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Photography in Grand Teton

What does Grand Teton have to offer you after the violence of Yellowstone Park? We had two nights planned in Grand Teton and stayed with our camper at Signal Mountain Campground, a first come first serve campground. The first day we arrived early at signal mountain, because fcfs in Grand Tetom can fill up very quickly, which was also the case now. We parked the camper by a family that was busy clearing up the place before leaving and then found someone at the reception to confirm the site. In the end it all worked out. The campsite is ok, but a nightmare are the clouds of stinging mosquitoes.

Immediately after arrival we left for the Hidden Falls Trail on the west side of Jenny Lake; the beginning of the trail can be reached by boat (1.6 km) or on foot via the hiking trail around the lake (9 km). Parking at Jenny Lake is problematic. To avoid crowds, it is best to take this walk early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You climb up a fairly steep path, where you can cross the Cascade Creek over a bridge crosses the Cascade Creek. You can continue to Inspiration Point. From Inspiration Point you have a beautiful view over Jenny Lake. In terms of photography it is not very interesting but nice enough to go and see.

After the hike at Jenny Lake, we drove back to signal mountain, and went up to signal mountain overlook. From the top you have a nice overview of Jackson Lake and Jackson Hole, among others.

The next morning after breakfast we went straight to the mormon row, which is actually beyond the limits of                     Grand Teton National Park. The Mormons had traveled from dry Utah to the valley and                     settled there in neighboring farms. This contiguous row of farms                     is called the Mormon Row with famous farms such as the John Molton barn and the T.A. Molton barn.                     The other buildings are also worth seeing. Try to go here as early as possible,                     because of the beautiful light and the crowds that show up later in the day, while the buses with tourists                     arrive. It is not easy to take original photos here because the area is already photographed by many                     photographers. But it remains an extremely photogenic environment.

From the Mormon Row we drove to the Schwabacher Landing. The Schwabacher Landing used to be a landing place, it lies on a branch of the Snake River. This area is known for the beavers that divide the stream into segments by building dams. Within the segments, the water is practically still, creating beautiful reflections of the Treton Range. There are also several species of birds in this area. When I was there (June), the waterbirds were forming pairs. They were bonding by swimming synchronously. I could have stayed here for a whole day because of the landscapes, prairie dogs and the birds.

From Schwabacher Landing to Snake River Overlook. Here Ansel Adams made his iconic photo of this area. Making a comparable photo is no longer possible because an overlook of the snake river is not issable from this point because of the tall trees. I found it photographically hardly interesting. The Oxbow Bend, a kind of U-shaped curve in the snake river, is more photographically interesting. In this bend, under the right conditions, it is possible to take beautiful pictures of the snake river and the tetons  reflected in the snake river.

Other interesting sights with opportunities for the photographer are 'Chapel of the sacred heart 'a little chapel near signal mountain,' Menors ferry' a group of buildings where Bill Menor used to explore a ferry in the old days that brought people and cars across the snake river in the surroundings of Moose, 'Chapel of the transfiguration 'a church in the Moose area.