Yellowstone advice...

[mrso]

We are going to yellowstone in July for 7 days. Just wondering if anybody had advice on where to get great pictures.

[Tom Reichner]

Oh, boy! What a great place to come for advice!

My wife and I just went there a week and a half ago, and plan to return with the kids for a week at the end of this month.

There's been quite a bit of posting about Yellowstone lately. I recently wrote the following to someone who was also wanting advice on where to go in Yellowstone:

I do know that there is an absolute wealth of Yellowstone information on the internet.

There is a Yellowstone forum, not unlike this forum (although many, many fewer users). Here is a link to it: http://forums.yellowstone.net//
The folks who post on Y-net really know what they're talking about, and there are many daily trip reports that will tell you what folks are finding in the park right now.

My #1 recommendation is to get active on that forum ASAP, so that you'll have a good base of current knowledge before you leave. If possible, you'll want to take a laptop and get into Gardiner or West Yellowstone where there's some internet access. Get on that forum and see what folks are finding. This can save you hours and hours of unproductive driving time. They will tell you where elk or bison carcasses are - which will get you the best chance of getting good Grizzly or Wolf photos. And they'll tell you where rangers are being anal, and where they're letting photographers get away with "a little extra".

They will tell you where to go for the best scenic photo opportunities. Tips like, "shoot the S bend of the Lamar River now, while the river is brim-full, because images of the S bend don't look as good if taken later in the season when the water level is down".

You can get literally dozens of tips like this, each one making your time in the park more productive (and henceforth more enjoyable).

Heck, if I didn't have a laptop I'd borrow one for the trip, just to be able to get on the Yellowstone forum while there.

If you get on Y-net, check out the posts about the Red Fox den just outside the Park's east entrance. There is currently a female with a litter of kits, and she lets folks get up close for photos. It is not within the park boundaries, so you don't have to worry about rangers closing the area off to photographers. There will be very specific, current info about this on Y-net.

One other thing - Mike55 was right when he recommended the Beartooth Highway. It's a spectacular drive, and one you don't want to miss if you're already so close. At the other end is the town of Red Lodge, where you will be able to get a good hot meal or whatever you want.

I sincerely you have a great trip, and that you return with more excellent images than you ever dreamed possible!

-Tom

PS: Here's a pic of a Badger that I took just two weeks ago. I never would have gotten this without the help of the folks on Y-net. Because of their posts, I learned of a den this female had, and I was able to get there shortly after it was "discovered". The next day, the Rangers closed the area to all human entry, so as to 'protect' the den. That's why it is important to have very current information.

[mrso]

Thanks so much. I live about 5 hours away from the Park but havent been there for about 15 years. Our family it really excited to go.

[Tom Reichner]

Thanks so much. I live about 5 hours away from the Park but havent been there for about 15 years. Our family it really excited to go.

5 hours from the Park! Wow - I'm envious! We're 10 or 11 hours from the Gardiner entrance, and think we're lucky to be "so close" to Yellowstone. If I was 5 hours away I'd be there a couple times a month!

Which area do you live in? Which Park entrance are you closest to?

[mrso]

We live just East of the Big Horn Mountains.. We will be entering through the East entrance but will be staying in Gardiner. I felt the need to have reservations in a campground and there was really not a lot available except outside the park.

I would love to go more often but it is quite a drive over the mountain with small children can be quite daunting.

[Tom Reichner]

What a place to live! And if you're anywhere near Gilette, you enjoy some of the cheapest gasoline in the entire US!

That location also puts you within easy reach of South Dakota's Custer State Park - one of the best places anywhere to see & photograph Bison and Pronghorn. Some nice Whitetail Deer there, too. And the Badlands! Wow - you really do live very close to a lot of awesome places!

The Bighorn Mountains area is one of my parent's favorite areas in the entire west - what a beautiful drive you'll have getting to the park!

There is a Red Fox den just outside the East Entrance to the park. You'll be driving right past it coming in from that direction. Here's a link that describes the location more precisely. Surely the kids will love to see it!
http://forums.yellowstone.net//viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1829&p=16005&hilit=teepee#p16005

[Mike55]

5 hours from the Park! Wow - I'm envious! We're 10 or 11 hours from the Gardiner entrance, and think we're lucky to be "so close" to Yellowstone. If I was 5 hours away I'd be there a couple times a month!

Which area do you live in? Which Park entrance are you closest to?

If I lived ten hours from the park I would be there at least one weekend a month! That's awesome.

[mrso]

Funny you mention Gillette... Our gas is cheap (compared to the rest of the country) THat is where I live. We go to South Dakota quite often as that is where my husband is from. Always make a trip through Spearfish Canyon in the fall to catch the autumn colors.

[Tom Reichner]

I thought I lived in a great location for photographing wildlife, but if we each look at what is within 5 or 6 hours of us, you may just have me beat!

Besides, my gas prices here in Omak are terrible :(

[Big O]

Hey I'm going to yellowstone too!

[mrso]

Wow... maybe I will run into you.

[Big O]

doubtful

[Tom Reichner]

doubtful

Maybe not so unlikely. It's surprising that despite the summertime crowds, folks who "know" each other from forums so often end up meeting at Yellowstone, quite accidentally. It happens quite a bit. Of course, seeing a big "POTN" decal on a back window, or a "Y-net" bumper sticker helps folks find each other.

[Big O]

haha ... I bet ... I will have to give that a shot ... plus if we are reading the same forum and heading to the same 'hot spots' the %'s of meeting increase significantly

[mrso]

Big O I know you strip your gear so I will be looking for your camo lens

[Big O]

Nice gallary(s) Tom ... pretty impressive

[Mike55]

We are going to yellowstone in July for 7 days. Just wondering if anybody had advice on where to get great pictures.

Sounds like you may be camping based on your other thread. You can check out all the Yellowstone campgrounds here:

camping (http://www.parkcamper.com/Yellowstone-National-Park/Yellowstone-National-Park-Camping.htm)

*definitely* go to Grand Teton for at least a day. As for great places to take pictures, try the Old Faithful area, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake Area, anyplace in Grand Teton and the Lamary and Hayden valleys in Yellowstone. If you have time, go up to the top of Beartooth Pass from Cooke City (NE entrace) for some mindblowing stuff.

For Grand Teton, the drive from the inside Grand Teton road to North Jenny Lake Junction is one of the most spectacular things you will ever see. Wildlife is all over Grand Teton.

For Yellowstone, try the Hayden and Lamar Valleys, Washburn Pass, Tower and the Fishing Bridge area for a variety of wildlife. The Madison area in the fall is outstanding for elk.

[mrso]

Yes we will be camping... in a camper. I attempted to get reservations at some of the campgrounds in the park but everything was full until late August. We will not be able to go that late in the summer. I wouldnt mind attempting to get into another campground but I will be 5 months pregnant and really dont think I will feel up to it. I just decided to get reservations at the Rocky Mountain campground in Gardiner, MT.

Ideally I would love to camp in the park but at least I know now for next time... PLAN EARLY.

[Mike55]

How big is your camper? You do not need reservations for many of the Yellowstone campgrounds, or Grand Teton. You can find open sites in July no problem for your camper if it is moderate size or less. I'd highly recommend Norris (http://www.parkcamper.com/Yellowstone-National-Park/Yellowstone-National-Park-Norris-Campground.htm), Pebble Creek (http://www.parkcamper.com/Yellowstone-National-Park/Yellowstone-National-Park-Pebble-Creek-Campground.htm), Lewis Lake (http://www.parkcamper.com/Yellowstone-National-Park/Yellowstone-National-Park-Lewis-Lake-Campground.htm), and Grant (http://www.parkcamper.com/Yellowstone-National-Park/Yellowstone-National-Park-Grant-Campground.htm). Those are all in the park and not hard to get spots in if you get to them before noon.

Either way it sounds like fun, even if you have to drive up from Gardiner everyday, it's still worth it.

[mrso]

There will be 2 Campers traveling in our party so that is part of the problem. One is 25 ft pulled by a 20 ft truck and the other is 27 ft pulled by a 16 ft vehicle. When I called the Yellowstone reservation line (called 3 different times to try to get as much info as possible) everybody told me that it would be very difficult to get 2 sites in any campground. I didnt want to risk it so we decided to go the safe route this time. I am sure we will be back soon and next time I will for sure get my reservations early.

I was going to stay at Grant and Canyon. This inital trip will give us a better idea of what to expect/plan for next time.

[Mike55]

Yeah two campers presents a different set of problems. Not an issue at all if it was just you guys. That said, I doubt you would have any problem at all at Lewis Lake with the two campers, or at Gros Ventre campground in Grand Teton.

[mrso]

Thanks for the info.

[snowyowl13]

We will be setting out tomorrow for Ontario. If that leg of the trip goes well and gas isn't too expensive, we will start the second leg which will take us to Yellowstone. From Yellowstone we will head north to Yellowknife. That's the plan but it may just prove too expensive to haul a trailer that far. Fingers crossed that I will finally see Yellowstone.

[BillwYellowstone]

Hey guys. I am working for the summer IN the park, at Old Faithful. I may be able to help get a camping (0r 2 ) campsites, full hookups. PM me.

I'll be here thru mid Oct, got here mid May.

You missed the Photography in the Park thing with Canon, put me onto my next camera.

As to wildlife sightings, try the Y net, you can also check with me. I hear things all day. I see stuff all the time, even heard about the badgers. Saw a fox out near West entrance the other day.

Waking up in Wonderland every day jades you. Bison walking between my motorcycle and the next trailer over, (gap of about 4') is eye opening. I know that is hardly the wild, but it was pretty wild!

[black_z]

Oh, boy! What a great place to come for advice!

My wife and I just went there a week and a half ago, and plan to return with the kids for a week at the end of this month.

There's been quite a bit of posting about Yellowstone lately. I recently wrote the following to someone who was also wanting advice on where to go in Yellowstone:


Back from the dead, but noticing the post date on your post, and that you said you were there a week and a half before that... I was there around the same time. And also saw a dude standing on top of a vehicle with an 800mm lens taking pics of a badger den. After looking at those pics posted, would this have been you I saw?! :)

[Tom Reichner]

Back from the dead, but noticing the post date on your post, and that you said you were there a week and a half before that... I was there around the same time. And also saw a dude standing on top of a vehicle with an 800mm lens taking pics of a badger den. After looking at those pics posted, would this have been you I saw?! :)

No, it wasn't me. Unfortunately, where the vehicles are is way too far from the den, in my opinion, for good images - even with an 800mm. The parking at the roadside turnout was about 50 or 60 yards from the den. We all set up our tripods at 15 yards from the den, which was still way too far, even with my effective focal length of 800mm (400 f2.8 with the 2x extender on). Ideally I would want to be about 7 yards from the badgers. This would allow me to get nice, frame filling shots without having to use any extenders.

It was impossible to get great, close shots of the badgers at this particular den simply because so many photographers knew about it. If everyone is set up at 15 yards and you try to walk closer and set up at 7 yards, you'll have a bunch of photographers that are very angry with you. Not a good situation. So we were all kind of "stuck" at the 15 yard distance.

I met another photographer along the Lamar road that evening who had found his own Badger den that nobody else knew about. He was able to approach to within 4 or 5 feet of the female at the den, and got some incredible images! He filled the frame with her face - simply couldn't fit her whole body in because he was so close. The result was some excellent badger portraiture that would most likely print out very sharp and clear even at 20" by 30". A true "money shot"!

[sweetlu60]

Although not full frame, this was with my 600 plus 1.4x extender on my 40D at about 30yards. This was further up the Lamar Valley, and they had a den right on the edge of the road. What do you think?

http://www.westskies.com/photos/631787017_3zEYs-M.jpg

[Tom Reichner]

Nice, Steven!

I heard about a den further up the Lamar, and looked for it, but couldn't find it. Hopefully the rangers didn't shut that one down the way they did with the other one.
I just read online about a place in Montana that has Badgers all over the place. I don't know how true that is, but I intend to check it out when I'm able to take time for the trip.

[sweetlu60]

This one was about 100meters to the east of the pull out that talks about rangeland enclosures near the hill everyone uses to scope in on the Druids rendevous, just before the confluence of the Soda Butte Creek and Lamar. This picture was on 24 June. When I went back, they were no longer there, and a kill by the wolves had pulled in a lot of traffic in the area.

Where in Montana, if you are willing to share? I am on my way back at the end of September, but I am still trying to firm up the trip.

[Mike55]

Nice, Steven!

I heard about a den further up the Lamar, and looked for it, but couldn't find it. Hopefully the rangers didn't shut that one down the way they did with the other one.
I just read online about a place in Montana that has Badgers all over the place. I don't know how true that is, but I intend to check it out when I'm able to take time for the trip.


Tom - I am close wih two Yellowstone rangers and usually the main reason for any wildlife shutdown is when the animals begin to be approached and harassed, usually by people trying to take pictures. I've heard stories you would not believe! The worst involve animals being pushed onto a busy roadway by people getting too close.....

Cool shot sweetlu. Cubs fan by chance?

[sweetlu60]

If you are refering to my nom de guerre, no, just a nick name from high school.

[Tom Reichner]

Tom - I am close wih two Yellowstone rangers and usually the main reason for any wildlife shutdown is when the animals begin to be approached and harassed, usually by people trying to take pictures. I've heard stories you would not believe! The worst involve animals being pushed onto a busy roadway by people getting too close.....

I understand the ranger's position, Mike. And I have seen situations where people's interaction with the wildlife did cause an actual threat to the animal (not photogs - people feeding foxes on a busy 55mph road). That being said, it's still frustrating at times. I spend tons of time and go to great lengths to get myself in position to take frame-filling close-ups of wildlife. It's a great disappointment to drive hundreds and hundreds of miles and way too much $ on gas, camping fees, motel rooms, etc. - then finally find a subject that I can get close to . . . only to have a ranger take the opportunity away from me. The reason I go to these places is to get better photos than the ones I already have - that's my sole purpose. It hurts to have the opportunities taken away from me when I was so close to accomplishing my goal. If you go to the park's gift shops and look at the books and posters, you'll see many, many images in which the photographer must have been extremely close to the subject. Those are the types of images that sell. The rangers have to do their job. Pro wildlife photographers have to do their job. Sometimes those two jobs are mutually exclusive. It's unfortunate, but a fact we all have to accept.

[Mike55]

Tom - I've sold wildlife images on Alamy, but I do not depend entirely on photo sales to make my living. I could see how that would be annoying. But do understand that photographers have been killed and severely maueld in the park. Also, photogs have killed animals by pressuring them and crowding, or by pushing animals off their den which then abandonds the young (see the badger). The amount of accidents that occur from people zooming around in some paparazi wildlife chase is shocking as well. This irks the rangers. I find these things to be of very poor ettiquette and beyond what the park is there for. I wish the rangers had more power, and could issue a minimum $500 citation for some of the things I hear about and sometimes see.

I am always trying to improve my game,like you are. I want better photos every time out. But it's not worth it if I endanger myself or park animals. That's not what the national parks are about. If I caused a mother badger to abandon den, I'm an a-hole, plain and simple and I don't deserve to be in the park because not only am I harassing the animals, but my actions are also ruining the enjoyment of others.

The answer to this problem is simple! 600 F4 IS, 800 5.6 IS or Sigmonster.

[BillwYellowstone]

Full image, no crop, brightness and sharp only. Handheld exp, playing with ISO, this is 6400 1/4000 sec, F5.7.

Madison River, near campground.

[Tom Reichner]

Good looking bull, Bill. Although I spent some time in that area during last fall's rut, I didn't see that bull - I would've remembered him!

[BillwYellowstone]

He was in the Madison area, just west of the campground.

Back in the Park this summer, still based at Old Faithful.

[Daryl-Hunter]

Greater Yellowstone Resource Guide (http://www.Greater-Yellowstone.com/Yellowstone-Park/photography.html)