“A Few Good Goats”

One of the slogans for the US Marine Corp recruiters is “We’re looking for a few good men.” When I drive down the Snake River Canyon in the Winter, I am looking for a “Few Good Goats”. Heck, for me, one good goat will work!

But…finding a goat isn’t that easy! They are white and the snow is white. Mountain Goats can be hidden behind piles of snow or in dense thickets of brush. Or, they simply be very high on the mountain and out of sight. Sounds next to impossible, right? Well, some days they can be found standing in the middle of the highway licking salt off the roads. I spent about an hour driving up and down the last four or five miles of the Snake River Canyon and was about ready to head on back home, when I caught a glimpse of two off-white furry objects in the bushes. I could have easily missed them, especially knowing you must keep zipping along on the highway. Truckers are not too forgiving of someone putzing along at 25mph. Same for the Highway Patrol.

Once I parked in an official pull-out, I hiked back to the nanny and kid. They were tucked behind some low shrubs or trees. I took quite a few photos of them in the trees, mainly because I never know initially if that is all I will get that day. It worked out in my favor by waiting them out. A few people stopped, took a few photos and then continued on their way, but I was there specifically to photograph Mountain Goats.

Of the 40 images I processed, many were “similars”. In other words, they are the same basic pose but looking in different directions.

With a zoom lens, it is possible to take a variety of images at different zoom ranges. This one is more of an “environmental” shot…a small animal in a larger landscape.

I moved around a bit when they were perched on this little ledge, and I tried numerous compositions. I put them in the upper left in this one, showing the cliff below.

In this shot, I placed the subject in the lower left, showing some of the distant cliffs behind them. And, I shot a lot of horizontal orientation shots, zoomed in even tighter. Most of the first shots were culls, with the youngster looking down or only partially visible.

This capture shows the Nanny feeding on the twigs.

Same spot…but only looking around.

Other than issue of me standing out in the cold for an hour and a half, I got “lucky” to be able to eventually get the pair in the open and without too much clutter behind them.

Same location…just a different “take” on the scene.

Again, the zoom lens gives me some additional options versus with only a 600mm lens.

A vertical shot like this one might be just the ticket for a magazine cover in which they need space for their banner info at the top and additional text and graphics at the bottom. It only takes spinning the camera in the lens’ collar.

The “post process crop” can change the appearance of a shot, too.

This is the same shot, just cropped differently.

I posted this shot on Instagram. The site was originally set up to prefer square images, so I typically crop to a square for them. I liked the subtle “action” and behavior in this one.

In my relatively short period of time with the Nanny and Kid, I managed to get quite a few different “scenes”. In other words, Mother Nature paid off for me today after numerous other trips that were less than stellar.

For some reason, I never cared for most of my shots of a young Mountain Goat by itself. With their short legs, I guess they just look like a ball of fur. This kind of shot gives them some scale when compared to its mother. By this time of the year, the kids are fairly independent and roam around quite a bit on their own, but will usually be within a reasonable distance of the nanny.

At least in this shot, I got to see one leg!

The Mountain Goats had already eaten most of the lower leaves on this tree. The nanny is having to reach high for them now. She returned to this tree several times while I was there.

The weather report called for cloudy skies during the morning, then a 50% chance of snow after lunch. Over roughly 10 years of photographing them, the “pattern” is they don’t come down if it is snowing in the morning. However, if the come down initially, and then it starts snowing, they don’t immediately head back up the mountain. While driving down, I was first hoping just to find a few Mountain Goats, but then hoped to photograph them in the falling snow. In other words, a two-for-one trip! As I took this photo, a few fine flakes were falling, but when it was snowing heavier, they had moved behind a fairly dense thicket. I couldn’t find a workable angle, so I decided to head on home.

All in all, I photographed the pair for about an hour and a half, taking around 2500 photos. When I returned home, I picked out around 40 of them to process in Lightroom. There are probably another dozen unique shots when I go through them more closely. This page contains a fairly nice cross section of the ones I processed. I carried my Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens for these images—all shot handheld with the image stabilization turned on. I’ve shot in the Canyon with a tripod on many occasions, but there isn’t a lot of room for them along the highway now. Additionally, the snow banks behind the guard rails are deep and soft.

For what it’s worth:

I typically don’t see a lot of Mountain Goats in January. One some years, I’ve had good luck in February, while last year they didn’t come down much at all. They can be seen in some years in late November and parts of December, and usually again in March when avalanches clear a path for them. If you go through the Canyon watch for them in the last four miles before it opens up at Alpine Junction. My odds seem to be one in five for getting a reasonably good shoot. On other days, I might see a few up too high for decent shots. And, I typically get skunked on two or three of the five days. I heard two were reasonably close to the road yesterday, so I took the gamble. There are roughly 150 Mountain Goats in that area. Some of them have been migrating north to Grand Teton National Park. The Park Service has instituted a plan to shoot them from helicopters once they enter the National Park. You can read about it in this official document and you can comment on it to GTNP. 20-01 Central Teton Range Temp Closure for Nonnative Mountain Goat Management

Mountain Goats of the Snake River Canyon: This 2014 Feature Post has a lot more information and maps

You can also see photos of Mountain Goats scattered throughout the December, February and March Daily Journals over the past five years.

I have numerous tour openings available in January, February & March

The photo tours help me pay bills and continue to add content to this site. Keep me in mind if you are going to be in the valley! My tours are licensed by the National Park Service and National Elk Refuge.

I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.

Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole.

January 10, 2020

Where’s the Wildlife? – January

January and the new year usher in typically dry weather and blistering cold. This creates a lot of great opportunity for frigid portraits of wildlife, as well as landscapes in a deep freeze. Most of the hunting in the area has ended by this time, so many animals have returned to their more natural habits and comfortable habitats.… Keep reading…

The post Where’s the Wildlife? – January appeared first on Free Roaming Photography.

January 7, 2020

A Bounty of Winter Landscapes in Black and White

By far, fewer tourists and photographers visit Jackson Hole in the Winter! Winter begins in the high country in late October and by Thanksgiving, Winter is usually is evident on the valley floor. By mid-December, the ski lifts open and an athletic group of visitors flock to the valley again. The entire valley and surrounding mountains are usually blanketed with snow in late December and through much of April. Winter still has a strong grip along the base of the mountains through early May. That’s “my” Winter window!

Grand Teton National Park is a natural for panoramic images! It is too big and two beautiful to try to capture it in a single photo—even with a wide angle lens.(Click this Pano Image to see it much larger!)

Some Winter photos look great in color, but Winter lends itself well in black and white as you will see on this page. This classic shot was taken at the pull-out along Jackson Lake. Reflections on lakes and slow moving water requires catching the scene just before the lakes freeze, or after they thaw again in the Spring.(Click this Pano Image to see it much larger!)

The Teton Park Road closes from the Taggart Lake Trail Head to Signal Mountain from November 1st to April 30th, cutting off vehicle access to areas like Jenny Lake and String Lake. Hardy souls can still hike, snow shoe, or cross country ski to the areas. (not me!)

The Old Patriarch Tree is in the Winter road closure section of the Teton Park Road. I try to catch it just before the road closes, or just after it opens.

Much of the Snake River bottom is closed to all human activity from December 15th to around April 1st. This zone includes Schwabacher Landing. Several pullouts along the highway are plowed for vehicles during the Winter months, including the large one at Snake River Overlook.(Click this Pano Image to see it much larger!)

By late November, the still water at Oxbow Bend freezes solid. Otters, coyotes, and foxes can occasionally be seen on the ice there, but most of the large mammals will have moved south.

Some photos like this panoramic image at the Willow Flats Overlook might take a pair of snow shoes. Snow can be three to four feet deep in the north country. (Click this Pano Image to see it much larger!)

Highway 89/191 passes through Grand Teton National Park. With the occasional exception following a severe Winter storm, highway crews keep it open all year. Pull outs are limited, but with less traffic, you can usually pull over for a few quick shots.

A few locations take a little hike.

Most tourists will never see this set of Dude Ranch cabins at Elk Ranch. The access road closes early each year.

The historic barns and homesteads along Mormon Row are open to intrepid visitors with snow shoes or cross country skis. It takes a 3/4 mile venture from the parking area to Mormon Row Road.

The “Shane Cabin” is accessible throughout the year (Luther Tayler cabins). As the season progresses, snow shoes might be required.

The Shane Cabin offers up quite a few Winter Photo opportunities.

It’s hard to beat the Teton Range when they are visible!

There will be days when the Teton Range is not visible. There are other alternatives for photography like these buckrail fences at the Shane Cabin.

You can count on thousands of photographers taking photos at places like Schwabacher Landing, Oxbow Bend, Snake River Overlook, and the Mormon Row homesteads. You have to work pretty hard to take a “unique” photo at any of those locations, considering people have been doing it since the mid-20s! I’ve lived here over 35 years now, so I’ve had ample time to capture those photos alongside everyone else. I spend a lot of my time watching for “interesting” subjects, even if the Teton Range is not in them. This scene is along the Gros Ventre Road.

The Other Stuff!

The rest of this page will be featuring non-standard shots from around the valley.

For me, the most exciting aspect of “the other stuff” is there is so much of it! And, I like the “freedom” in post processing to give an image some soft glow or possibly push sliders in extreme directions for “the look”. Black and white images are often more interesting.

Again, I look for anything “interesting”.

This old barn door has a lot of character and texture.

I stepped a little closer and zoomed in a little tighter to pull out these two elements from the previous subject.

Jackson Hole has a long and storied past. Remnants of the settlers activity are still around.

I look for simple subjects like this. Others have much more going on, but both can be interesting.

Nature can pay off in a variety of ways—some planned and some unexpected!

Details, textures and patterns are always on my “watch list”. This was taken at String Lake just after it closed in November.

These ice patterns were taken in early Winter. The same zone is frozen and covered with snow now.

They say there no two identical snowflakes. That’s totally amazing considering how many flakes fall in just my front yard each year!

Like I said, there is interesting “stuff” everywhere!

Some subjects are more interesting one some days than others.

If you are visiting Jackson Hole, remember to capture everything from the big vista views to the simple and mundane. You’ll be glad you did! Shots like this “complete the story”.

Most tourists spend their precious time “inside the Park”. For the group looking for alternative photos and locations, many of our county roads have little gems like this one.

Occasionally, I take a day and head south into Star Valley, or head west over Tetons Pass and photograph their old barns, structures, and rusting vehicles.

Snow Days!

And when it snows, the odds are pretty good I’ll be out trying to capture shots other fair weather photographers are not getting.

Snow changes the overall look in Winter, and while it’s snowing, the look changes drastically.

Winter—I love it! By April, I am ready for Spring, but for now, it’s winter at it’s best.

Falling snow creates noticeable “layers”. Close objects can still be dark, while every 50 feet into the scene gets softer and less defined.

This distant, simple cabin would be easy to miss, but stop because I like the varied possibilities in the winter. Even tough I converted my RAW file to black and white, it looked essentially that way in the original capture.

Change the angle a bit and change the scene! I typically take a variety of angles for most landscapes.

I also like to keep an eye out for “simple subjects” against a big backdrop. This one is on the National Elk Refuge.

The hardest part of a post like this one is knowing how many images to include! I could easily triple the size of this page with images all taken in 2019 and 2020 alone. Hopefully, you will enjoy a few of them! If you are interested in taking a photo tour with me, check out the links below and I can help you find and photograph some of these locations (some are closed in the middle of Winter).

About the Photos

A lot of these photos were taken with a Nikon D5 and a Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens (the most recent ones anyway). Most of the panos were taken with a Nikon D850 and Nikon 24-70mm lens or a Nikon 70-200mm lens. Some of the tight detail shots were taken with a Nikon D500 body and a Tamron 18-400mm lens. All were converted to black and white in Lightroom, even though I own several third party Photoshop Plugins for converting to B&W. If I were planning on printing any of these images, I’d probably process them both ways and pick the results I liked best.

I have numerous tour openings available in January, February & March

I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.

Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole.

January 1, 2020

January 2020 Daily Journal For GTNP & JH

January 31st, 2020 – Friday

Please take a minute and register to follow this site. I’d love to have another couple hundred new subscribers from the group visiting the site this Winter! MJ

Shane Movie Locations:

I have a couple of Feature Posts about the Shane movie on this site. Both are very popular and get a lot of traffic after the move airs again. Over the years, I’ve had several people suggest the disturbed area next to the gray pin in the screen grab above is the town site. I spent some time last night working in the Photographer’s Ephemeris to locate the town site based on Walt Farmers coordinates (from his out of print CD). Since Walt was around when they were filming, I trust his data. The red pin above matches up with Walt’s coordinates, at least as well as I could nudge the pin around on screen. I did the same kind of screen grab showing the Starrett Cabin, located just west of the Kelly Warm Springs. Click the link above to see the updates. Note: The map shows the highway as Highway 26, but most people call it Highway 89/191.

This is a photo supplied to Walt Farmer by Grand Teton National Park, showing the relationship of the town and the Teton Range. At the time, the current highway was not built and I suspect there were far fewer jet con trails in the sky that we have to deal with today.

Black-capped Chickadee: I try to make myself take at least ONE photo each day. I had a busy business day today, signing 36 metal prints for one of the local hotels. I stepped outside just now and took a photo of each of our two species of Chickadees. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mountain Chickadee: Chickadees are not that easy to photograph. They don’t sit still very long at all! The background is my usual “winter drab” and most of the birds are a combination of black, white and gray with the exception of a little orange on some of the Northern Flickers and a little red on the heads of the male Downey or Hairy Woodpeckers. All I had to do was stand outside for a few minutes to get these shots this afternoon. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

A Little Too Late: My wife and I went to the early movie this afternoon. After the movie, I drove over the Dog Sled Races but got there just after the last runs. Signs were coming down and vendors were breaking down their trailers and tents. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Ice Skater: I liked the action of the skater and the little onlooker at the ice rink in the Town Square. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 30th, 2020 – Thursday

A Few End of the Month Notes

The Pedigree Sled Dog Races begin downtown on the 31st.
I saw three Moose in the Kelly Sage Flats yesterday, along with another near the roundabout.
I haven’t seen, nor heard of any Bull Moose with antlers in a long time.
The Bison Hunt on the National Elk Refuge ends at the end of the month.
Bison have been moving south, a bit late this year.
A couple of days ago, I was able to see a Fox, Coyote, and a speck of a Wolf in one day.
Some people are seeing “wolves” close to the road, but I am fairly sure they are Coyotes.
Bighorns have not been down to the road since the actual Wolves showed up.
There have been random sightings of Mountain Goats in the Snake River Canyon.
River Otters have been spotted a few times along Flat Creek

Sleeping Swan: Flat Creek was very calm when I drove by, so I pulled over to photograph a few Swans. I loved the rusty gold cattail ripples. I hung around until wind ruffled the water, then headed out. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Resting Moose: This isn’t a great shot, but it shows a resting Moose seen near the roundabout. She had a calf resting nearby, too. A bull was feeding on the other side of the roundabout. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Moose on the Ridge: I saw three Bison on the ridge north of the Gros Ventre Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bison on the Ridge: There were roughly 40 more Bison gathered in a herd north of the GV Road, not far from Kelly, too far out for me. It was a nice, sunny morning, but the Tetons were covered with clouds. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

I have numerous tour openings available in January, February & March

I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.

Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole.

January 29th, 2020 – Wednesday

Morning Clouds: The skies were unexpectedly clear today—along with fog and a few ribbon clouds. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bald Eagle: Taken at the edge of Kelly. I spent the first part of the morning looking for subjects in which I could include the morning fog. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

An Opening in the Clouds: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Kelly Structures: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Lead Bison Cow: I was heading home when I spotted a few Bison rolling over the ridge. They were coming out of the Gros Ventre River bottom and heading back to the Kelly meadows. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bison Trail: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bison: Headed back to the Kelly sage flats. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 28th, 2020 – Tuesday

Call today a “long distance record shot” day!

At least you will know a little more about what’s going on…maybe you will be able to get closer.

Red Fox: This Fox was hunting at the end of the Elk Refuge Road. I waited around for a while but he never got closer than around 300 yards. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Coyote: This critter was hunting near the Miller House on the National Elk Refuge. We are not allowed to walk down there in the Winter. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bison Herd: Again, this is a “record shot” to show around 100 Bison now in the fields north of Kelly. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Big Bull Elk: At some point today, this big guy will stand up, butI just couldn’t hang around any longer. I’ve never seen an a-typical bull like this one. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Much Better this Afternoon!

Bison Lip Curl: Earlier, I was complaining about everything being so far out, but when I returned to the Kelly area this afternoon, they were crossing the road and walking down the road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bison on the Move: Roughly 70 Bison crossed the Gros Ventre Road on their way to the National Elk Refuge. The hunt is ongoing on the Refuge, so some of them may be spooked back to GTNP soon. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 27th, 2020 – Monday

Trumpeter Swans: A meet-and-greet following a skirmish with another pair of Swans. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeters in Gold: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Barrow’s Golden Eye: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Barrows Pair: This female is molting…seems like a strange time of the year for that! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Barrow’s Golden Eye: It’s nice to be able to include some “color” in the Winter when most things are dull and gray. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Barrow’s Golden Eye: Take-off! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Hooded Merganser: I haven’t seen a Hoody in about a month! Flat Creek is open again, making it easier for the ducks to move around. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Hooded Merganser: I think these are exceptionally pretty and unique ducks. My other three favorites are Harlequin, Mandarin, and Wood Ducks. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

I spent part of the morning assembling this little Instagram clip about my experiences photographing wolves on the National Elk Refuge.

View this post on Instagram

. . . . #animallovers #animalpolis #animalsofinstagram #igscwildlife #exclusive_animals #animalelite #wildlifeaddicts #stopoachingnow #animalworld #awesomeglobe #animalofinstagram #animalsmood #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeplanet #ungulate #mammal #grandtetonnationalpark #jacksonhole #wyoming #yellowstone #tetons #grandtetons #wildlife #nature #naturephotography #wolves #bighorns

A post shared by Best Of The Tetons (@bestofthetetons) on Jan 26, 2020 at 11:47am PST

January 25th, 2020 – Saturday

Teton Range: I started the day again on the National Elk Refuge, hoping to see Wolves. I got this shot when the clouds pulled back for only a few minutes. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mule Deer Trio: Yesterday, I got a report of a couple of Mountain Goats visible in the Snake River Canyon. I decided to take a chance and drive down the Canyon. I spent about an hour driving up and down the canyon looking for Goats in the regular places, but only saw a few Mule Deer. Mountain Lions are also known to be in the area. I’ve also seen Foxes near the mouth of the Canyon. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Spike Bull Elk: I spent a little time at the Elk Feed Grounds south of Alpine where I took this shot of a young bull dining on alfalfa. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Fiesty Elk: I guess these two cows got a little too close to each other. I saw this behavior several times. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mountain Goat Nanny and the Kid: At the last moment before giving up, I spotted these two Mountain Goats, then spent about an hour and a half taking roughly 2500 photos of them. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

New Feature Post: “A Few Good Goats”

I processed 40 captures from today’s Goat shots and created a new feature post. Check it out!

January 24th, 2020 – Friday

Bald Eagle: I did a quick drive out towards Kelly. I found this Bald Eagle atop one of the power line poles. Otherwise, I didn’t see much else. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Buffleheads and Golden Eye: Normally, the Buffleheads move to the far side of the river, but with a large shelf of ice, they were much closer this morning. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bufflehead in Flight: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 23rd, 2020 – Thursday

Red Fox: These are beautiful creatures! Since the Park Service started their Fox Study, there haven’t been as many seen in the Park. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Red Fox: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Elk: Captured at a long distance from one of the highway pullouts along the National Elk Refuge. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 22nd, 2019 – Wednesday

Wolf Chase: I drove out to the National Elk Refuge this morning, just in time to see this lone Wolf chasing a group of Elk it had isolated from a larger herd. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Wolves: Two other Wolves joined the first Wolf. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Wolves and Elk: I was hoping the three Wolves would run the herd towards me, but they moved to the East and they abandoned the herd. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Spooked Elk Herd: All of the morning action was a couple hundred yards off the Elk Refuge Road. That’s a little far for me, so these images are cropped some. I heard reports from earlier this morning suggesting there were 13 to 14 Wolves in a single group. As I mentioned yesterday, the Bighorns are staying high on the rocks. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 21st, 2020 – Tuesday

Bighorn Ram on the Ridge: For the past month or so, Bighorns have been very dependable subjects at the National Elk Refuge. Since Wolves have been spotted in the area, they are staying near the rocks along the top of Miller Butte. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Great Horned Owl: In some Januarys, Great Gray Owls have been seen in the area, but I haven’t seen any nor heard of any. This Great Horned Owl has been seen on occasions, even though she is often deep in the brush. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 20th, 2020 – Monday

Early Morning Elk: These were the only “furry” creatures I photographed today. I usually start out thinking wildlife, then switch to “other subjects” if they are being stubborn or are too far out. A few people have reported seeing wolves on the National Elk Refuge lately. Normally, if they are on a fresh kill, they will move away from it quickly when traffic starts building up. It’s really a low ratio run out to the Refuge that early, but worth it once in a while. This record shot was taken just inside the road to Miller Butte. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Teton Park Sign: Sometimes, fog is limited to the low areas around town, and if you go up on the little bench above the National Elk Refuge, it is totally clear. Not today! I could see that driving north would put me in the middle of the foggy “soup” so I hung around at the edges. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Tetons: I took this photo from the Park Sign parking area as some of the fog pulled back. This is a “stacked” image. One shot for the close sage and one for the distant mountains. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Sleeping Indian: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Frosted Cottonwoods: Most trees take on a mystical appearance when covered with hoar frost. It melts quickly once the sunlight hits it. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Sleeping Indian: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Elk Sculptures: Temperatures ranged between -2°F and 2°F while I was out this morning. This shot screams COLD! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Firewood: Sometimes, abstract subjects like this call out to be photographed. When so much of the terrain is gray, brown, or dull blue, bright orange subjects like this stand out! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 19th, 2020 – Sunday

Hansen Barn: I saw the clouds getting some color as I was leaving home, so I drove up Spring Gulch Road to get to the park. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Elk: Besides the sunrise shots, I ran across a small herd of bull Elk.Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bull Elk: This one’s breathing cause steam. It appears he has one broken antler. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeter Swans in Morning Steam: It was a good morning for Trumpeters! At 7°F, steam was rising from the water. The early morning light gave me a nice golden shot. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeter Swans: Early morning light is so beautiful, adding considerably to a basic shot of a pair of Trumpeters! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Take-Off: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeter Swan: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeter Swan: Today would have been a good day to pull out my tripod. I spent a lot of time holding my camera and lens up hoping for the stretch shot! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 18th, 2020 – Saturday

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

That’s pretty much my attitude towards my older Windows 7 system. It served me well for quite a few years, especially after adding more RAM and an SSD drive. Windows recently discontinued support and updates on Windows 7. (About a year and a half ago, I moved most of my day to day workflow over to an iMacPro. I bought a couple of 24TB Raid drives and two 20TB Raid backups.) I couldn’t totally abandon the old system, so I either needed to buy a new Windows 10 computer or update my old one. I stopped by my local computer repair shop a few days ago. They said they’ve had good success updating to Windows 10. The Computer Clinic charges $120 for the upgrade. I also had them clone the C drive my old system (just in case $30) onto a 1TB SSD drive ($179). The last two parts turned out to not be necessary, but I figured it was worth the cost just in case everything went south on the upgrade. After a day of reloading a few filters in Photoshop, it looks like things are back up and running. I write this in case you are worrying about the update. I’ll end up using the 1TB SSD drive for a Time Machine backup drive on one of the Macs, so that investment wasn’t a wasted expense.

Saturday in the Park

Bull Moose: It’s a bull, even if it doesn’t have antlers! You can see the pads where his antlers attached. This Moose was near the GV Roundabout. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Snow Covered Bison Bull: I drove as far north as Elk Ranch Flats, looking for Bison. There were four near the entrance to Cunningham Cabin. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Snow Covered Bison Bull: The previous photo was taken in the shade, but after checking on Elk Flats, the small group of bulls had moved into the morning light. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Ram Pickup Chrome Emblem: The morning light was glancing of the snow covered chrome emblem on the back of my truck, revealing the shape and snow texture. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Snow Capped Buckrail Fences: There’s a lot more snow up north and along the base of the mountain on the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Triangle X Ranch Barn and Structures: The barn on the right is registered as a Historical Landmark. It can be seen in the movie “Jubal” starring Glen Ford and Ernest Borgnine. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

The sky opened up for a short period of time, but clouds stayed over the Tetons. As I write the update, the sky is gray again. I saw a few people out and appearing to be looking for Wolves, but I have’t heard of any recent sightings.

January 17th, 2020 – Friday

Upper Gros Ventre: Light looked best in the east this morning, so I headed up the Gros Ventre Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Red Rocks: The upper Gros Ventre is much different than most of GTNP and Yellowstone. The red rocks supply a blast of color when most other subjects are duller and gray. I’ve seen Bighorn Sheep, Deer, and Elk in the area over the years and have heard of Mountain Lions around the rocks. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Gnarly Tree Trunk: I’m always amazed that a tree can grow into the rocks like this. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Red Rocks: The Gros Ventre Road is open to the Atherton Creek Campground. Travel past that point is restricted to snowmobiles, snow cats, and people on snow shoes and cross country skis. The campground is closed for the winter. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Shane Cabin: The last time I was at this cabin, I was able to walk down to it, but the snow is deep enough to require snow shoes. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Coyote: When I first saw this Coyote, I was hoping it was a Gray Wolf. A lot of people have been reporting Coyote sightings, along with long distance sightings of Wolves. I saw a couple of Bald Eagles again today on my Gros Ventre excursion. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 16th, 2020 – Thursday

Mountain Top Shadows: I spent most of my day in front of my computer. I took this photo a couple of days ago and posted the original. I put the image through a couple of filters in Photoshop. A couple of days ago, my old Windows PC let me know Windows 7 was no longer being supported. The Computer Clinic is installing Windows 10 on the system. Hopefully, the install will go smoothly!

Mountain Top Shadows 2: One more variation.

More snow is on the way! Today was cold and gray.

I don’t believe anyone has seen the Mountain Lion in several days.

In the News! 1st Place: Nature Division: Cowboys & Indians Magazine 2020

I’ve been holding off on making this announcement, but the magazines are in the mail and should be on newsstands soon.

Driving Rain: Shoshone is my favorite Moose in Grand Teton National Park over the past few years. The vertical version of this photo was recently awarded First Place in the Nature division of Cowboys & Indians annual photo contest. (February/March edition). I photographed him the day before as he was stripping his velvet covered antlers. On the day of this photo, I was wearing waders and a waterproof jacket. Thankfully, I also had an umbrella with me to protect my camera gear. I photographed Shoshone for 15-20 minutes during the rain storm, then another half hour after the rain moved on. I have thousands of photos of Shoshone, but the rain streaks make this one so unique. I was lucky to have been in the right place at the right time that day! He was laser focused on a fly fisherman in the nearby river.

HORIZONTAL version (seen above) in several sizes up to 24″ x 36″
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If you are interested in purchasing a Lustre or Glossy Metal Print, click any of the links above, then add to cart and pick from the various sizes. Please specify Lustre or Glossy. Your order will be delivered directly to your door — ready to hang!

Nervous Elk: Apparently, there around 14 Wolves on the National Elk Refuge now, keeping the Elk on full alert. These were near the Miller House. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Hillside: This little scene caught my eye while at the Visitor’s Center waiting to go on the Elk Refuge Sleigh Ride. I liked the shadows on the snow. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Elk Refuge: The biggest bulls hand together on the National Elk Refuge, often too far out to photograph from the road. The Sleigh Ride is the best way to get close. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bull Elk: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bull Elk: This bull has a few extra tines. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

The Next Sleigh: As our sleigh passed by the bulls, they were mostly down, but when this one approached, the cows spooked and the bulls all got up. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Standing Bulls and Sleeping Indian: Missed “the show” by one sleigh! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Draft Horse: They let you take a few photos of the horses before getting back on the shuttle bus.Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Harness Details: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Sleeping Indian and Lone Tree: One last shot before heading back to the Visitor’s Center. The Sleigh Rides cost $25 per adult. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Lone Coyote: It was a pretty good day to be out! I took this photo along the Gros Ventre Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bull Moose: This bull was feeding near the East Boundary Road. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bull Moose’s White Mask: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bull Moose: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Buck Mule Deer: Spotted along the edges of Kelly. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Cow and Calf Moose: I took a lot of images of these two Moose. I took this photo at 1/1200th second. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Blowing Snow: This one was captured at 1/60th second handheld. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bighorn: Some of the Bighorns were near the road next to Miller Butte on the National Elk Refuge. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Eagles and Ravens: There’s not much left of this elk carcass, but it attracted numerous Eagles and a bunch of Ravens. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Eagles and Ravens: This was also taken at the National Elk Refuge. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 13th, 2020 – Monday

Night Time Feeder: I posted this photo and the text below on Instagram just now. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod

Night Time Feeder: The marquee sign at MovieWorks turned off at 11:37 last night. I had been waiting since 5:30 for this Mountain Lion to go back to her mule deer kill, but over six hours she never did. There were lots of people originally, but they gave up one by one. I should have long before 11:37, but you’ve ever “invested” in a shot, you know how it is difficult to leave! When the marquee lights went off, I figured it was my signal to head on home. My little golden retriever woke me up at 6:15 am this morning. I decided to go back for one more chance. After all, it’s a Mountain Lion! When I drove to the corner, I could see her shape over the kill. All I had to do was set up and shoot! I was the only person there at 6:40am…in the dark! The image was shot at 1/3rd second, ISO 8,000, F/6.3 on a Nikon D5. I removed some noice in Topaz AI and removed some distracting wire mesh in Photoshop. I chose to crop this to a square for Instagram with her on the right and to show her tail and the hoof of the mule deer on the left. At 1/3rd second, almost all of the images had some motion blur. I was hoping for one or two when she paused for a split second. I only managed to get two with little or no motion blur out of a couple hundred shots.

Mountain Lion: These two photos were taken between (roughly) 6:40 am and 7:10 am this morning. They aren’t as clean and sharp as they might have been is she was in the same spot at 8:15 am with bright morning light, but they represent a bit of a victory for me! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod

The Rest of the Story

This Mountain Lion showed up last Wednesday. I was lucky enough to be there for three sessions when she came down to run Magpies off her fresh carcass. That was during the daytime. Since then, lots of people have been “camped” from dawn to dark to get photos and videos of her. Saturday evening, I drove over to see if I could catch her coming to the kill during the night time hours. She did…but I sucked! People have been telling me of a technique to focus on their night shot using Live View, but my earlier feeble attempts had been non-productive. Mukul Soman gave me a few tips that night. I shot a few hundred photos. When I got home, I looked at them. I sucked! A couple were okay, but none were even close to what I would want to show anyone. I packed up and went back to the same spot that night and practiced focusing on the rocks next to the kill. After about half an hour, I started getting it dialed in. Of course, there was no Mountain Lion to include in my practice session. Last night, I was determined to capitalize on the earlier efforts, but she didn’t cooperate over six hours of waiting in the dark and cold. This morning, I went back for one more chance and managed to get a couple of “okay” shots. These two photos were never about getting a “wall hanger” image as much as trying to hone a missing skill.

A Side Story

After after the cat left the carcass and went back to her resting place in the Juniper, I folded up the tripod and went back to my truck. A lady had been parked next to my truck the entire time. She rolled her window down to ask me if I could see the Mountain Lion? “You didn’t see her?”, I asked. She had been the entire time, but never saw the cat feeding or move up the hill when she was finished! That was at 7:15 am, and it sunrise wouldn’t be until almost 8:00 am if it wasn’t cloudy. If you didn’t know exactly where to look, I guess it would be very easy to miss, and even more so if looking for the lion in near dark conditions. Besides being close to home, this kill is on a hillside close to a busy intersection at the west edge of town. Lights from the Maverick store and the intersection add a touch of light making photography “possible”. Interestingly, the traffic light changes from red to green and long exposure photos pick up faint influences of either,

As far as I can tell, there is still plenty of meat on this deer carcass. MJ

Evening Update: I checked the site several times today. Magpies were on the carcass and she was nowhere in sight. She may return to the area later tonight, but she is was not protecting it today.

January 12th, 2020 – Sunday

Please take a minute and register to follow this site. I’d love to have another couple hundred new subscribers from the group visiting the site this Winter! MJ

Mother Moose & Calf: This morning, I saw 8 Moose along the Gros Ventre River bottom an NO Moose in the Kelly sage flats area. They might still be there, but already bedded down. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Young Bull Moose: Their diet is switching from the buried bitter brush back to twigs and branches in the river bottom. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Young Bull Moose: This is a “calf of the year” with only nubs where his antlers will grow in. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Winter Details: Taken along the Kelly Warm Springs. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Power Lines: Low fog and light snow softened each layer of power poles before reaching a ridge of Spruce in the distance. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Other Wildlife: I heard Bison were near the road at Elk Ranch Flats. I saw a few along the East Boundary Road where I took the power poles above. The Mountain Lion is reported to still be in the area near Maverick.

January 11th, 2020 – Saturday

Great Horned Owl: I took this photo early, early this morning! I have a lot more and better shots of a Great Horned Owl, but wanted to show they are still around, even if they are difficult to spot. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

I spent part of the morning editing this short clip about the Mountain Lion.

View this post on Instagram

This was a winter surprise for Jackson Hole photographers. better yet, we didn’t have to drive a long distance.

A post shared by Best Of The Tetons (@bestofthetetons) on Jan 11, 2020 at 10:49am PST

You should be able to view the clip by just clicking above. If not, go to Instagram and then search for BestOfTheTetons.

I didn’t see the Cougar when I was there EARLY, but I just received a report she is there. MJ

January 10th, 2020 – Friday

Peach Sunrise: I might have liked a little more detail on the Grand, but stopped because of the peach clouds. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

The Grand: 10 or 20 minutes makes a lot of difference on some days. In this shot, I have details, but not the early morning color. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bull Moose: Sans Antlers: This big bull was close to the road near the Teton Science School. I would have loved to catch him in this light when he still had them! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bull Moose in Winter Sage: When the snow gets too deep, Moose will have trouble finding the bitter brush. I’d have to dig through my earlier photos to cross reference this bull. He has a tiny dewlap beneath his bell. Mt. Moran can be seen in the distance. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Moose – Laramie: I can’t be 100% certain, but I believe the bull in the previous photo is the bull I called “Laramie”. Compare the notch in his left ear and bell. This photo was taken on September 5th along the Gros Ventre River after he had added some “bling” to his antlers.

Bison Bull in Snow: The group of Bison I spotted yesterday were closer to the road today, but not quite as close as I would have liked. I hiked out a little ways to get these shots. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bison Bull in Snow: Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Stems in Snow: I like to watch for mundane subjects with good light and long shadows. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeter Swan: Some of the Swans on Flat Creek got active when the sun light hit them this morning. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeter Swan: Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeter Swan: Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeters, Ready for Another Nap: Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 9th, 2020 – Thursday

Cow Moose: This cow was resting near a calf along the Gros Ventre Road. A small bull was spotted just downstream, still with antlers. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bison: I am still watching for the Bison herd, hoping to see them soon in the southern portion of the Park. These were several hundred yards west of the East Boundary Road. Another group of about 15-20 were far off the road at Elk Ranch Flats. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeter Swan: It took quite a few photos of a pair of Trumpeters today and chose this one because of the nice light and the hints of winter in the background. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bald Eagle: This raptor was hunting along the National Elk Refuge. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Common Golden Eye: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Barrow’s Golden Eye: It’s easy to see the difference when placed side by side. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mountain Lion? From what I have been told, the Mountain Lion stayed in the cedar tree all day.

January 8th, 2020 – Wednesday

Mountain Lion in Cedar Tree: If you checked the page earlier in the day, I had posted a shot of a couple of Bighorns, a shot of the Elk antlers downtown, and a shot of a Raven. I can get those any day, so I deleted them to make room for a much more unique subject. The Mountain Lion was spotted this morning. When I got there, it was nestled deep in this cedar tree, keeping an eye on its kill just down the hill. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mountain Lion Leaving Cedar Tree: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mountain Lion: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Cougar on the Move: I posted this one on Instagram today. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mountain Lion: The first set of shots were taken with my D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mountain Lion near it’s Kill: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mountain Lion: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Mountain Lion: I move a little farther away to get a better angle on the carcass. I switched to a Nikon D500. At 600mm, I was shooting at an “effective” distance of 900mm on a 1.5 crop body. Nikon D500 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod

Mountain Lion: Nikon D500 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod

Mountain Lion: One of the lingering Magpies being chased away by the advancing Cougar. Nikon D500 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod

Mountain Lion: Heading back up the hillside. Nikon D500 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod

Mountain Lion: Back to where I began. I hung around for a while, but it didn’t return to the deer carcass. Nikon D850 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod

In case you missed it, I just uploaded a New Feature Post called: A Bounty of Winter Landscapes in Black and White. It contains a lot of photos I’ve taken in the past few months and late winter in 2019.

January 7th, 2020 -Tuesday

Bighorn Ewe and Lamb: After doing a little business homework (2020 commercial truck insurance and commercial liability insurance), I did a quick run to the Elk Refuge. With wind blowing briskly, the Sheep seemed to be feeding and enduring the wind. These two were close to the rocks. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Refuge Cabin: You can “legally” stop on the Refuge road to take a photo as long as no one is coming behind you. (No harm, no foul, even though signs at the entrance of the Refuge advise you not to stop on the roads) I stopped for a quick shot of this rustic cabin and buck rail fence. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Curtis Canyon: You can’t drive to Curtis Canyon this time of the year, but you can photograph it from a distance. Light was hitting the face of the rocks when I took this photo. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Resting Elk Herd: This isn’t a great shot by any means, but it is an informative one! A very large number of Elk spent the day resting on the side of Crystal Butte at the south end of the Refuge. I’ve seen wolves on this very hillside. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Resting Elk Herd: I didn’t see any of the large bulls in this crowd. Most of the biggest Bulls are clustered together near the Sleigh Ride station. Take the $25 ride to get close to them. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Trumpeter Swans: Watch for Swans in open water on the Snake River, Gros Ventre and Flat Creek. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 6th, 2020 -Monday

Sheridan-Bull Moose: This bull showed up late in the season and has been hanging around north Kelly. There’s another large bull with antlers in the same area. This morning, I saw at least 10 moose. Five of them still had antlers. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Sheridan – Bull Moose: The Moose are having to paw through the snow to get to the bitter brush below. I had to hike you about 250-300 yards to get these shots. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Two Young Bulls: At least three bulls are younger, with smaller paddles. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Resting Bull Moose: It takes quite a bit of effort to trek 300 yards in foot deep snow. On numerous occasions, I had them bed down before I got ANY shots. Today it was worth it, even though they were quick to drop when I got there. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Little Red Barn: This is one of my favorite winter barns, seen along Spring Gulch Road. This road has the “possibility” of seeing wolves, foxes, coyotes, eagles, hawks, deer, elk, and owls. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

View this post on Instagram

This historic set of structures in Grand Teton National Park has been classified as “ruins”. Unless they are reclassified they be allowed to rot and collapse. If you want to see them, you better hurry! They have gone downhill fast in the past few years.

A post shared by Best Of The Tetons (@bestofthetetons) on Jan 4, 2020 at 9:38pm PST

I added this little clip on Instagram. Click the Image to check it out! (If the link doesn’t work, go to Instagram, then search for bestofthetetons)

January 5th, 2020 -Sunday

Magpies: Scavengers, including Magpies, Ravens and Eagles are quick to clean up a road kill in the winter. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Magpies: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bald Eagle: When I first drove up, this Eagle was on the carcass. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bald Eagle: I’ve been told it takes five or six years for a Bald Eagle to develop a fully white head, so at first I thought this was an immature bird. As it turned out, it just had a lot of blood on his white head. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 4th, 2020 -Saturday

Snake River Overlook: I got up at 5:00 am for this one! There were stars in the sky, a low cloud bank and a few light clouds over the Tetons. Nikon D5 and Nikon 24-700mm Lens, Tripod.

Snake River Overlook: Sometimes it is possible to get a variety of different photos from a single spot. Fog rolled in from the North for a short period. Nikon D850 and Nikon 24-700mm Lens, Tripod.

Snake River Overlook: I like to capture a scene as a Pano when I can. After stitching the parts, I can always crop a “virtual copy” it to any size and shape in Lightroom. Nikon D850 and Nikon 24-700mm Lens, Tripod.

Sunrise on the Grand: I took a LOT of landscape shots this morning as the Grand lit up. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Buckrail Fence: I only had to hang around for a short period for the first light to hit these buckrail fences. I didn’t see ANY Bison today. It appears they have left the Elk Ranch Flats area. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bull Moose in Snow: This bull was feeding along the Moose-Wilson Road. He decided to cross from the west to the east. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Now You See Them! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Now You Don’t! In the span of only a few minutes, this bull dropped one of his antlers. I didn’t see it drop…Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Lost Antler: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Frosted Pine: I stopped for this shot along the Moose-Wilson Road. Hoar frost cover the tree, but it wouldn’t be on it much longer with the sunlight hitting it. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Weather: As I upload this entry, clouds rolled in, snow began, and it became very windy!

January 3rd, 2020 -Friday

Bighorn Sheep: It’s only about 6 or maybe 7 miles from my home to Miller Butte on the National Elk Refuge, so it doesn’t take much for me to get there on any particular day. It’s a good “go-to” spot for at least a few photos. I went there around lunch time and found a lot of sheep, but they were feeding well off the road. I went back at 4:00 pm and they were much closer to the road. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Ram Chase: One of the young rams got a little too close to this Ram’s “girlfriend” and was chased away. I had anticipated a little action, so I had my shutter speed up to 1/1250th sec. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bighorn Ram: This ram turned to look at some of the sheep on the butte. I took a few shots, then moved a little to the left. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bighorn Ram: This one had a little “cleaner” silhouette, though I could have softened and lightened the sagebrush behind the previous photo. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Bighorn Lip Curl: Or…Flehmen Response. I don’t think the Bighorn rut is completely over, but I haven’t seen head butting lately. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 2nd, 2020 – Thursday

Remember to change your camera’s Copyright Settings and your Lightroom Import Preset for 2020!

You can always fix them later, but it’s easier to set them correctly once at the first of the year.

East Boundary Barn: I caught a few minutes of morning light before the clouds moved back in. I was hoping to get a few last shots of the bull Moose in this kind of light, but the only one I found was around 200 yards out. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Buck Mule Deer: I stumbled upon three nice buck Mule Deer around the edges of Kelly. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Buck Mule Deer: I hung around long enough for them to get into a nice spot. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Buck Mule Deer: This one has an asymmetrical set of antlers. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Snow Covered Wagons: I’ve photographed these wagons dozens of times over the years, but stopped again because the beautiful light hitting the scene. Later in the year, snow will cover them completely. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Chimney: Even though this image is “cluttered”, there was something I liked when I saw it. I walked out to get a “cleaner” shot of the chimney, but didn’t really like it when I viewed it on the computer. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Christmas Trees: I was heading home after a party last night and stopped for this photo. You can see a few of the Teton Village building and lights on the left. D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

January 1st, 2020 – First of the Month – First of the Decade

Bighorns in Snow: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Welcome to a new year, new decade and the first Daily Journal for 2020!

Early January Notes: It’s snowing and snow is in the forecast for the entire week. But, then it’s January in the Northern Rockies and that’s how it is supposed to be! Photos for the first day of January were taken through layers of snow, some with stiff winds pushing it across the scene. Many people will stay in during the snow days, but I like going out for the unique shots. Amazingly, a few of the bigger bull Moose still have their antlers. Bison are moving south from their summer range. January should be good for them soon. Bighorns are on the National Elk Refuge in good numbers. Mountain Goats are seen on some days, but may stop if the snow gets too deep. Elk are coming back to the National Elk Refuge in large numbers. Wolves have been spotted recently. Of course, all bears are hibernating. A few people have seen River Otters lately. A Great Blue Heron is wintering in Jackson again this year.

Bighorns are some of the most dependable wildlife subjects right now. The rut is mostly over, but the rams still show some rut behavior.Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Elk Refuge Bulls: One sure way to see Elk is to take the Sleigh Rides. The rates are $25 per person this year…possibly one of best values in Jackson Hole. I took this photo from the road this morning, shooting through a lot of snow. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Sleigh Rides: The rides on the National Elk Refuge were closed on Christmas Day but should be running every day through late April. This sleigh have just left the group of bulls in the previous photo. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Snowy Barn: I spent part of my day photographing barns and structures. The snow gives them a unique look! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Little Barn and Ravens: Who knew these ravens would fly by! Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Wind Swept Snow: I hand held this photo at 1/25th second (tough to do with this much wind) to get the look of blowing snow. The Mormon Row barns and homesteads are basically closed in the Winter, but other barns are visible from other places in the valley. (You can still hike or snow shoe to Mormon Row) Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

U Lazy U Barn: This barn is South Park is often difficult to photograph. It has a lot of trailers and junk in front of it. I liked this angle today. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Miller House: The building is dark, so the blowing snow shows up well. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

National Museum of Wildlife Art: These sculptures are at the base of the Museum. Sometimes, the south winds plaster snow on the front sides, revealing only a rimmed edge. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Spruce Boughs: The snow covered limbs caught my eye. There are a “gazillion” similar possibilities in the winter. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Snow Covered Tractor: I see this tractor all the time and have taken photos of it before but the snow “simplifies” a scene by covering clutter in the background and adding interest to the structural elements. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Sledders: Jackson Hole is loaded with Winter activities. This little hill attracts families and their pets for some chilly fun. I’d suggest taking a little time to include cross country skiers, sledders and so forth in at least a few shots when you visit Jackson Hole in the Winter. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

Remember, this is only the FIRST ENTRY for the January 2020 Daily Journal. Check back regularly as I will be adding photos daily.

Frosted Bison: This is a shot from a couple of days ago. It is very popular on Instagram! I wanted to cheat a little to show what I hope to see regularly in early January. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld

For what it’s worth:

Mountain Goats of the Snake River Canyon: This 2014 Feature Post has a lot more information and maps

I have numerous tour openings available in January, February & March

The Other Stuff!

Snow Days!

About the Photos

I have numerous tour openings available in January, February & March

January 31st, 2020 – Friday

Subscribe to Best of the Tetons!

Shane Movie Locations:

January 30th, 2020 – Thursday

A Few End of the Month Notes

I have numerous tour openings available in January, February & March

January 29th, 2020 – Wednesday

January 28th, 2020 – Tuesday

Call today a “long distance record shot” day!

Much Better this Afternoon!

January 27th, 2020 – Monday

January 25th, 2020 – Saturday

New Feature Post: “A Few Good Goats”

January 24th, 2020 – Friday

January 23rd, 2020 – Thursday

January 22nd, 2019 – Wednesday

January 21st, 2020 – Tuesday

January 20th, 2020 – Monday

January 19th, 2020 – Sunday

January 18th, 2020 – Saturday

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Saturday in the Park

January 17th, 2020 – Friday

January 16th, 2020 – Thursday

In the News! 1st Place: Nature Division: Cowboys & Indians Magazine 2020

January 13th, 2020 – Monday

The Rest of the Story

A Side Story

January 12th, 2020 – Sunday

Subscribe to Best of the Tetons!

January 11th, 2020 – Saturday

January 10th, 2020 – Friday

January 9th, 2020 – Thursday

January 8th, 2020 – Wednesday

January 7th, 2020 -Tuesday

January 6th, 2020 -Monday

January 5th, 2020 -Sunday

January 4th, 2020 -Saturday

January 3rd, 2020 -Friday

January 2nd, 2020 – Thursday

Remember to change your camera’s Copyright Settings and your Lightroom Import Preset for 2020!

January 1st, 2020 – First of the Month – First of the Decade

Welcome to a new year, new decade and the first Daily Journal for 2020!

Remember, this is only the FIRST ENTRY for the January 2020 Daily Journal. Check back regularly as I will be adding photos daily.