“September: Fall’s amazing transformation” 

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Monthly Overviews for JH / GTNP .

Check Out These TWO Popular Pages: If I Had Only One Day in the Tetons and A Trip to Jackson Hole

And…this page might be a valuable resource at this time of the year: Wildlife Reports for September:

Just a Few Notes for September: In case you didn’t read the August Journal, here are a few tidbits you might need to know!

• Black Bears have been spotted on the Moose-Wilson Road, but less often this year than last. New rules are in place on the road.
• Keep an eye on a “sister page” during September: Foliage Reports September/October 2016 :
• Deadmans Bar Road, parking area and ramp will be closed beginning at 8:00 a.m. on October 3

September 30, 2016 – Friday

Shadow Mountain: Above the clouds.

Shadow Mountain Clouds: Taken looking North from the back side of Shadow Mountain.

TA Moulton Barn: Fallen leaves and low clouds.

Reflections: TA Moulton barn.

Cottonwood Creek: The tail out from Jenny Lake.

Chapel Window: Chapel of the Transfiguration

Chapel of the Transfiguration:

The Tetons:

Cottonwood Creek:

Leaves: In Cottonwood Creek.

Rainbow over Flat Creek:

September 29, 2016 – Thursday

Early Morning Elk: Taken along the Teton Park Road near Jenny Lake Junction. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Morning Rainbow: Taken on the road into String Lake. This is a spliced 5 shot image, merged in Lightroom. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Golden Eye: Taken at Schwabacher Landing. Nikon D500 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Red Squirrel and Pine Cone: Taken at Schwabacher Landing. Nikon D500 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Rolling Bison: Taken at Elk Flats. Nikon D500 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Tourists and Bison Crossing: Taken at Elk Flats. Nikon D500 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Photographer: Taken at Elk Flats. Nikon D500 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Black Bear: Taken along Jackson Lake near the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. Nikon D500 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Several openings are available in October. Just ask!

Teton Photo Excursions. I offer LICENSED One-On-One Photography Excursions in Grand Teton National Park, with emphasis on helping clients with their camera and gear. Each trip is customized based on client needs and requests. (Note: It says One-On-One, but I take two people on a trip for the same price). We find some of the best locations for scenic photography, and look for wildlife in the process.  Check out some of the Client Comments. (Teton Photo Excursions is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service)

September 28, 2016 – Wednesday

First Light on Mormon Row: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Pronghorn Buck: Near Mormon Row. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Snake River Fisherman: Taken near the boat launch at Pacific Creek. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Red Fox: Seen in the Moose Visitors Center Area. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Evening Barn: Taken near Wilson, WY. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 27, 2016 – Tuesday

Foggy Morning: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Foggy Morning: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Foggy Morning: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

In the Shade: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

In the Cottonwoods: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Crossing the Gros Ventre: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Exiting the Gros Ventre: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 26, 2016 – Monday

Alpenglow: We had clear skies this morning. Taken well before first light from a ridge near Snake River Overlook.

Snake River Fog: I wasn’t fired up about the lack of clouds, so I aimed the telephoto lens at smaller sections of the landscape.

Distant Cloud:

Aspen Tops:

Aspen Tops:

Teton Range:  Sterile “bluebird” skies.

Aspen Tops:

Country Road: Taken at the Cunningham Cabin area.

Cunningham Cabin:

Cunningham Log End:

Aspens and Spruce:

Oxbow Color: Oxbow should be good again tomorrow.

The Grand: This one was taken while using a polarizing filter.

I may be able to add more details, but for now, I have to head out for a dinner date. Check back!

September 25, 2016 – Sunday

Approaching Elk: I took this early morning shot at Windy Point, just north of the Moran Entrance Station. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Bull Elk in Gold: Also taken at Windy Point. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Window to the Peaks: The Jackson Hole Ski Resort’s tram tower can be seen at the top of the peak in this one, taken from Windy Point. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Mt. Moran: Fresh snow and golden aspens were beautiful today at Oxbow Bend. It still looks great there! Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Nursing Grizzly Cub: Taken near the rest rooms on Togwotee Pass. Nikon D810 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Running Grizzlies: Same bears on Togwotee Pass. Nikon D810 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 24, 2016 – Saturday

FREE Entry into GTNP today! Celebrate with Public Lands Day with Free Entrance and Volunteer Activities

Running Cow Moose:This moose was initially feeding on some willows next to the road.  I was taking the photos from my van’s window as a few “tourists” on foot began closing in on the moose. One of the Wildlife Brigade volunteers zoomed up to the tourists, spooking the cow. There wasn’t a lot of light at the time. My shutter speed was low and my aperture was at only F/2.8, so when she spooked. All I could do was pan and hope for a usable image. Nikon D5 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Morning Drink: Taken along the Gros Ventre River at mid-morning. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Washakie was following a couple of cows this morning. Custer was down river with one cow near him, but spent most of the morning bedded down. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Cow Moose: I processed more moose images from this morning than I have room for in today’s post. I added a couple extra on the updated Foliage Reports September/October 2016 : page. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Custer Rising: It is easy to stand around for hours while a bull moose rests. At this time of the year, they sometimes roll over on their side and go sound to sleep. Still, you stand there, hoping and anticipating action, interaction, and courtship behavior! Most people seem to click away while they are resting, including me, getting a hundred of essentially the same shot. Often, they get up, stretch, thrash a small bush for a few seconds, and then go right back down. That’s what Custer did today! After waiting all that time already, it is difficult to stay for another chance, but of course, they WILL get up at some point and they WILL continue with their rut.  Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Moose on the Loose: If you are looking for moose, there are a couple of cows with calves along the Moose-Wilson Road. Much of the moose zones are coned, so it can be difficult to get photos…but you can get lucky! Some can be found at Sawmill Ponds along the Moose-Wilson Road, and the rangers allow people to stand on the ridge there. Another set of moose can be seen regularly at Blacktail Ponds overlook. If you are out early, several can be seen near the highway at the Blacktail Ponds turnout. Yesterday, a bull I call Cody was courting a cow close to the highway near the Gros Ventre junction. This morning, they had moved about 2 miles to the east, and were putting on a show for passing tourists. Three small bulls were reported at the large overlook at about 2.3 miles from the highway. Other moose move up and down the Gros Ventre. I get quite a few reports of moose along Ditch Creek and up the roadway into the old Teton Science School. Another large bull hangs somewhere around Oxbow Bend. A cow and calf have been spotted in town on several occasions at the north edge of Jackson, and my son spotted a bull along the base of Saddle Butte, apparently searching for the cow and calf. Many moose graze on trees and bushes along the roadway in Wilson, along Fish Creek, and near the roadway and golf course when heading north towards Teton Village.

September 23, 2016 – Friday

Custer and His Scent Pit: The large bulls are busy digging pits and depositing a pungent solution into it. The activity and smell attracts mature cows—seems to drive them into a frenzy. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Custer and Cow: Custer can be easily identified by his down tine on each antler, a quarter sized white spot on his shoulder, and a bell, but no dangling dewlap. This year, he has an additional index finger sized antler growing out of his skull, between the two antlers. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Washakie: This bull has a completely different look! …especially when viewed from the front. The wet fur also give him an unusual appearance. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

• Washakie: 
• A Harbinger of Fall!: Moose Stripping His Velvet Covered Antlers.
• Moose Courtship Behavior

September 22, 2016 – Thursday

New Feature Post: A Fall Moose Morning ~

Thursday Peaks: This is what I saw early this morning. Weather was all over the place, with clouds thickening over the mountains for opening in the SE. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Washakie Portrait: This wet bull is Washakie, identified by the distinctive, large brow tines, splits in each ear, and a couple of scratches down his muzzle on his right side. Lately, he as had a noticeable limp, but he was moving around much better today. Maybe he’s just a “gamer”, rising to the occasion to intimidate the smaller ones. He wouldn’t want to expose his limp in the heat of battle. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Washakie by the River: The Gros Ventre is quite yellow now, especially when viewed with morning light. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

The Crossing: In the previous photo, Washakie was hearing, seeing and smelling intruders. He can be seen in the willows as the two younger bulls moved across the river. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

It appears I took way too many nice shots today to put them on this page. They are calling for a new Feature Post…something like A Moose Morning in GTNP.

Keep an eye on: Foliage Reports September/October 2016 :

Bull Elk: My wife let me know about a herd of elk just off the Snake River. I buzzed up and took a few shots, but it was getting quite dark and made worse by the late day storm clouds. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens, ISO 20,000.

Nursing Elk: There are a lot of elk along the Snake River, but much of it, like this spot, is on private property. If you are willing to walk or hike, I am sure there are lots of access points along the river with elk visible early. The other side of the river at this very spot is National Park. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens at ISO 1800.

Bull Elk: This bull was on the move, rounding up his harem. He jumped a fence once already, so I adjusted the shutter speed to 1/640th second in case he did it again. The ISO on this image was at ISO 28,000. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 21, 2016 – Wednesday

In case you missed it above, the unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road reopens tomorrow morning at 8:00 am.

Sunrise at Oxbow Bend: Light and clouds were even better today than yesterday! Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens (stitched pano)

In the East: Also at Oxbow Bend. The two sets of panos above were taken only a few minutes apart. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Oxbow Photographers: Prime time attracts photographers from all over the world. More photographers filled in the gaps above after I snapped the shot. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Bull Moose and Sleeping Indian: After the great morning light, much of the valley filled with haze. This bull was on the edge of the bluff between the Airport and Gros Ventre Junction, causing a traffic bottleneck for highway drivers. Nikon D810 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Washakie: Found along the Gros Ventre in late evening light. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 20, 2016 – Tuesday

Oxbow Alpenglow: I spent most of my morning around Oxbow Bend, taking lots of images.  This one was taken during the very early period. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens (stitched pano).

Oxbow Photographers: Some of these photographers are Best of the Tetons readers! Thanks to all! I had considered doing a pano from the parking lot, showing more, but a large RV was parked illegally in just the wrong place. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Sweeping Clouds: Actually, the remains of the recent full moon can be seen through the clouds near the top.

Arizona Meadows (Technically it might be Camas Meadows):

Hunter and Horses: Hunting opened on some of the National Forest lands this morning. This hunter was headed to camp to meet up with his buddy.

Gold Grass: At Arizona Meadows. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Grazing Horses: These are trail horses from Moosehead Ranch, taken near Elk Flats. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Lockhart Barn: I had to drive south of town to release Raccoon #12.  On the way back into town, I stopped to photograph this nice red barn, just coming out of the shadows. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Check : Foliage Reports September/October 2016  for more info on the Oxbow Bend area.

Also, it looks like I have way too many foliage shots from the past few days to post them all on this page or even the Foliage Reports page, so watch for a post called “Prime Time in the Tetons”. If you are not already a subscriber, now’s a great time!

September 19, 2016

First Glow on Mt. Moran: Things are picking up at Oxbow. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Check : Foliage Reports September/October 2016  for more info on the Oxbow Bend area.

Photographer: Taken at the upper parking lot at Oxbow Bend. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Camas Meadows: I have always called this area Arizona Meadows, since it is only a few hundred yards from Arizona Creek. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Resting Bison: Taken along Mormon Row Road this afternoon. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 18, 2016

Courtship: Looks like Moose are now in their yearly rut. These two were along the river bottom on the Gros Ventre. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Cody: This is a bull I have always called “Cody”. He has one brow tine similar to Washakie when he was young, dark fur, and a long dewlap. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Cody and Cow: The bull dug a scent pit which attracted the cow. Very interesting behavior! Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Resting Bull: I had very little light to work with today, but some of the photos worked out fine at high ISO. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Canyon Maple: I had to drive to Idaho Falls this morning and drove through the Snake River Canyon. It was stunning! I’ll add several new photos here: Foliage Reports September/October 2016 :

October One-on-One Photography Excursions Available!

Several openings are available in October. Just ask!

Teton Photo Excursions. I offer LICENSED One-On-One Photography Excursions in Grand Teton National Park, with emphasis on helping clients with their camera and gear. Each trip is customized based on client needs and requests.

(Note: It says One-On-One, but I take two people on a trip for the same price). We find some of the best locations for scenic photography, and look for wildlife in the process.  Check out some of the Client Comments. (Teton Photo Excursions is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service)

September 17, 2016

Setting Moon: Taken at Snake River Overlook early this morning. A three shot stitched pano. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens. (Click this image to see it much larger!)

Snake River Overlook: First light and setting full moon. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Moulton Barn: Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Cow Moose: Taken at Sawmill Pond on the Moose-Wilson Road.

Cascade Canyon: Taken from the overlook on Jenny Lake. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Mt. Moran: Taken at String Lake. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Cottonwood Creek: Taken just below Jenny Lake. Three shot stitched pano. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens. (Click this image to see it much larger!)

 

Oxbow Bend Roadway: Lots of color above the road at Oxbow Bend! Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

September 16, 2016 > Friday

…another QUICK post! I will try to add more after our family outing.

Mormon Row: Taken after the first few seconds of morning light. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Schwabacher Landing: The weather report said CLEAR for this morning, but they were wrong again. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Mormon Row Fence: F/2.8 for shallow depth of field. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Bear Crossing: On Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Black Bear: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Black Bear: On Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 15, 2016 > Thursday

Berry Fire Update: “Current Situation: Fire activity on the Berry Fire remained quiet Wednesday with cooler temperatures, overcast skies, and moderate  precipitation throughout the day. Crews continue to work securing the Flagg Ranch area and improving safety along the Grassy Lake Road. Fire crews continue to scout the fire perimeter and construct handline as needed. Resources are being released based on current and predicted fire behavior.”

Red Fox: Very early in the morning along the Teton Science School Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Mergansers:  Along the Moose-Wilson Road in “Moose Pond”. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Bull Moose: Along Moose-Wilson Road just north of “Moose Pond”. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Great Gray Owl: Elusive raptor on the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Trumpeter Swans: Two cygnets bottom up on Flat Creek at the North edge of town. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

October One-on-One Photography Excursions Available!

Several openings are available in October. Just ask!

Teton Photo Excursions. I offer LICENSED One-On-One Photography Excursions in Grand Teton National Park, with emphasis on helping clients with their camera and gear. Each trip is customized based on client needs and requests.

(Note: It says One-On-One, but I take two people on a trip for the same price). We find some of the best locations for scenic photography, and look for wildlife in the process.  Check out some of the Client Comments. (Teton Photo Excursions is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service)

September 14, 2016 > Wednesday

Soggy Bull: One of the shots from yesterday morning. It had been raining earlier, but not at the time I took this one. Moose, and most other mammals will stand up and shake the water off, sending spray in all directions. I am still watching for that kind of shot…will probably take a fairly fast shutter speed. I am also always watching for a bedded down bull with water dripping across his face as it falls off his paddles.  How about ducks or swans with rain spatters on the surface?

Storm Rolling In: I was considering a new Feature Post called Another “Bad” Day in the Tetons. Of course, “bad” can be “good” depending on your age. My kids used to say something was “sick”, which also meant “good”. The day had combinations of rain, broken clouds, bright sun, some more rain, and then more sun. Lots of opportunities. A huge storm cloud rolled quickly across the valley floor this morning. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Dark Clouds: This was taken at the new bus turnaround along Antelope Flats, looking back towards Shadow Mountain and Slide Lake. Rain soon followed, but the entire cell passed through fast. The size, color and shape of the cloud made me think some sort of Steven Speilberg space ship might emerge from it. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Early Morning Crossing: I shot this one very close to the roadway along Gros Ventre Road. There was not much light at the time, but enough for an interesting shot. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Cow Stripping Willows: I usually grab my Nikon D5 on early morning, dark shots like this one, taken at ISO 8000. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Mountain Bluebird: This was taken along Mormon Row. Last year, the Park Service added a lot of new gravel along the road, making it passable after a rain. Before that, it was “iffy” to say the least. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Spike Buck: Taken at the north end of the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Mule Deer: Taken at the north end of the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

I Saw A Coyote: I am sure some of the people near Pilgrim Creek Road went home thinking they saw a Wolf. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Bald Eagle: Not the best Bald Eagle photo I ever took, but I’ll include it just to show readers one I saw at Cattleman’s Bridge near Oxbow Bend. A couple of Osprey flew over earlier, and the zone is good for Pelicans, Swans, various Ducks, and Otters. Bears, Elk, and Moose also visit the area. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Oxbow Hillside: This is the same hillside I photographed on Monday but this one lacks all the smoke. I will be adding a lot of new info on the Foliage Reports September/October 2016 page. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Check out: Making the Best of a Rainy Day. 

The South Entrance road into Yellowstone is open! 

September 13, 2016 > Tuesday

Note: The scheduled Dust Abatement application on the unpaved portion of the Moose-Wilson Road has been rescheduled for next week as indicated above.

New Feature Post: Fall Morning on the Upper Gros Ventre.

It Rained and Snowed Overnight!  That’s great news. Hopefully, it will help firefighting efforts on the Berry Fire (surely it did). We need the moisture and the snow in the high country should help with landscape photos for a while. I took this image as I was heading towards Kelly and the upper Gros Ventre. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Mother Moose: I expected her to “say cheese”! Taken along the Gros Ventre. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Moose Calf: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Young Bull Moose: These three moose posed for the many tourists, artists, and photographers venturing down the Gros Ventre Road this morning. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Red Hills and the Upper Gros Ventre: I spent much of the morning along the Gros Ventre, past Slide Lake, and came home with a “batch” of photos. I plan on making a new Feature Post from today’s photos, so if you want to hear about it by email, be sure to click the link to “Subscribe” to this site. On a computer, it is located near the top of the right navigation bar. On a smart phone, look for it near the bottom.

Also check out: Making the Best of a Rainy Day and Foliage Reports September/October 2016 :

September 12, 2016 > Monday

Sunrise: Taken from Antelope Flats Road. The Berry Fire exploded yesterday with the high winds and dry conditions. The smoke filled much of the valley this morning, and all day for that matter. The road into Yellowstone from Teton National Park is still closed. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Moulton Smoke: You could smell the smoke all day, and of course worse if you happened to be in the thickest of the clouds. This was taken at the John Moulton Barn. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Schwabacher Landing: The light in the foreground of this scene lasted about 15 seconds. I looked for Moose there today, but didn’t see them. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Oxbow Hillside: There’s some deep gold and orange in the upper hillsides above Oxbow Bend right now. I took this through the haze from the fire. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Aspen Stands: This was taken along the road into Two Ocean Lake. Pacific Creek Road has considerable yellow foliage now. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

I’ll be adding photos and info on this page shortly: Foliage Reports September/October 2016 :

September 11, 2016 > Sunday

Moose Crossing: This one was taken along the Gros Ventre River VERY EARLY this morning.

Riverside Yawn: This cow was rolling around in a sandy “scent pit” left by one of the bulls in the area. Check out: Moose Courtship Behavior. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Black Bear in Black Hawthorns: I got lucky (actually, I had to work for it) and managed to get to photograph one of the Black Bears this morning. Rangers and Wildlife Management team members were around to keep an eye on the situation, but viewers were allowed to be closer than 100 yards on the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Black Bear in Black Hawthorns: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Taste of the Tetons: The 32nd annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival is underway in the Town of Jackson. Darla and I spent the noon time hour there, sampling the great food and viewing the artists and vendors tents. This is a two shot stitched pano using a Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Flat Creek Moose: Tourists usually want to see a moose while on their visit to Jackson Hole. How about a couple on the lawn of the Visitor’s Center! Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Flat Creek Moose: The youngster could reach some of the willow leaves, but occasionally took some from it’s mother.  Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Flat Creek Moose: A Jackson Police Officer and a couple of volunteers from the Forest Service were on hand to help keep the iPhone photographers from getting too close. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 10, 2016 > Saturday

I opted to spend my morning in the Park. Downtown, Old Bill’s Fun Run for Charities attracted large numbers of runners, walkers, vendors, visitors and locals. The last of the Farmer’s Market was ongoing on the closed section of Broadway. Last evening, the Fall Art Festival held the annual Gallery Walk.

Bald Eagle: I looked for a bull Moose along the Gros Ventre. Technically, we found one, but he was well off the river on the National Elk Refuge and not worth shooting. This Bald Eagle was keeping an Eagle eye on the river. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Bald Eagle: Flight shot as it ran off an immature Bald Eagle in its territory. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Young Bison: By this time of the year, the little copper colored babies have grown considerably and are now as dark as their parents. Occasionally, you’ll see a remnant reddish brown youngster. The Bison herd was in the hay fields northwest of Kelly. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Morning Drink: This bull was crossing the Gros Ventre as I drove by. I missed the actual crossing, but made it to the river bottom in time for his drink. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Little Buddy: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Big Step Up: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Robin and Choke Cherry: An acrobatic move to pick just the right berry. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Resting Bull: Late evening along the Gros Ventre River. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Custer by River: ISO 5000 . Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 9, 2016 > Friday

Pronghorn Buck: Captured along Mormon Row Road before first light. ISO 7000. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Bison Herd and the Grand: Captured as two horizontal images and stitched in Lightroom. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Bison Trio: This group was taken from a ridge north of Kelly Warm Springs. One herd was near the springs and another was resting just north of there. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Mt. Moran: Same herd, but from a different angle. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Kelly Warm Springs: Taken from a hillside above the Springs. I removed two annoying telephone lines. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Pronghorns: Back to Mormon Row Road for this one. The fawns are quick to learn to watch for danger. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Fall’s Bounty: Robins, Crows and Starlings were actively feeding on this Choke Cherry tree today.  I took a lot of photos, but only liked a few of them. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Crow and Choke Cherry: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

I just added some text and another image of a Robin on the Foliage Reports September/October 2016 page.

September 8, 2016 > Thursday

Oxbow Bend: Sept 26, 2015.  I just checked last year’s set of photos in Lightroom and picked one to show here. Peak foliage day was September 26th. By the 30th, some of the leaves had blown off the bank of trees at the back edge of the “bend”. You might also notice the new masthead for Fall I added this morning. Welcome to Fall!  I don’t see a lot of Aspens turning brown this year, so I would expect a good season. I am doing foliage updates on this page: Foliage Reports September/October 2016 :

Buck Rail Fence: The Park Service just put up a few sections of buck rail fence along Mormon Row Road to keep people off the sage. It might be a good foreground subject at times. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Cottonwoods on Ditch Creek: . Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

The Barn with Photographers: On almost any day, you will see a group of photographers standing in these spots. I stood between the two on the left for a few seconds and took the next image. . Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Moulton Barn: At least for my tastes, all of the photographers are too close. The barn is too large and the mountain is too small! You might enjoy this post: Distance and Scale Relationships in the Tetons (and elsewhere). Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Pronghorn Buck: Along Mormon Row Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Starling: A hitchhiker on a mid-sized bull Bison along Mormon Row Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Running Pronghorns: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Resting Bull: There were several hundred Bison in the sage flats and grass pastures near Mormon Row. Hunting on the National Elk Refuge will keep them north of the Gros Ventre River for a long time. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 7, 2016 > Wednesday

Mountain Maple Hillside: Instead of my normal loops through GTNP, I spent the morning down the Snake River Canyon. I found quite a few nice hillsides of colorful Mountain Maple, though I think it will even better in a few days. Aspens are still well behind them, as they were last year. Many Mountain Maple trees go through a cycle of color changes, which takes longer than Aspens (as far as I can tell anyway), so they appear to make good subjects longer. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Wispy Clouds over Palisades Reservoir: If going south, you’ll begin seeing good color about 5 miles before you enter Alpine. Turn right, and you can follow along Palisades Reservoir for even more groves of Maples. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Shoreline: Each Spring, the Snake River, Grays River, and Salt River fill Palisades Reservoir, and each year water is released through the dam to help irrigate Idaho farmer’s fields. By Fall, the water line is far below the Spring crest. There are lots of graphic image possibilities along the shoreline. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

Mountain Maple: Most Mountain Maple trees in our region are just bushes when compared to their distant New England cousins. They grow to a height of 10-30 feet and can range in color from green, ochre, orange, red, and even maroon. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

There’s more information on photo opportunities in the Snake River Canyon on this page: Outside the Park: Alternative Places to Visit, Hike, Fish, and Photograph. Click the map in the “Down the Canyon” section to see some my favorite spots.

I’ll add more Mountain Maple shots on this page: Foliage Reports September/October 2016 :

September 6, 2016 > Tuesday

Tidbits: Summer is over! Well, many merchants think so. If you missed your ride on the stagecoach or missed the JH Shootout, you’ll have to wait until Memorial Day weekend next year. There’s a definite fall like nip to the air. In fact, the Weather Channel predicts a below freezing this morning. School starts today and gas prices dropped by 3¢ Monday afternoon —all indicators of fall. Cooler weather and a tiny bit of rain seems to have helped the firefighting efforts. A couple of new fires were ignited by lightning, but park officials decided to extinguish them immediately. Skies were much clearer on Monday.

Free to Move Around the Park!  Lately, I have been focused on trying to get captures of the two large bulls along the Gros Ventre. On Monday, the second finally scraped his velvet. Many of the other bulls have scraped their antlers by now, too. It will take a few days before much rut activity is apparent, so I’ll be able to look for other subjects for the blog. Stay tuned!

Great Blue Heron: Taken at Schwabacher Landing before the sun came up. It was 22^°F this morning. Gloves and a heavier jacket were in order. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Morning Rocks: Lake Creek on the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Morning Leaves: Taken near the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Red Leaf: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Cluster: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 5, 2016 > Labor Day Monday

Stripping Velvet: Washakie stripped his velvet a few days ago. See: Harbinger of Fall!: Moose Stripping His Velvet Covered Antlers.  Today was Custer’s turn! Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Custer with Tassels: Large sheets of velvet came off quickly, but clung to the base of the bull’s antlers. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Peek-a-Boo: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Sheets of Velvet: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

By Water: The bulk of the velvet is off the antlers, but long strands of velvet hung from either antler. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Clinging Tassels: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

River Crossing: The Tamron 150-600 gives me a fair amount of flexibility for shots like this. I can pull back and get environmental shots or zoom in like the next one. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Shake and Drip: I didn’t move!…Just zoomed. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Mid-day

Wilson Moose: The “Moose/Wilson Road” connects the Park area at Moose to the small town of Wilson. Part of it is in the Park, while 2/3ds of it are outside the boundaries. Almost everything south of GTNP is privately owned, so access is limited. Moose inhabit much of the area, including on the golf course and Snake River. This one was bedded down just off the highway. It’s not a great shot, but I included it today to show the bare antlers. This bull is seen often around the Rendezvous Park. Another similar sized bull hangs around the subdivision south of Teton Village (private area).  Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Fish Creek Moose: Fish Creek runs through the small town of Wilson and eventually dumps into the Snake River. I took this shot from the bridge in Wilson. It looks like he has already broken one of his brow tines. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

American Bison: I did a loop to Moran Junction, Jackson Lake Dam, and then back towards town. A nice sized herd of Bison were grazing near the highway at Elk Flats. I shot this one from the road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Evening: Taken near the Snake River Bridge at Moose Junction.  Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Southern Mountains: Taken at Moose Junction. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 4, 2016 > Sunday

Lip Curl: Custer in Gros Ventre cottonwoods. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Stream Crossing: Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Classic Red Barn: Captured along Spring Gulch Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Hansen Barns: Also taken along Spring Gulch Road. Storm clouds were covering the Teton Range. Nikon D810 and Nikon 70-200mm lens.

I added a couple of new photos on this seasonal page: Foliage Reports September/October 2016 :

Afternoon

Mule Deer Buck: Photographed near Mormon Row Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Young Bull Moose: Crossing the Gros Ventre River late in the evening. It appears one antler is stripped and the other still has most of its velvet. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Young Bull Moose: On the Gros Ventre River. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September One-on-One Photography Excursions Available!

Late September excursions are filling up, but I have openings for the first 10 days of September. I also have one date available for September 21st, or 22nd.

Teton Photo Excursions. I offer LICENSED One-On-One Photography Excursions in Grand Teton National Park, with emphasis on helping clients with their camera and gear. Each trip is customized based on client needs and requests.

(Note: It says One-On-One, but I take two people on a trip for the same price). We find some of the best locations for scenic photography, and look for wildlife in the process.  Check out some of the Client Comments. (Teton Photo Excursions is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service)

September 3, 2016 > Saturday

Black Bear “Through the Window“: Normally, I wouldn’t post a lousy picture like this one, but it might be of value to readers. Yesterday, this sow and two cubs were at the overlook at Sawmill Ponds. I heard people got great shots while they were on a choke cherry tree. I went to the same spot today, but she wasn’t at the choke cherry tree. Instead, she was about 3/4 mile south on the Moose-Wilson Road, in an area where you can’t stop or walk. The bear management team was telling people to keep moving…don’t stop! The sow began to cross as I was driving up, so the ranger stopped me and the Toyota truck seen in the photo. I grabbed the camera and made a quick shot through the window, with the van still running. As soon as the bear dropped off the road, I was waved on with no additional shooting available, even though she was just off the road. I drove down the roadway, turned around, and rolled back through. Same scenario. I was waved through, with no chance to take a photo. A moose was grazing just off the road, but there is no place to stop with all of the cones in place.

Evening Clouds at Schwabacher Landing: Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Stars Over Munger Mounain: Taken at the South Park Feedgrounds south of Jackson. Nikon D5 and Nikon 14-24mm lens.

September 2, 2016 > Friday

*Fort Bridger Rendezvous: Sept. 2nd-5th 2016; Labor Day weekend, Fort Bridger Historic Site, Ft. Bridger, WY. This is the biggest rendezvous of the area. Admission is $4 for people 12 and up unless you are in pre-1840 dress from head to toe. Free admission if you are! I’ve heard it said that Fort Bridger is the second largest city in Wyoming over that weekend, followed only by Cheyenne. Whether that’s true or not, I can tell you that event is HUGE! Just the area where they park their “tin can” campers is huge! There is a ton of history at the site itself between the Native Americans that used the area, Mountain Men and travelers on the Oregon Trail, and vehicle travelers on the Lincoln Highway. Food, vendors and dealers are set up on the streets outside the historic area, then Trader’s Row and primitive camps are inside. You’ll likely fill the cards on your camera. More photos on this post: Mountain Man Rendezvous:

Gros Ventre Moose: Washakie along a side channel of the Gros Ventre River. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Canada Geese in V formation: This is one of the largest group of Geese I’ve seen this year. They were flying over the Gros Ventre. Nikon D810 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Moose Stripping Willows: Washakie still has a sliver of velvet on his right antler. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Berry Fire Pyrocumulus Cloud: I took this shot on August 31st from Schwabacher Landing. I didn’t download it until this morning, but thought it would be of interest here. Nikon D5 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Afternoon:

Schwabacher Storm Clouds: I saw storm clouds developing, so I did a quick trip to Schwabacher Landing. I set up, hoping for lightning, but the storm passed over with no bolts. Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Cumulonimbus Clouds Over Shadow Mountain: I took this from the highway near the Schwabacher Landing entrance. This image was stitched from two horizontal captures.  Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.

Gros Ventre Moose: This bull moose has recently scraped his velvet. He attracted a nice crowd of onlookers. I arrived on the scene AFTER he went to the water to drink. Timing is everything! This bull displays many of the characteristics of a dominant bull that died a couple of years ago. It will be a few years before he is able to challenge Custer and Washakie but his antlers are showing a lot of promise! Check out Elvis—King of the Gros Ventre. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Moose Watchers: No one needed a spotting scope for this bull! At least a few of these people got to see the bull take an evening drink from a side channel of the Gros Ventre.  Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Washakie: Soon, this bull will be searching for ready cows. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Resting Bull: There’s another nice bull in the area with similar brow tines, possibly Washakie’s offspring. I call him Faux Washakie! If you missed it, check out A Harbinger of Fall!: Moose Stripping His Velvet Covered Antlers. On that page, I describe how to identify this bull. I took quite a few shots of this bull, resting in the shadows. I chose this one because of his alert, forward facing ears, plus it has some catch light in his eyes.  Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

September 1, 2016 > Thursday

Washakie: This is one of the largest bulls I know about along the Gros Ventre. He stripped his velvet today! My first photo of him was taken at 6:57 am, with maybe half of the velvet stripped. By 7:25 am, there was just one small strip hanging from one tine. I have about 15 images ready to post of the event, but I think it will be better to simply make a dedicated page with links to it from here. If you haven’t signed up to follow this blog, now’s a GREAT TIME!  Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

New Feature Post! A Harbinger of Fall!: Moose Stripping His Velvet Covered Antlers.

Almost Clean: Other bulls should be stripping their velvet over the next few days or week. Depending on where they are when they begin, the whole thing can be over in 15 minutes! Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Sleeping Indian: Taken late August 31 from Spring Gulch Road. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Box L Ranch: Also along Spring Gulch Road (August 31). Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

Cow 477: The herd of cattle saw me along the road and approached me, seemingly curious of my presence. Nikon D5 and Tamron 150-600mm lens.

It will take a few days for me to begin filling the September Journal. For now, the first few days of September should resemble the last week of August. Check out: August 2016 Daily Journal of Photos & Comments for Grand Teton National Park & JH

9: 12,14,16,17,19,24,26,28,30 10: 1,2,4,5,10

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