Travel Images Photo Gallery: Yellowstone and Tetons, Wyoming

Please scroll down for images taken on Travel Images trips by John Baker.
In most cases, links to client images from this destination are at the bottom of the page

The autumn trips start in Jackson with a large dose of Grand Teton National Park. This spot is a Teton classic at dawn, and changes in accordance with Beaver activity in the area. Although lacking in broad-leaf color, the Rockies compensate amply with Cottonwoods and Aspen set against towering peaks such as the Grand Teton in this image.

Before setting off for Yellowstone my groups take in some of the best spots in Grand Teton National Park with the knowledge that we'll be returning in a few days better morning light.

To Yellowstone: Sometimes a healthy woodland gets drowned by a succession of wet years, or a nearby geyser emitting more sulphur than can be tolerated. The result is some nice abstract subjects such as this. When composing this kind of shot I suggest you try and keep distractions such as branches out of the viewfinder . . . or clone them out later.

Old Faithful geyser, named for on-time eruptions in recent centuries, has not been quite so 'faithful' following a moderate earthquake in 1984. It is however still one of the most photographed American icons that Yellowstone possesses today.
My personal preference is to photograph Old Faithful 'against the light' for more drama. The foreground of geyser run-off I feel adds to the interest in the image.

The Elk rut is an annual autumn event throughout the west and Yellowstone in particular provides the opportunity for full-frame images without too much effort. Forward planning is however a plus, and understanding and anticipating Elk behavior is helpful in bring you the best photo opportunities available from such situations.

Bison are fairly sedate beings most of the time, and this fella obliged for images by being close to 'humanity.' It was an ideal opportunity to get a really sharp eye, and get the exposure just right.

Below area collection of shots of Yellowstone's geysers, and I highly recommend that clients take a slower, closer look at the patterns and color created in some of the formations. They make for some interesting photography subjects.

The first at right is a 'macro Bryce Canyon' as these formations are just a couple of inches high. The image below has the emphasis on the repeating layers, and when shooting at 45 degrees to the subject plane like this, it's important to stop down sufficiently to achieve sharpness from front to back.

Strict copyright: John T Baker Photographer LLC

The image doesn't do justice to what was 'magical' backlighting, with the subject being water drops on grass.

Strict copyright: John T Baker Photographer LLC
Mammoth Hot Springs. I decided to leave the sky in as it looked a bomb had gone off if I didn't!

Strict copyright: John T Baker Photographer LLC
Above, a section of Canary Spring on Mammoth Terrace in the northwest corner of Yellowstone.

Dawn at Yellowstone lake near West Thumb. The geyser activity give shots like this their mood.

The Gray Jay is easily photographed in Yellowstone's picnic areas, and is not to be confused with the Clark's Nutcracker which has similar coloring but a much larger beak and darker wings.

I cut my photographic teeth on bird photography back in Wales in the 70's, and I learnt that one needs to plan ahead, be patient, and get a sharp focus on the eye.

Old faithful geyser: Strict copyright John T. Baker Photographer LLC
The Old Faithful Geyser set against a moody sky.

Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River sits at the top of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and is one of the Park's major attractions. Although the Artist's Point scene is a common favorite, left, my personal preference is to take groups closer in at mid-afternoon each autumn and shoot from the north rim where the back-lit spray is a subtle enhancement to an already spectacular scene.

Pronghorn Antelope are mostly found in the northern reaches of Yellowstone, and just beyond the boundaries if you know where to look.

Big Horn Sheep

Knowing a good spot to find Moose on Yellowstone Lake leads to a little bit of time lingering in that area in the hopes of an image such as the one below. However, when the 'stars' forget to show one can turn one's attention to other worthy subjects such as this silhouette of a dead pine tree.

This was one of those rare magic moments at Yellowstone Lake, and as you can see by the movement of the Moose calf, I was using a slow shutter speed. The was a 210 mm with an aperture setting of f5.6 as no 'deep' depth of field needed in this situation. So from Yellowstone back to the Tetons . . .

MOose cow and calf: Strict copyright John T Baker Photographer LLC

No less magical were this cow Moose and calf in Grand Teton National Park.

Dawn at Oxbow Bend in the Grand Tetons where many photographers gather but miss this beautiful watery expanse when opting to shoot from the road. Each to his own of course, which makes for better positioning at water's edge for my small groups anyway. The peak is 12,605' Mount Moran and the expanse of water is an oxbow off the Snake River.

Oxbow Bend autumn snow: Strict copyright John T Baker Photographer LLC

Another year and another time. Early snow in the autumn, and not a winter shot!

A last Oxbow Bend shot taken around 45 minutes after sunrise.

Buck and rail fence, Tetons: Strict copyright John T Baker Photographer LLC

Buck and rail fences are fairly common in the west, and every group I've taken to the Tetons since 1989 has had to endure my 'encouragement' to point a wide-angle lens at this composition. My feeling is that the fence provides not just a frame to strengthen the composition, but also a strong sense of place. Note the yellow Aspens in the middle of the picture which were far more abundant at that spot prior to a fire ravaging the area in the early 1980's.

As one trips one's way to the first image at the top of this page, one could easily miss a very simple but effective classic such as this. Well, erm, not Travel Images' groups though!

Another classic Teton barn at right that used to have some very photogenic old gates in the foreground. They were replaced by a barbed wire fence in the early 90's, so one has to find some fresh foreground interest.

Aspen grove: Strict copyright John T Baker Photographer LLC

The Tetons have a nice collection of Aspen groves especially on the east side of Jackson Hole. Shots like these are all about symmetry, and being able to master the technical side and capture the image that you have visualized.

Getting a little closer to and Aspen leaf, and you see something to rival New England . . . well, sorta. Collectively though, groves of aspen trees make very nice 'frames' for peaks in Grand Teton and Rocky Mountain National Parks.

At right back to Oxbow Bend for a couple of sunset images. The first really explains why we need clouds in some skies. Take away the clouds, and you have nothing for the light to 'dance' with.

Mule Deer: Strict copyright John T Baker Photographer LLC

Two Mule Deer bucks foraging within camera reach in the Tetons.

Strict copyright: John T Baker Photographer LLC

Jenny Lake

String Lake.

I take my groups to a Wyoming ranch on each photo tour for 'real' Wrangler images. No two visits are the same, and subsequently the pictures are always very different. For this shot we asked the Wrangler to lead his horse up the slope . . . then headed to the laptop to work on some visual options.

Image copyright John T. Baker Photographer LLC

This one is with the sun still above Grand Teton peak, whereby I should have
used a graduated gray/split neutral density filter to tone down the harsh 'hot spot'.

Hang on, shouldn't they be riding into the sunset, and not the opposite?!

Looking barn-wards, images such as this are in abundance at such places.

With this kind of image you need to 'see' it first. I call this type of shot, 'Still life on the run.'

Image copyright John T. Baker Photographer LLC

Set the horses free after a hard days work, and they like to gallop to their overnight pasture.

Image copyright John T. Baker Photographer LLC

Teton Peaks: Strict copyright John T Baker Photographer LLC

Shot from the valley floor, the light and mood combine for a very nice Teton range image.

Chapel of the Transfiguration: Strict copyright John T Baker Photographer LLC

The community of Moose, formerly Menors Ferry, is where you'll find the Chapel of the Transfiguration.
I have framed it with a buck and rail fence for this shot.

The inside to outside view from the Chapel of the Transfiguration. The view from the altar window is befitting of the Creator himself.
There is only one drawback to this scene, and that is the 50 plus flies I had to clone out of the image!

A dramatic autumn view of what has become known as the Snake River Lookout.

Moose thrive in Grand Teton National Park, and this Bull is captured crossing the Snake River.

Nothing more than the Grand Teton mountain range at twilight. Beautiful.

Yellowstone + Tetons autumn by Bob Barnhill

Yellowstone + Tetons autumn by Anthony Gross

Yellowstone + Tetons autumn by Jim Majerle

Yellowstone + Tetons autumn by Micah Kaplan

Yellowstone + Tetons autumn by Julio and Renée Mulero

Yellowstone + Tetons winter photo gallery

Yellowstone + Tetons autumn brochure Yellowstone + Tetons winter brochure

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