Picture Perfect Peaks

Even the most casual photographers can’t help but be inspired by this incredible national park. No matter where you turn, you’ll be met with stunning views of the Teton Range. While even cellphone photos will be beautiful, it’s well worth it to pack your big camera and dedicate some time to getting a great shot. As the light changes throughout the day, and the stars come out after dark, there’s endless opportunities to get great photos. Here’s three of our favorite Grand Teton photography spots to take the best pictures in the park, along with tips from our friends at Tamron.

Sunrise at Schwabacher Landing

Sunrise at Schwabacher Landing, Grand Teton National Park;  (Photo courtesy Sean Mcelhare)
F/8; ISO 400; 1/80 second

From the Schwabacher Landing parking lot, it’s a short walk to a stunning viewpoint where the park’s namesake peak, the Grand Teton, is reflected in a beaver-dammed channel of the Snake River on still mornings. Access the viewpoint off of Highway 191, approximately halfway between Jackson and Moran. Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to sunrise to give yourself time to set up on the banks of the river, or closer to the parking lot where the wooden fence adds an element of interest. Keep your eyes out for the beavers at work around their dam. They’re most active around dawn and dusk, so your sunrise mission might just turn into a wildlife photography session.

Tamron Tips:

Clean the front element of your lens when shooting into the rising sun. If there’s dirt or dust on your front element, you might end up with lens flare in your image.
Sunrise is usually a high contrast situation, so be sure to expose for the highlights to maintain detail.
To create a starburst effect with the rising sun, stop down your aperture to F/16 or F/22 and wait until the sun just crests the horizon.
A wide-angle zoom lens like the Tamron 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD or the new 28-300mm F/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD all-in-one zoom is a great choice for both sunrise and sunset.

Sunset at Oxbow Bend

Sunset at Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton National Park (Photo courtesy Andre Costantini)
F/4.8; ISO 400; 1/400 second

An excellent spot for either sunrise or sunset, Oxbow Bend features an iconic view of Mount Moran above a bend in the Snake River. If you visit on a still afternoon, you may catch glassy conditions on the river’s surface, creating the perfect conditions for a reflection. The popular photo spot is located at an overlook on Highway 191 between Jackson Lake Junction and Moran Junction. It’s a good idea to arrive early to ensure you get a good spot to set up. Allow yourself plenty of time to photograph the ever changing conditions. Even after the sun dips below the mountains, the colors will continue to evolve, especially if there’s clouds. Our suggestion? Be sure to stick around through “blue hour”. This time of day is the hour just before sunrise or just after sunset when a beautiful blue tint envelopes the landscape. It’s a great time to take photos.

Tamron Tips:

When shooting sunset, set your aperture to F/16 or F/22 to maximize your depth of field.
If you’re using a tripod, use the lowest ISO to maximize quality.
If your lens has VC image stabilization, be sure to turn it off when using a tripod.
If you’re hand-holding, set your ISO to the lowest value that allows a fast enough shutter speed to get a clear image.

Night Skies at Mormon Row

Night Skies at Mormon Row, Grand Teton National Park (Photo courtesy Andre Costantini)
F/2.8; ISO 3200; 30 seconds

While it’s tricky to catch the Milky Way rising over the Tetons due to timing, you can photograph another park icon with the Milky Way pretty much anytime the galactic core is visible: Mormon Row. A small community founded by Mormon settlers in the late 1890s, the still-standing historic barns have become a much loved park viewpoint. It’s easy to get to the barns, even in the middle of the night. Drive north on Highway 191 from Jackson (past Moose Junction) and take a right on Antelope Flats Road. You’ll reach the community in 1.5 miles. Depending on what time of year you visit, the Milky Way will be in a different position in relation to the barns. Be sure to bring a headlamp (preferably with a red light to avoid ruining your night vision) to safely walk around the barns and get yourself in the right spot to capture both the structure and the Milky Way. Remember, light painting is not allowed in Grand Teton, so use a longer exposure to ensure the barn is visible. Don’t forget you’re in grizzly country. Carry bear spray and avoid traveling alone.

Tamron Tips:

A fast aperture, ultra wide-angle lens like a Tamron 17-28mm F/2.8 for full-frame or 11-20mm F/2.8 for crop-sensor is best for night photography.
Settings will vary based on conditions, but you’ll likely want to shoot at F/2.8 at an ISO between 1600-6400 and a shutter speed between 10 and 30 seconds.
Be sure to have a stable tripod and shutter release or remote timer so you don’t shake your camera while taking a long exposure, and turn off your lens’ image stabilization.
You’ll likely need to manually focus as your auto-focus won’t be effective in the dark. Use the magnifier on your camera’s LCD screen to enlarge a bright star or planet, then move your focus ring back and forth until the point of light is sharp. Zoom in on your first few images to make sure the stars aren’t fuzzy.
You can use a piece of tape to secure the focus ring, so you don’t accidentally bump it out of focus.

These tips were sponsored by Tamron. Learn more and find your perfect camera lens at tamron-americas.com.

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