Abandoned Barn at Gros Ventre, WY early autumn
Oct, 2018Views
3230
Likes
Awards
Contender in the Photography Awards
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 21
People's Choice in Your favorite shot Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Beauty In The Clouds Photo Contest
Featured
Peer Award
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
Genius
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 20 rank
Top 20 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Gros Ventre, WY. Gros Ventre is just East of Grand Tetons NP. The Teton mountain range is in the background of the photo.Time
The photo was taken in the early autumn season around mid-morning. I had been out in Gros Ventre since sunrise, taking photos of the bison herds and antelope that run free in this area. The early morning hours were overcast, with low hanging clouds across the Grand Tetons. But, around 9 am, the ground fog had lifted, and I could see the possibility of a broken sky. I positioned myself east of the barn, with the sun (if it ever broke through) over my left shoulder. I had to put up with a brief rain squall before the clouds broke up a little. Finally, around 10:30, there was an interesting triangular patch of blue sky, and the sun had penetrated just enough of the cloud cover to add a little filtered sunlight. And this was the shot that came from all that waiting.Lighting
As I said above, the sun was over my left shoulder, but was mostly obscured by light cumulous clouds.Equipment
Body was a Canon EOS 1D Mark II, lens Canon EF 24-70 f2.8 II with circular polarized filter, Gizmo tripod.Inspiration
I try to come up to the Grand Tetons NP and Yellowstone area every year during their color season - which is usually between the last week of September and the second week of October. I usually stay for 5 to 7 days, and I probably hike this general Gros Ventre area almost every morning that I'm in the area. Every year is different, with the snow covering, the extent of fall foliage and - of course - the weather. The morning shots of this barn, with the sun at your back and the cottonwoods and Teton mountain range in the background, always has the potential for an interesting shot. So, I'm out there every year, trying to get THE shot.Editing
The sunlight was very filtered by the cumulous clouds for this shot, so I had to work on raw format adjusting the shadows on the barn. I also had to adjust the contrast and value on the cumulous clouds.In my camera bag
When I go to the National Parks, I want to have equipment for both landscapes and animals. So, when I'm hiking out, I usually carry the Canon16-35 f2.8 ii, Canon 24-70 f2.8 ii, the Canon 100-400 f4.5/5.6 ii, Canon 70-200 f 2.8 iii. I also carry polarizing filters, neutral density filters and remote control. I also carry the Canon 200-400 f4 with built in 1.4 teleconverter, just in case some really long range animal action becomes available.Feedback
The beautiful thing about this area is the rapidly changing weather patterns. The lighting, cloud cover and weather is so fluid that it's possible to get a wide range of images from the same basic subject. For this shot with the Tetons in background, your best time is the morning hours. So, my advice is to get up and out before dawn, dress warmly and carry water to prepare yourself for up to 6 hours of shooting. If the lighting is right, you can still get great shots even in the late morning hours.
