The Nature, Wildlife and Pet Photography Forum - Fine Art Landscape Photography
Finally getting to Yellowstone
Posted By: jamesdak
Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/05/07 03:10 PM
Ok, bills be damned I'm not missing another fall at Yellowstone. So, I'm heading up the 20th through the 22nd. Planning to camp on the west side and will set up a reservation soon. Main objective is wildlife with some thought to scouting locations to shoot in a later winter trip. Then I'm going back up a week or two later to shoot the Tetons. That will be according to color conditions. I'll only have two days there each time so any suggestions for maximizing my shooting will be appreciated. A 400/5.6 on the 30D is my long setup although I do have 1.4x t-con to use in an emergency. I'll be looking for Elk shots as I don't have too many decent shots of them. Love to get some wolves but realize my setup is a bit short for that unless I get lucky. Might have betters odds getting them during a winter shoot. Anyway, suggestions welcome as this is my first trip to the park. Oh yeah, and as I found out in Glacier 2 months ago. My screwed up knees are only good for about 3 miles if there is any kind of decline. So, keep in mind I'm not capable of long hikes anymore.
Posted By: Tony Bynum
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/05/07 04:46 PM
You can stay close to the road, along the madison river out of west yellowstone clear to madison junction. That area will offer lots of good elk shooting, if you can find a spot among all the 500 and 600 mm canons . . . be prepared for a very chaotic encounter with masses of head strong photographers. Also, prepare yourself for follow the rules of the park there will be people who will jump down your back if they think youre too close, even if youre not.
I'm not saying this to discourage you I'm telling you this so you'll be mentally prepared. . .
Good luck and post few when you get back. . .
Posted By: Jim Garvie
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/06/07 12:18 PM
Quote:
if you can find a spot among all the 500 and 600 mm canons
Tony,
sounds like the sidelines of an NFL game! We don't seem to have that problem when we shoot in the Everglades 
.
Seriously, Jim, I envy you. It should be a great trip and I'm looking forward to seeing some images when you get back.
Jim
Posted By: jamesdak
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/06/07 02:40 PM
Tony,
Yeah, I've been warned about the crowds before and think that's one reason I've never tried too hard to get there despite it being only about a 4 hour drive. I love being alone in the wilds while I shoot. But occasionally I've just got to suck it up and go with the masses.
Here in Utah I can drive 15 minutes from the house and start shooting wildlife with no one around. Give me a chance at shots like this which I got last Sunday morning. I'll take this over church anyday, LOL!
Posted By: Marty Everhard
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/07/07 12:27 AM
Nice moose. I like the grain in the shot. Let us know how you do in Yellowstone.
Posted By: Julie
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/07/07 10:56 PM
I don't think the light could have been anymore perfect on that moose! Excellent shot!
Posted By: gll
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/08/07 04:39 AM
We will be heading that way the 22nd, I posted on this site and got this reply.
http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/wwwboard/messages2/4016.htm
Posted By: James Morrissey
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/08/07 12:53 PM
Hey Gary,
We will be in Yellowstone/Grand Teton as of the 21st. We will be staying at the 3 Bears Inn in West Yellowstone the 23rd and 24th ($59/night), and moving up to Mammoth on the 25th. The rest of the time, we will be down in the Tetons (which is my preferred haunt...fewer crowds and better landscapes).
James
Posted By: gll
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/08/07 04:20 PM
James
We are planning to pull a trailer and stay in Gros Ventre campground. they don't take reservations so I hope to be there, our plans are very loose so we may go into YNP, I would like to find a grizzly and it sounds like Dunraven area is best and its a good little drive to make every day fron GTNP. but I agree I love the Tetons best.
not sure if we will be one week or two yet, We should be in a white Dodge 3/4 ton pickup with a topper and Texas tags, give us a holler.
Gary & Debbie
Posted By: dave_lines
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/08/07 04:38 PM
When we were there we saw the most bears (Grizzly and Blacks) between Canyon and Tower Junction, but this was in the spring,, we also stayed at Gros Ventre. Grandson didn't believe me when I told him how it was pronounced,, LOL, DAve
Posted By: gll
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/08/07 05:31 PM
Grow Vaunt, My GPS gets it wrong to, Last Sept I sat on a picnic table there and photographed a Bull Moose. had about an hours just me and the moose. I hope they are there again this year.
Posted By: James Morrissey
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/09/07 10:50 PM
Grose Ventre is a great place to view moose. There was a monster sized one that I saw on the way to the airport last year. My brother and father, who were staying later than my wife and I, photographed the guy for hours. We had seen him on several occasions prior - but nothing we could get close too. LOL, my sib and I trecked down through the marsh to go photograph the cow and her baby hoping to also capture the big guy. No such luck. I got VERY wet, LOL.
James
Posted By: gll
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/10/07 03:32 AM
when I pulled into the campground I saw a smallish bull bolt across the campground to the marsh area, everyone took off after him , I looked back where he came from and the big fellow was there, its really fun when you have a big bull all to yourself
Posted By: James Morrissey
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/10/07 06:38 PM
The one we saw last year was absolutely immense. I was cursing the entire time that I saw him while driving on the way to the airport. His rack was somewhat cracked up from the sparring that it looked like he had been doing. It seemed a bit odd as that is a bit early in the season for the moose, who does not begin the rut until a bit later, I had thought.
James
Posted By: James Morrissey
Re: Finally getting to Yellowstone - 09/12/07 08:59 PM
9 Days and counting....I am still trying to add some places for my pop, who is not as mobile as he has been in the past. If folks have any additional ideas, please feel free to drop me a note.
-JM
Posted By: jamesdak
I am cursed! - 09/19/07 09:16 PM
Auugghhh! The AC just went out in the Minivan again. This will be the 4th time back in for this problem in a month and half. They dealer obviously does not know how to really fix it. It keeps shredding the compression. I wouldn't care but the A/C system has to be working for the drier function with the defrosters in cold weather. It goes to the dealer Thursday which is when I was going to leave for Yellowstone. Something always seems to come up when I have a trip to there planned.
Well, we are out here ourselves. We are taking a break, and fortunately, there is an internet connection. We almost did not make it due to some family emergencies that cropped up at the last minute. However, we decided to make the trip anyway. Glad we did. This morning, we photographed Schwabacher's Landing (sp) and later saw a juvenile male. Unfortunately, the sunrise yielded no exciting color, but it was still pretty none the less. Right now, the sky is completely cloudy. Bright enough that it is perfect for wildlife.
Tomorrow, we are planning on photographing sunrise at Oxbox Bend. I understand that there is a monster sized bull out there.
No photographs to show yet. We are heading out for sunset in a bit. Hopefully there will be one.
James
Well, we are out here ourselves. We are taking a break, and fortunately, there is an internet connection. We almost did not make it due to some family emergencies that cropped up at the last minute. However, we decided to make the trip anyway. Glad we did. This morning, we photographed Schwabacher's Landing (sp) and later saw a juvenile male. Unfortunately, the sunrise yielded no exciting color, but it was still pretty none the less. Right now, the sky is completely cloudy. Bright enough that it is perfect for wildlife.
Tomorrow, we are planning on photographing sunrise at Oxbox Bend. I understand that there is a monster sized bull out there.
No photographs to show yet. We are heading out for sunset in a bit. Hopefully there will be one.
James
Posted By: jamesdak
Re: I am cursed! - 09/23/07 02:38 AM
Well, I did get some vidication for me problems. Since I could get to Yellowstone I went up to my local mountain shooting spot early Friday Morning. I got a few shots of a young bull moose and then moved higher up the mountain. I spotted two moose down in a meadow and set off after them. Turned out to be two bulls! I got to spend about and hour working them as they moved and sparred with each other. Tough shooting conditions as they were in shadow and backlit most of the time. They where in a narrow meadow with steep ridges on both sides and I couldn't get around them to put the sun at my back. The pictures are nothing special but being so close to this was quite special. It's been storming most of today but I'm hoping for good shots again tomorrow morning.
Hey James,
I hear what you are saying about the experience. My wife and I were saying that last night. It has been raining steadily since yesterday afternoon - and it has not really stopped us - we still drove out for sunset last night and took some photos in the rain. Some of them may come out - though LOL, probably most won't.
The experience is everything. The photos just document it.
-James
As I was mentioning earlier, it has been raining since yesterday evening. Today has not amazing though none the less. It really has been the 'Day of the Wet Moose.' We have seen several bulls - more than I have seen in years at one time. Each one bigger than the next.
This evening, I was sitting in a field by myself with a good sized (not huge) bull in the pouring rain. The images look very good so far - though until I get it onto the CRT, I won't necessarily believe it.
What a great (but wet) day.
Cheers
James