Upcoming Trip To Yellowstone, Grand Tetons

Wow how cool is that? Nice work.

Lots of choices. IMHO the 17-55 is ovepriced and the BQ is not worth $1000. I'd look at the 17-40L or the Tamron 17-50 2.8. Also, I feel the Canon 10-22 is way overpriced at $710, so I would defer to the Tokina 11-16 2.8 or the Sigma 10-20. For telephoto, you gotta go Canon - that's their stong point. The 70-200 F4 IS with Canon 1.4x is nice, but if reach is your goal just get the 100-400 or 300 F4 IS with 1.4x II.

If you can get to Glacier, it will definitely be worth your time. We went on a family trip several times and it was always a wonder. Back then, we had nothing but a point and shoot film camera and it didn't do justice to anything we saw. I still regret not having a long telephoto and an SLR on those trips. The wildlife was amazing. Buffalo, grizzlies, elk, moose, coyotes... we saw it all.

Of course, Yellowstone is not to be missed. A lot of things at Yellowstone are just off the main roads and require minimal walking to see.

I am sure you will want a telephoto lens but, as others have suggested, renting is probably the best option. Enjoy your trip!

I have thought a bit about third party lenses. From my web crawling over the time I have been shooting, it seems like the IQ of many of the 3rd party choices can equal Canon's offerings, and the pricing is almost always better. But I have really liked having IS on my 17-85, and would not immediately decide to give that up, even on a lens that would only go out to 55mm. Additionally, the other 2 knocks I have seen people talk about regarding 3rd party lenses are the quality control can be somewhat lacking, making it noticably harder to find a good copy of a particular lens, and over time with new bodies and new lenses coming out, sometimes a lens will stop working without being 're-chipped'. The second item is likely not of big concern, since I would imagine I might have turned over my equipment before that becomes a big issue. But given that I don't live near a reasonable outlet to buy lenses locally without paying a premium (as an example, the only local camera shop that even carries the Canon 10-22 has it for yet another $106 more than B&H), the thought of increasing the chance of getting a bad copy is not appealing.

All that having been said, however, I will seriously think about a few of the choices mentioned, and see what I think.

As always, thanks again for the input.

ML

Glacier is still in the trade space. With only about 12 days, I don't want to try to cover so much ground that there isn't any quality time to scout and to enjoy other activities besides just photo shooting (my wife not really being a hard core photo enthusiast). But I have had at least 2 other people echo your sentiment that Glacier is not to be missed.

We just sat down last night for the first looks at some maps. Next time we do, I'll make sure and try to do some serious study of what would be involved with including Glacier in our plans.

Thanks again ;-)

ML

mikeyL said:

Glacier is still in the trade space. With only about 12 days, I don't
want to try to cover so much ground that there isn't any quality time
to scout and to enjoy other activities besides just photo shooting
(my wife not really being a hard core photo enthusiast). But I have
had at least 2 other people echo your sentiment that Glacier is not
to be missed.

Click to expand...

Is that 12 full days at the parks or 12 days total for the trip? Because if that's 12 days available for the parks, there is no question you should go to Glacier. As mentioned before, it's only 5 1/2 beautiful hours from Yelowstone and how often will you be back up in that area? It's not really a place that is on the way to anywhere. And coming from my girlfriend and I, Glacier is the scenery king. Has to be seen to be believed. Colorado is home to some beautiful mountains, but my best friend who lives in Boulder always meets us in Glacier. It's his favorite.

Check it out:

http://www.parkcamper.com/Glacier-National-Park/Glacier-National-Park.htm

Unfortunately, it's 12 days total for the trip. But man, you are really making me realize we have to try to fit it in somehow. And I have not even talked to my friend who went to college in Missoula - I KNOW she will second your vote ;-)

I guess we just have to try to find a way to get there!

ML

Hi Mike,
thanks, i did bring the CPL, but didnt get to use it,
found the color was good enough without it,
so didnt bother changing filters.

make sure you have at least one lens wide enough on your camera
and you'll love it there.

mikeyL said:

Billy1980,

VERY nice, I would love to have taken some of those! The color is
excellent, I am assuming you used a polarizer?

ML

Click to expand...

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/billygong/

12 days driving from Denver? That's not too bad at all. About 8 hours.

In one day you get up to Teton, spend three days(or two depending on how you view the park. (It's amazing). Then spend the next three in Yellowstone. Then up to Glacier (5 hour drive from Big Timber to ), spend 3 days, than back to to Yellowstone for a day and then home.

The beauty of it is you get to see a lot of territory and decide what your favorite spots are for future visits.

Bookmark!
--
Eugene

The only time a smaller sensor with the same pixel count is superior to a larger sensor (aka higher pixel density) is when you are focal-length limited.

Lee Jay

I talked to my wife, and that is exactly what our new plan is.We were going to take more time getting up to Teton/Yellowstone, but now we'll just hoof it up there the first day. She was very excited about the idea, when I started telling her how many folks were saying how great Glacier is. I'm psyched now - 3 new national Parks in one trip!

ML

William,

had a chance to go visit your site, interesting info about the wave (VERY unique area!). I must also say though that your photos from many of the national parks and other amazing areas are just absolutely breathtaking! I just lost 30 minutes cruising through them. A fantastic blend of exposure, lighting, and composition. Whew!

I also am going off to Amazon now (after I catch my breath ;-D ) and order that book you recommended.

Thanks alot for the input and also for the visual inspiration!

ML

If you are still looking for some interesting locations to see or photograph, here are some notoriously known and often photographed places in Grand Teton:

Schwabacher Landing
http://elsners.org/gal/travel/#id=album-6&num=75

Oxbow Bend
http://elsners.org/gal/portfolio/#id=album-26&num=12

Snake River Overlook
http://elsners.org/gal/travel/#id=album-6&num=68

Mormon Row
http://elsners.org/gal/portfolio/#id=album-26&num=10

You will hardly make any original pictures there, but these places are nice to visit.

In Yellowstone don't miss the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the Yellowstone Falls. Both parks are very beautiful and you will find many photographic opportunities. I would plan at least 5 days to spend in these parks. If you have few extra days, Glacier is also very nice and not far away.

MirekE said:

If you are still looking for some interesting locations to see or
photograph, here are some notoriously known and often photographed
places in Grand Teton:

Click to expand...

Mirek's photos are great examples of the fall views in Teton, although the Oxbow Bend, which is only about one-third of the whole great view, is an example of where a UWA would have helped
--
TomP

I agree with Montana here....Denver to Tetons is an easy drive and you have plenty of time for Glacier. You really don't want to miss it..Montana's timeline makes perfect sense and still gives you time in each location. Your only decision is whether you want to see Utah, as you first said, or Glacier. You can not lose with either choice....Utah has become my favorite scenic state, but I would never tell someone to skip Glacier....it is spectacular. It's a fun choice to have.

Montana500 said:

12 days driving from Denver? That's not too bad at all. About 8 hours.

In one day you get up to Teton, spend three days(or two depending on
how you view the park. (It's amazing). Then spend the next three in
Yellowstone. Then up to Glacier (5 hour drive from Big Timber to ),
spend 3 days, than back to to Yellowstone for a day and then home.

The beauty of it is you get to see a lot of territory and decide what
your favorite spots are for future visits.

Click to expand...

--
steve
Please visit my galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/spatterson

Thanks for all the continued great advice. I think we have now settled on a trip that does Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier. As previously stated, Utah is also fantastic, but we have at least been to Arches and Canyonlands previously (although it was prior to when I 'rediscovered' my photography hobby ;-( ), but would be seeing Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier for the first time.

I am not sure what to expect so early in the summer with the weather (I guess it it likely to be plenty brisk in the evenings). But likely the biggest unknown variable at this point will be to see how my wife's foot heals up between now and when we leave. I am hoping we can do at least a little light hiking to get off of the roads a little, which I am assuming might beat the crowds a little bit and also provide some other obvious photo opportunities. Has anyone gone during the June time frame? What are the crowds going to be like?

ML

mikeyL said:

Thanks for all the continued great advice. I think we have now
settled on a trip that does Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier.
As previously stated, Utah is also fantastic, but we have at least
been to Arches and Canyonlands previously (although it was prior to
when I 'rediscovered' my photography hobby ;-( ), but would be
seeing Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier for the first time.

I am not sure what to expect so early in the summer with the weather
(I guess it it likely to be plenty brisk in the evenings). But likely
the biggest unknown variable at this point will be to see how my
wife's foot heals up between now and when we leave. I am hoping we
can do at least a little light hiking to get off of the roads a
little, which I am assuming might beat the crowds a little bit and
also provide some other obvious photo opportunities. Has anyone gone
during the June time frame? What are the crowds going to be like?

ML

Click to expand...

--

For the first part of June crowds and traffic will be fairly light, but your main concern will be weather, be prepared for anything from snow to 70 degree weather. Early June can still be a little unpredictable weather wise.

That said if you happen to encounter a fresh snowfall it will make for some fantastic Photo oppurtunities.

Janal

I wouldn't make that trip without my 10-22 on my 40D. Huge landscape shots are all over as well as interesting stuff you can do with that lens near geysers, etc. Then just rent a 100-400...

Be ready for anything..
--

This wolf was about 10 feet away and the bear was about 15 feet off the road when I first saw him. The moose was about 25 yards away.







This little guy was about twent yards away.



Rod

Wow, nice captures! The wolf is really something. And I am pretty sure I don't WANT to be that close to a bear ;-)

What lenses were you shooting with?

ML

If money is no longer an issue I would still keep the 17-85mm IS (as you appear to be as happy with it as I am) and get the 100-400mm L IS as telephoto companion for it! As good and praised as these 70-200mm lenses are here on the forum - 200mm is still too short for many wildlife photos.

For landscape shots you wont need the f2.8 as the shallow depth of field is undesirable there anyway.

For the distortion and colour fringning at the wide end - another frequent critque of the 17-85mm IS - your new 10-22mm you plan to buy will solve this.
--
Chris