Back through Yellowstone & Tetons (S24: Part 16)

What to do when the shooting conditions aren't quite right...

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We had one last early wake-up call, this time at 4 am, because I wanted to photograph the sunrise on Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The 90 minute winding drive, in pitch black, was a bit scary, but once we got to the canyon area, there was a bit more light and a little less fear of hitting an animal on the road.

Pre-sunrise light at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. I was worried the waterfall was too powerful for a long exposure, but nope. It was lovely!

This picture is why we were here at sunrise. I wanted to capture the sun peeking out onto the rocks and waterfall.

However, because of these clouds, the shot above is the only one I captured with any sun. As the clouds continued to cover the sun, I turned the camera around to capture the trees, clouds, and sunrise to the east.

I remember reading someone else’s newsletter here on Substack about shooting with the conditions you have instead of the conditions you want. I mentioned this to Adam as I packed up my equipment and headed for the van. The clouds stubbornly never cleared, and my toes (I wore Chacos - it was JULY) were cold because it was 34°F that morning. If the clouds wouldn’t clear, there was no point in pouting about it.

Yellowstone River, a preview of what was to come.

So we drove to Haydyn Valley instead. We knew the animals were most active in the morning, so I was ready for some bison pics. What I was not prepared for was the fog over the water. I definitely shot for the conditions that were available in Haydyn Valley!

With the sun just peeking through the trees, I visualized the heavy contrast between light (fog, sky, water) and dark (pine trees).

The sun lit up one strip of the river, which also lit up the fog above the water.

A spooky, ethereal telephoto shot of pines across Yellowstone River. If you’ve ever spent time in fog, you know how this picture “feels.” The fog and light absolutely made my morning. Who cares about bison?!

A gaggle of geese also enjoying the morning weather (and a lukewarm water bath).

I was obsessed with this set of trees on the other side of the Yellowstone River. It wasn’t until I went through my pictures that I realized there was a deer hanging out across the water.

Two bison (one off camera) moved slowly through the water. It was so cool to watch them and photograph them.

As we drove on, there were hundreds of bison right off of the road.

Bruh. What?

Backlit, big bison grazing green-ish grass

Even with all the bison around, I was still obsessed with the trees, river, and fog.

While we saw many bison that day, this was the cutest scene I saw: a momma and her calf snuggling while snoozing!

Both Adam and I agreed that we didn’t need more time in Yellowstone. However, we were gross from swimming in Bowman Lake (poor man’s shower, anyone?), so we stopped at our previous campsite and paid for a shower.

Then we continued on to the Tetons. While driving between the two parks, Adam asked me what my plan was for the afternoon. I thought about it and remembered how I had to go back to work in two days, so I said that I wanted to stop and scout at one location, and then we could continue driving on.

Is it possible to take a bad picture of the Tetons?

My favorite Teton, so stately, so beautiful in black and white.

Some rich person is landing their PJ at the Jackson airport. That’d be quite the view from the airplane window!

Next time, Schwabacher Landing, next time. I’ll see you here at sunrise.

When deciding where to camp for the night, I remembered a boondocking spot in the middle of nowhere Wyoming. We scouted it previously, and it turned out to be a great place with no one, and I mean NO ONE else around. A quiet night next to the river = the best sleep ever.

The next day, we drove home, and the following day, I was back at work after a month on the road. I’m going to cherish this summer for a long time and will impatiently wait for the time when we get back to Glacier National Park.

Cheers.

Did you miss any of my summer vacation newsletters? Check out:

1 - Mayflower Gulch, Colorado

2 - Grand Mesa, Colorado

3 - Telluride, Colorado

4 - Blue Lakes Trail, Colorado

5 - Corkscrew Gulch, Colorado

6 - Yankee Boy Basin, Colorado

7 - Ice Lake Trail, Colorado

8 - Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Colorado

9 - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

10 - Mystic Falls & Grand Prismatic, Wyoming

11 - West Thumb to Mammoth, Wyoming

12 - Grinnell Glacier Trail, Montana

13 - Going to the Sun Road, Montana

14 - Going to the Sun Road, Again!

15 - Bowman Lake, Montana