for us was to shoot landscapes at sunrise from one of the "photo hotspots", then do some hiking during the middle part of the day, and then shoot either wildlife or landscapes in the early evening and at sunset before heading back for the day. As to wildlife, it's not uncommon to see it while on the trail up there, we saw a black bear and her cub while hiking in GTNP.

[Glen_A]

Originally Posted by dblank12

Heehee. That's not helping!

Seriously, I wish I had some suggestions but I have not been fortunate enough to make a trip like that. Big Bend last year was my one big outing. I hope yall have a great time and I wanna see some photo's when yall get back!

[Debbi]

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the tips.

Jeff, I'm glad the book is helpful. I already have it! And, I'm planning on getting up very early. Last summer in AZ we discovered that the sun came up at 4:00 .

Paul, I will definitely have to find that bar.

I don't think posting pics when I get back will be a problem.

[susieo]

Don't miss Oxbow Bend at sunrise. It will take your breath away!!

(There is a cool resturant and bar at Signal Mountain Lodge in GTNP.)

[Bobj616]

Allow plenty of time to get anywhere in Yellowstone. You are going in tourist season and there will be a lot of people. The park is huge and speed limits are low (for good reason). Check ahead for any road closings due to construction. When we were there a few years ago one of the main roads was closed so you had to go around most of the park to get to certain areas. It is worth whatever you have to do to get there though. wish I could go back in the fall sometime. Bob

[Janice_d]

UMM Watch out for BEAR..!!! LOL.. Seriously dont leave food OUT at all..keep it tightly closed OR as my family does when camping , hang it from the trees!!
The Lodge is awesome.. and to see OLD Faithful is a must!!! I went thru there right before the fires.. and took pics..then a year later we traveled that way just after the fire went thru.. looked like a war had gone on there... But the lodge was saved , just no trees around for a while. It should be growing back pretty well.. There are tons of Water falls around that are beautiful. I loved viewing the Buffalo along roadsides.. The sulpher flats kind of smell so be ready for that ! HAVE FUN..If I can find my pics Ill SCAN them and post a few!!!

[Debbi]

Thanks so much again for the great tips. Oxbow Bend is definitely on my sunrise list. The schedule is pretty open for the week (except for sunrise and sunsets, of course). Not going to get in a hurry about anything. We are actually staying in Flagg Ranch which is located right between both parks. Should be a central "staging ground".

Ooooh, Janice. Please post some. Love looking at pics of this area.

Thanks again!

[mobilezen]

Bear spray is your friend. For $37.99 at REI, it can save your life...Then again black bears are more abundant than grizzlies up there...Those black bears are smart too...they can turn door knobs now. Saw an article awhile back about it. Even in June, it'll be very cool in the mornings. Cover your noggin.