Autumn in the Tetons

coscorrosa · October 17, 2009

I left Seattle at noon on a Thursday, got to the north entrance of Yellowstone around 11PM, and decided to drive down to Grand Teton to check on the state of the fall colors so I could adjust my trip accordingly. A few hours later and I was there. As it got lighter near dawn it became obvious there was a thick layer of smoke on the mountain (due to some wildfires). When it was light I drove around Oxbow Bend and saw the aspens had not yet peaked, so I headed back up to Yellowstone for six nights (after being up about 40 hours including about 18 hours driving).

At the end of my Yellowstone trip (which had snow for the last day and a half) I returned back to Grand Teton and the Tetons had a nice fresh coat of snow (sweet!) and the smoke had cleared. The weather didn't always cooperate, but when it did the scenery was spectacular. After three nights the forecast called for 100% cloud cover and snow for the rest of the week and I decided to go to Death Valley (with a stop at Zion at sunset on the way over).

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite shots from Grand Teton.

#1: Oxbow Sunset (the only good sunset during my visit to the Tetons - and it was incredible. I noticed a small section of pink to the north and waited around (while other photographers left), shortly afterward the entire sky was pink for about 90 seconds).

#2:

#3:

#4: This is me being original

#5: This was that first sunrise before I headed back to Yellowstone. You can see how there's almost no snow on the Tetons.

#6: A few days later, and look at all the snow! I was so lucky.

#7: The only time you can take this compressed version of this shot (standing a few hundred feet back and using 100-200mm lens) is at dawn before all the other photographers show up and get in your composition. It was literally 10 degrees when I took this shot 20-30 minutes before sunrise, my lens hood had a nice layer of frost on it by the time I was done, and I drained about half of a fresh battery.

#8: It seems like whenever I'm in Grand Teton I drive by the Snake River Overlook getting from place to place, and I always stop off and take a photo, even if it's in the middle of the day, because it's so convenient. Here's one of the shots in the middle of the day that I thought turned out OK.

AndMan · October 17, 2009

As always absolutely wonderful images Ron.

I love #1 - beautiful colours, it shows what a little patience (and not a little talent) can deliver.
I'd definitely put that on a wall (possibly the entire wall

)

Awais Yaqub · October 17, 2009

Splendid !

annnna8888 · October 17, 2009

It looks like you had quite a trip. The photos are fantastic as usual, and yes, what a difference a little bit of snow makes! If I had to choose, my favorites of this batch would be the first three.
Now I'll go and see your other threads.

Ana

dlplumer · October 17, 2009

40 hours without sleep, 18 of them driving. Take care of you so you can keep shooting for a long, long time Ron. These are all stupid good.

Sexy6Chick · October 17, 2009

dlplumer wrote:

These are all stupid good.

What he said! Breath-taking.

sgonen · October 17, 2009

Great story and excellent photos

coscorrosa · October 17, 2009

AndMan wrote:

As always absolutely wonderful images Ron.

I love #1 - beautiful colours, it shows what a little patience (and not a little talent) can deliver.
I'd definitely put that on a wall (possibly the entire wall )

Thanks! It was very cool seeing it in person, hopefully some of that came through in the photo. Definitely the best sunset I've seen in the Tetons (I've never gotten fantastic sunrises or sunsets there, but the scenery can often compensate, this was my first legitimate jaw-dropping sunset).

coscorrosa · October 17, 2009

Awais Yaqub wrote:

Splendid !

Thanks Awais! Definitely worth the 10 degree temperatures!

coscorrosa · October 17, 2009

annnna8888 wrote:

It looks like you had quite a trip. The photos are fantastic as usual, and yes, what a difference a little bit of snow makes! If I had to choose, my favorites of this batch would be the first three.
Now I'll go and see your other threads.

Ana

Thanks Ana! I got extremely lucky with the snow, I couldn't have timed the trip any better.

coscorrosa · October 17, 2009

dlplumer wrote:

40 hours without sleep, 18 of them driving. Take care of you so you can keep shooting for a long, long time Ron. These are all stupid good.

Thanks Dan - don't worry about me, I'm young and have stamina

Marc Muench · October 17, 2009

Great work Ron

There is nothing better than a warm cup-a-java in one hand and the wheel in the other, on the way to shoot sunrise. The colors look splendid.

cmkultradome · October 17, 2009

Ron-
Love the colors in #2 & #3 and the reflection in #5. Hopefully I'll be visiting that area next year. Beautiful pictures!!

Stephanie

coscorrosa · October 17, 2009

Marc Muench wrote:

Great work Ron

There is nothing better than a warm cup-a-java in one hand and the wheel in the other, on the way to shoot sunrise. The colors look splendid.

Thanks Marc - totally agree, although replace the coffee with a coke for me (I'm the only person in Seattle who doesn't drink coffee!). I actually enjoy the long drives in the dark with no traffic and a few hours of music from my iPod, getting out of the car, always being a little surprised at how cold it actually is out there, stumbling and fumbling around in the dark under the stars and my headlamp, waiting for the first light of dawn to illuminate the subject, and hoping I don't run into any bears or a bull elk in the process (until it's light enough for me to see and photograph them!). Every time I see Mt. Rainier in the dark I'm always a little bit in awe of it, same thing out on the beaches when the waves are crashing in and it's only me and a few nocturnal critters about. That's the feeling that keeps me going back, the photos are just a means of attempting to share that with other people (and failing, often, to convey it but once in awhile being successful at it).

coscorrosa · October 17, 2009

cmkultradome wrote:

Ron-
Love the colors in #2 & #3 and the reflection in #5. Hopefully I'll be visiting that area next year. Beautiful pictures!!

Stephanie

Thanks Stephanie, you'll love it!

bryanj87 · October 18, 2009

Fantastic series, wonderful colors. Number 2 is simply remarkable. And your story, wow, we should all aspire be that hardcore!

Secluded Valley · October 25, 2009

Ron, your Oxbow sunset shot is awesome, definately my favorite shot of the group.

Kristine

coscorrosa · October 25, 2009

Yellowstonegirl wrote:

Ron, your Oxbow sunset shot is awesome, definately my favorite shot of the group.

Kristine

Thanks Kristine, that was the first time I had decent color at sunset in the Tetons, and it was awesome. I love that place.

Tango · October 25, 2009

amazing, #1

boneywhitefoot · October 26, 2009

Most Americans simply dont know whats right on their doorstep.
wish I could see all of that for real and more.
beautiful shots of a fantastic place.

kdog · October 26, 2009

Really great series Ron. I haven't been to Yellowstone in many years. I'm definitely due for a trip sometime soon.

-joel

Howe Creative Photography · October 26, 2009

Those are amazing! I love them!!!

kitvan · October 26, 2009

As always, you've managed to capture the subtle color, mood and textures of the mountains in such beautiful compositions.

I haven't visited dgrin in a while, but I have continued to tell people about your work, as it always makes an impression on me. You're by far my favorite landscape photog on these forums, and if I could learn to take landscapes like yours, I will die happy. Seriously. Thank you for continuing to post your work here. I think I speak for everyone.

p.s. I think it was from your Seattle-scapes that I figured out the 12th ave bridge location, where I've taken some of my favorite shots to date. So thank you for that too. )

coscorrosa · October 26, 2009

kitvan wrote:

As always, you've managed to capture the subtle color, mood and textures of the mountains in such beautiful compositions.

I haven't visited dgrin in a while, but I have continued to tell people about your work, as it always makes an impression on me. You're by far my favorite landscape photog on these forums, and if I could learn to take landscapes like yours, I will die happy. Seriously. Thank you for continuing to post your work here. I think I speak for everyone.

p.s. I think it was from your Seattle-scapes that I figured out the 12th ave bridge location, where I've taken some of my favorite shots to date. So thank you for that too. )

Thanks

I'm not at the level where I can give advice with any authority, but the one thing I can say with some confidence is the best way to get better is to just go out and shoot and learn from your mistakes and successes. I've found that I've never regretted going out of my way for a photo opportunity even if it doesn't pan out, but I've often regretted not going out. And if you live near Seattle, there are so many amazing places within a short drive that you'll never run out of opportunities.

Everyone else - thanks for the comments. If you haven't seen Yellowstone or the Tetons in person and have the chance you should definitely take it.