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Photography In The National Parks: Year-Round Photography In Yellowstone National Park

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Bison crossing the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park/Randy Bjerke

Cow bison and her calf crossing the Madison River in Yellowstone in spring/Randy Bjerke

In wildlife photography, there may be no greater thrill than photographing a grizzly leading her three cubs across a green meadow in Yellowstone National Park. Nor a more powerful sense of wonder than witnessing the birth of a bison calf in the remote Lamar Valley. Nor a more impressive wildlife scene than a magnificent bull elk guarding his harem of females along the scenic Madison River.

Randy and I have photographed all of these sights. Yet some people tell us they visited Yellowstone and never saw any big animals!

What is the secret for finding and photographing wildlife in Yellowstone? Time. Patience. Planning. Research. And a generous degree of luck. The very special scenes mentioned above are seasonal. You need to be there at the right time of year, and be in the right spot in this huge park, at the right time of day. Learn about the animals, their life cycles, and their habits in order to anticipate when and where they might be seen.

We have been photographing in Yellowstone for many years now. This is place of immense natural beauty, awesome scenery, abundant and amazing wildlife, unique and wondrous geothermal features. Native Americans believe Yellowstone is sacred ground. Each season offers special opportunities to observe wildlife.

Grizzly rolling in snow in Yellowstone/Jean Bjerke

Even grizzlies enjoy frolicking in the snow in Yellowstone/Jean Bjerke

During winter, four of the five entrances, and nearly all the interior roads, are closed to private vehicles. Travel is primarily by snowcoach or guided snowmobile from the West Entrance. You can also sign up for a workshop offered through the Yellowstone Association, or join a private photography tour. The peace, serenity, and beauty of the snow-covered landscape is wonderful backdrop for a visit and for photography. Winter is a great time to spot animals against the snow.

Wolves are elusive, and it is difficult to get close enough for a photo even with the best super telephoto lens. However, wolves are seen virtually every day somewhere in Yellowstone. Winter is good for seeing them more readily against the snow, especially in Lamar Valley where the road is open all year and there is good visibility across the broad valley. Spring in Lamar Valley has been good for us because wolves often cross the road going to and from their dens to feed their pups.

On a winter snowcoach trip, bison, elk, coyotes, foxes, and wintering trumpeter swans are the most frequently seen wildlife. The very lucky may see a wolf, bobcat, otter, ermine, or other wildlife. The extremely cold winter temperatures can provide dramatic views of ice-encrusted faces of animals, especially during a storm or near a river or thermal feature.

The roads and entrances open at intervals from mid-April to early May, and vehicles line up at the entrances on each opening day. Check the park website for road opening dates. By late February or March, male grizzlies start to emerge from their winter dens. In early April, bison calves begin to be born. As the winter snowpack begins to melt, big hungry male grizzlies are attracted to carcasses from winter kill.

Female grizzlies come out of hibernation with their cubs a little later than the males. Black bears with their cubs are also seen. By May to mid-June, you may spot black and grizzly bears with their cubs, wolves with their pups, bison and elk with their calves, pronghorn with their fawns, and bighorn sheep. In fall, highlights include the bison rut in August, the elk rut in September, and the bighorn sheep rut in October. There are myriad opportunities to photograph birds and smaller wildlife throughout the year.

Most animals can turn up anywhere in the park, but are more frequently sighted in certain areas at particular times of year, so inquire with rangers in the visitor centers about the best place to find them during your visit. Get up early and cruise the roads before dawn. You will likely be surprised how much more wildlife you see than in mid-day. Early evening is also a good time.

Many photographers capture some of their best images from their vehicles. Your vehicle serves as a kind of blind, because animals become accustomed to seeing cars on the roads, and often pay them little attention. If you open your door or get out of the car, they frequently run. So be prepared to photograph out your window. Use a big beanbag to steady a telephoto lens, for excellent results.

Great blue heron, Yellowstone National Park/Jean Bjerke

Look for Great blue herons along streams and rivers in Yellowstone/Jean Bjerke

Yellowstone is notorious for a certain number of visitors demonstrating ignorance, rudeness, stupidity, and dangerous behavior around wildlife. Please be safe and courteous. Stop your vehicle completely off the road so that you do not block traffic. Grizzly bears and all wildlife are dangerous. Mothers are extremely protective of their young. Do not approach or feed wild animals.

People are injured every year, and sometimes killed, when they get too close. Skip the selfie next to a bison, or trying to get your child into the picture. Use a long lens instead of trying to get close to big animals. It is especially important to avoid making an animal run from you or otherwise impacting its behavior and disrupting its natural activities. When on foot, stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from other animals. For bear safety, hike in groups of at least four, make noise, carry bear spray, and know how to use it. A bear that is a safe distance away can cover that distance with amazing speed.

As for equipment, a telephoto or zoom lens is very helpful for wildlife photography in Yellowstone. Use a tripod to steady your camera, or a beanbag if you are shooting from your vehicle.

While this column focuses on photographing Yellowstone’s legendary wildlife, the park also offers magnificent scenery, rugged mountains, broad high valleys, the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, lovely mountain meadows, gorgeous waterfalls, beautiful rivers and streams, and truly amazing geysers, hot pools, mud pots and other geothermal features.

Enjoy your Yellowstone photography!

Grizzly sow and cubs in Yellowstone/Randy Bjerke

We cruised the area where this grizzly sow and her cubs had been seen, multiple times a day for six days, before photographing her/Randy Bjerke

Jean Bjerke is a nature photographer who seeks to capture the beauty of mountains, wildlife and wild places in her images, and to inspire others to want to protect the Earth's plants, animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. She and her husband Randy launched their photography business in 2010 and sell prints, photo note cards, canvas wraps, and licensing rights to our nature images through Randy & Jean Bjerke Photography.

Comments

Swimming bison and grizzly making snow angels.  Wow!  Thanks for sharing those two very special shots.

(Of course, the others were mighty good, too.)

 


Good article!  Thanks very much.  Heading there mid-May.


Fabulous article and fabulous photos!  And thank you for your comments about keeping your distance from wild animals.  If someone gets hurt by one, it's usually because they have done something stupid and unthinking.  Then it's the animal that suffers, because it may have to be killed.  Please respect these beautiful creatures in their homes - remember, everyone, you are visiting!! 


Beautiful images.

 


Thank you, Lee! Those are two of our favorite images. As you know, the more time you spend, the luckier you get in encountering such opportunities.


Thank you June. Mid-May is a wonderful time to be in Yellowstone, probably our favorite time. Would be there that time this year, except for a planned trip to Yosemite. Have a great time!


Beautiful images of rare wildlife encounters, enhanced by a narrative that shares and teaches. Yes, time, patience, proximity and luck are essential ingredients for success. Still, I believe the greater pieces of your approach are based upon research, preparation and a deep respect and compassion for the creatures and landscapes YOU SEEK OUT. 


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