Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Arches

[SaltFork]

Hi everyone! My brother and I took a great trip a few weeks ago and I’d like to share the best of it with you.

It all started on May 17th when I drove from my home near Fort Worth, Texas, to my brother’s place in Springdale, Arkansas. From Arkansas we made our way to Driggs, Idaho, which we used as basecamp (base-condo, really) for the first part of our trip. Driggs is the centerpiece of Teton Valley - the quiet side of the Tetons - located about 35 miles from Jackson, Wyoming, and about 95 miles from West Yellowstone, Montana.

We shot all the standard stuff...

Moulton Barn
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155793371-L.jpg

Schwabacker's Landing
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155475959-L.jpg

Oxbow Bend
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155482070-L-1.jpg

I got this shot of my brother setting up for some bison...
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155489546-L-2.jpg

I even had time for a self portrait...
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155794876-L.jpg

We hit Yellowstone for a day with a desire for waterfalls and animals. I'm not sure why but neither of us cared to do Old Faithful or the thermal features of the park - been there done that, I guess. The bison were calving and the pronghorns had returned from their wintering grounds. Yellowstone is a wildlife photographers dream come true...

Bison
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155459347-L-1.jpg

Pronghorn - showing his best side?
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/157789025-L.jpg

The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone is always a favorite...
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155486471-L-1.jpg

... so is Tower Falls.
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155440328-L.jpg

For some reason the colors really POP when you are 1300 miles from home.
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/157775420-L.jpg

And did I mention BEARS...? I made this poster from my best Black Bear shot...
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/157909367-L-2.jpg

We wrapped up the Idaho / Wyoming / Montana portion of our trip with an evening of photography in Teton Valley.

Evening Barn
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155779933-L.jpg

Sunset on a Fencepost
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/157781791-L.jpg

West side of the Teton Range
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/155781915-L-1.jpg

Everyone knows about Jackson Hole in Wyoming but if you go across Teton Pass to Teton Valley, Idaho, you get another fantastic experience. Driggs, Idaho, is a quiet little town that is starting to become a real destination for skiers, fly fishermen, and backpackers. It's the gateway to the Jedediah Smith Wilderness and Grand Targhee Ski Resort.

From Idaho we headed south to Moab, Utah, for a couple of days of shooting in Arches National Park.

Balancing Rock at Sunset
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/157782537-L.jpg

Landscape Arch at Sunrise
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/156185175-L.jpg

Late evening in Arches is hard to beat...
http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/157782638-L.jpg


Our trip wrapped up with a marathon drive from Moab, Utah, to Springdale, Arkansas - 1150 miles in 19.5 hours - and I'd do it all again....

If you'd like to see more from the trip, click here (http://www.saltforkimages.com/Travel%20and%20Nature/325193).

Thanks for looking!

- James
www.SaltForkImages.com

[adpace]

Wow! Great photos! I really enjoyed following through your journey! Great job! :clap

[BeachBill]

Wow, that was quite a marathon!

Texas to Arkansas to Teton/Yellowstone to Arches and back to Arkansas. Makes me tired just thinking about it.

Very nice images. However I have to admit I have a sweet spot for Arches at sunrise (http://gallery.primarycolors.com/gallery/2825452/1/151302464/Medium), so this image is my favorite of your set.

http://www.saltforkimages.com/photos/156185175-L.jpg

[swintonphoto]

I love the leaning barn! I also think the 1st image could be a real winner as a monochrome - I don't think the colors are adding anything to the image. In black & white the tones would make the image much more interesting.

[quark]

Love the bear shot.

We Idaho people have a rule that we don't tell the outsiders about the good spots. (shhhhh) :)

[grimace]

WOW!! Beautiful work!!

[Bendr]

Some nice shots!
The skies were beautiful in the Moab area, weren't they?

Out of curiosity, when were you in Moab, we drove there on the 7th and were in arches all day on the 8th

[sarahcsu]

Wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing.

[carmel6942]

Great photos they really remind me of why I miss wyoming.

[digdon1]

Some great shots of your Yellowstone trip. Viewing them almost made me feel I was on the trip with you and your brother. Notice, I said, almost! Nothing like being there in person. Thanks for posting.

DD

:D

[MooreDriven]

Of all the shots, the leaning barn is my favorite. Probably because I was not expecting it with your collection. I'll be visiting Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and the Black Hills next month. Last year I visited Moab, Grand Canyon and all places in between. The biggest difference this year, I'll have my D50 and not a P&S.

Thanks for the photo's.

Dale