What I Did This Summer... (IF YOU HAVE DIAL-UP, DON'T EVEN BOTHER)

[regnaD kciN]

In the last two weeks of August, my family and I journeyed to darkest "red state" America, fearlessly braving the dangers of hordes of rampaging teabaggers, to discover the splendors of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

NOTE: Whoever it was here who railed against "photographic clichés" should probably leave the thread right now, because virtually every location in Grand Teton has long since become a photographic cliché...but one well-worth encountering for yourself.

To start out, what has been described as "the most-photographed beaver pond in America," with the Cathedral Group reflected in the waters of the Snake River at Schwabacher Landing.




Several of the barns along "Mormon Row" -- first, the John Moulton barn...







...and the Thomas Alva Moulton barn...




...and one I call Little (Out)House On The Prairie. ;-)




One of the iconic views of the Tetons is from the Snake River Overlook, made famous from the photo by Ansel Adams. Ironically, this is a case where nature has trumped nature photography, as the trees on the slope below the overlook have grown since Adams captured his image sixty-eight years ago, now completely blocking the lower bend of the river. In not too many more years, they will have blocked any view of the river at all, but, for now, this is what remains.




Of course, that didn't stop me from trying my own version of the Adams image...




...but, given the circumstances, I found a more interesting use of the cloudy sky (and the reflection off the river) near sundown.




Here is Mount Moran (no jokes, please) and the waters of String Lake.




And more images of Moran, this time from Oxbow Bend, first before dawn...




...and at sunrise...











...as well as a final shot at sunset.




On my last morning of shooting, I returned to Schwabacher Landing, and this time did find something original -- the standard sunrise view, but with a lenticular cloud atop the Tetons. I've seen dozens of images from this location, but never one with a lenticular before -- and I might, for once, be the only one to have captured such an image, since, amazingly enough, there was not a single other photographer there that morning.




The story continues here.

[CC]

1. Beautiful

You can almost smell the fresh mountain breeze in them.



On the Moran thing. When I first saw the idiot with the sign photo I wondered why he would be picking on Thomas Moran. I had to pleasure of seeing so many of his painting when they were in DC so he was the first thing that came to my mind. I just couldn't see what a Bush supporter had against him. :rofl: Yes the painting are that memorable that just the word moran still brings them to mind first.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Omigod!

Of course the mountains have been photographed many, many times...

I have some too, alas, not digital.

Yours are wonderful! I especially love the one with the reflection off the river at sundown...whew.

Thank you!

I'm so glad I have fios!

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

3. Bravo!

:bounce: :toast:

[Celebration]

4. Good gosh

I've seen the Tetons but they never looked as good as this!! Congrats on these awesome shots.

[Mira]

5. To see Grand Tetons through the eye of your camera: That is a very special

gift.
Simply breathtaking, every one, and a special bonus with the spectacular cloud in the last one.
Your sunset is one to be very proud of.

I love the shots of the barns.

Do you have any of Lake Jenny?
I have a large stone from Lake Jenny on my porch, being there was a peak experience in my life. I went on an extensive hike there.

I'm so glad you did that, and shared it.

Thank you.

[regnaD kciN]

7. I did make it to Jenny Lake one afternoon...

...but it was overcast, windy, and started to rain while we were there. I grabbed a few shots to prove I'd been there ;-) , but I would scarcely call any of them a good photograph.

We were there five days, two mornings and one afternoon of which got rained out. I could easily have stayed there another week (although not at the prices for hotels in Jackson...) -- and come back again at the end of this month, when the autumn colors arrive.

[alfredo]

6. Beautiful work.

[JeffR]

8. alfredo's comment nailed it

This is beautiful work. Thanks for sharing these gems.

[Sheepshank]

9. just beautiful

absolutely gorgeous

[Mz Pip]

10. Spectacular!

I love the last one with the lenticular clouds. Beautiful.

[MissHoneychurch]

11. WOW

just WOW

:wow:

Wonderful pictures. Beautiful landscape. You make me wanna pack my stuff and go there too.

[superconnected]

12. So many are just breath-taking.

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Exquisite!

[Gamey]

14. Exellent! What camera do you use?

[regnaD kciN]

15. Sony A100...

But I'm not sure I'd recommend any Sony other than the full-frame A850 nowadays -- Sony has stripped out too many features in their entry-level DSLRs to be suitable for landscape photography.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. Lovely, regnaD,

as always. :thumbsup:

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. Gulp.

ok...you pushed my envy button.
It has been 40 years since I was in that area, the crisp clearness of it is remarkable.
And seems timeless.
You captured it all perfectly.