p.1 #1 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
So I'm heading to Yellowstone for a few days and to Grand Teton for one day in the middle of those days in Yellowstone. We're going to celebrate our 20 years together and 14 years married, and we're turning it into a photography trip.
We want to enjoy "everything" but my primary goal of this trip is to capture a landscape image that I can successfully print at 9 feet by 6 feet to hang on an empty wall in my foyer.
I'm bringing the following:
- R6 Mark II + RF 200-800 + RF 1.4x (when needed) for distant wildlife
--- EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Mark II for closer wildlife
--- Leofoto carbon fiber monopod with Wimberley monogimbal head for the "rig" when using the 200-800
--- dual 256GB Extreme Pro cards in camera + dual 128GB Extreme Pro back up cards
--- two backup batteries
- R5 Mark I + my lovely EF 24-105mm f/4L IS Mark II that I've owned for about 8 years for landscape
--- Manfrotto tripod for landscape shots
--- bringing but I doubt I'll use RF 16mm f/2.8 in case I need to go wider than 24mm
--- Breakthrough Photography CPL for the 24-105
--- dual 256GB Extreme Pro cards in camera + dual 128GB Extreme Pro back up cards
--- backup battery
--- triple battery charger that will work from the rental SUV just in case
I have booked a private photography tour for Yellowstone landscape features out of West Yellowstone. I have also booked a private photography tour for Yellowstone wildlife out of Gardiner. I do NOT have a private tour in Grand Teton and that's actually where I hope to capture "the" image. I'm highly interested in Schwabacher Landing and Mormon Row at sunrise. I think either of those well composed would make for a great large print. Yes I know I can buy such an image online and print it, but all the prints in our home are of images either I or my wife have taken. And I want that trend to continue, so I'm going to great lengths to make it happen with this trip.
With all that in mind, do you have any recommendations, advice, tips that I should know? Not just about the locations i'm going to but about the gear I have and plan to use? Unfortunately I've already stretched myself thin with all the recent purchases and everything else related to this trip so I can't acquire any (more) gear just for this trip. I'd love to hear your input.
p.1 #2 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
I’ve been to Teton/Yellowstone many times, starting at age 6. You don’t need a photography tour or guides. Just your rental SUV, a little planning and a good map or phone app.
p.1 #3 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
That long lens will come in handy if you're in any of the wildlife viewing areas common in the Jackson Wy area as well as some areas of Yellowstone known for their bears, bison and elk. Perhaps even some longhorn or wolves if you're lucky. The 24-105L should do you nicely for the landscapes. I live a couple hours west of there and have been there many times. If you get to Jackson you can pick up maps that tell you the highlight areas to visit that are pretty common. Yellowstone's favorite wildlife area is on the east side however. Otherwise you'll take your R5 and 25-105 and get some great shots of the colorful hot spring areas. The easy walk around one is near Yellowstone Lake. Enjoy I know you will.
p.1 #4 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
When I went in 2022, the ef 100-400 lived on my body. I did switch to the 24-105 a lot for landscapes. If I'd had the 200-800 at the time I would have gotten a lot of use for it. Wildlife is fleeting so swit hing from the 200-800 an 70-200 might not be something you can do quickly enough. If you don't mind d the weight then bring it, otherwise maybe leave it behind.
I also brought a 14, 16 and 24mm prime. Used the 24mm a few times at night for astro landscapes, the other two I never really used. If I went back, it would be 24-105 and 200-800 and that's it.
p.1 #6 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
Hit Schwabacher first, then move towards Mormon Row. Might check out Blacktail Ponds Overlook on the way. Oxbow Bend is another one of the "classic" shots, but that view actually holds up pretty well into the later morning so you could make your way there afterwards.
p.1 #7 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
big country wrote:
Who is your wildlife tour with?
Both tours are with Yellowstone Safari Company.
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm definitely bringing the 24-105mm which I expect will be glued to the R5 and the 200-800 will be glued to the R6II. I will still bring the 70-200 in case my wife wants to do some mild telephoto. I also have a Sigma 150-600mm but she doesn't want that weight. The 16mm RF and the Sigma 24mm are coming as well.
p.1 #9 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
Interesting. I was thinking of the other combination because I thought the R6's faster and better autofocus would be beneficial when photographing wildlife. But I can interchange the cameras if you think that's a better way to go.
p.1 #12 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
I just got back from both parks a few months ago. I clicked on critters with the R5 + 500 f/4 + 1.4x TC (700mm) almost 100% of the time. When I needed to crop there was little room to crop heavy due to heat shimmer. There were several times I wish I had my 100-500 zoom mounted because I had too much reach and no time to change out.
If you need to crop even further shooting any critters at 1120 mm, then perhaps you shouldn't bother clicking on them to begin with as atmospherics will already be hitting you pretty hard. Although sometimes you can get lucky depending one wind currents. Cropping in simply magnifies the mush. In those encounters I suggest putting the camera down and simply enjoy the experience with your wife.
Oh and don't forget a couple pair of good binoculars. I almost left my monster pair at home thinking I would just use my camera & lens while my wife used her binoculars. We used them constantly as we were driving around. Much easier then a camera/lens.
p.1 #13 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
AmbientMike wrote:
I'd want wider than 24mm for Wyoming. If youre happy using 16 or maybe rent 14-35, 16-35/4 + adapter, or something
Oh wow. A little short on time and money at this point to invest on another lens. I have the RF 16mm f/2.8 and a manual Rokinon 14mm f/2.8. Which do you think is a better choice? I think the Rokinon might be too old for the resolving power of the R5
---------------------------------------------
lighthound wrote:
I just got back from both parks a few months ago. I clicked on critters with the R5 + 500 f/4 + 1.4x TC (700mm) almost 100% of the time. When I needed to crop there was little room to crop heavy due to heat shimmer. There were several times I wish I had my 100-500 zoom mounted because I had too much reach and no time to change out.
If you need to crop even further shooting any critters at 1120 mm, then perhaps you shouldn't bother clicking on them to begin with as atmospherics will already be hitting you pretty hard. Although sometimes you can get lucky depending one wind currents. Cropping in simply magnifies the mush. In those encounters I suggest putting the camera down and simply enjoy the experience with your wife.
Oh and don't forget a couple pair of good binoculars. I almost left my monster pair at home thinking I would just use my camera & lens while my wife used her binoculars. We used them constantly as we were driving around. Much easier then a camera/lens.
So I was so worried about whether I could go as far as possible that I didn't stop to think if I should. I've successfully used the 1,120mm at the Zoo here in Miami with no heat shimmer that I've noticed. But then again it was pushing the MFD of the lens combo as I'm trying to go for "the eye of the tiger" in how close I'm shooting them. Sounds like I can bring but I probably won't use the RF 1.4x TC? Just go bare 200-800? I'll also have the EF 700-200 mounted on the R6II for quick alternating if wider than 200mm is needed.
p.1 #14 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
Ok I looked into it and I'm convinced. I placed my first ever rental order with LensRentals for a Canon RF 10-20mm f/4L IS STM. I didn't even know 10mm was a thing for non-fisheye.
p.1 #15 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
lighthound wrote:
If you need to crop even further shooting any critters at 1120 mm, then perhaps you shouldn't bother clicking on them to begin with as atmospherics will already be hitting you pretty hard. Although sometimes you can get lucky depending one wind currents. Cropping in simply magnifies the mush. In those encounters I suggest putting the camera down and simply enjoy the experience with your wife.
That’s a hard truth about using longer and longer lenses that not everyone understands. :-)
p.1 #16 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
Max_Pain wrote:
Ok I looked into it and I'm convinced. I placed my first ever rental order with LensRentals for a Canon RF 10-20mm f/4L IS STM. I didn't even know 10mm was a thing for non-fisheye.
I'll bet you end up enjoying that lens more than you might anticipate. I bought one last year after having the EF 11-24 for a while. Of course the RF needs software correction (LR, C1 and probably others have this built-in). The perspective and creativity you can accomplish with the lens are delightful.
I'd suggest that you use it for more than "the big picture". Try getting really close to an interesting subject and using 10mm to bring the background into the image. The lens' MFD is pretty fun.
p.1 #17 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
Max_Pain wrote:
Thank you!
So I was so worried about whether I could go as far as possible that I didn't stop to think if I should. I've successfully used the 1,120mm at the Zoo here in Miami with no heat shimmer that I've noticed. But then again it was pushing the MFD of the lens combo as I'm trying to go for "the eye of the tiger" in how close I'm shooting them. Sounds like I can bring but I probably won't use the RF 1.4x TC? Just go bare 200-800? I'll also have the EF 700-200 mounted on the R6II for quick alternating if wider than 200mm is needed. ...Show more →
I'm not saying you shouldn't use your 1.4x, in fact you should use it when needed so long as you can fill or nearly fill the frame with your subject and composition.
What I was suggesting was in cases where your subject is so far away that you'll have to crop heavily to try to make anything out of the image, THEN it's not worth it. Well, other than documentary/memory shots.
Case in point.
Here's a shot I took in Yellowstone. I knew it was way beyond my 700mm reach to get a decent image, but I desperately wanted a few images of the mountain goats so I snapped away. Even at 700 mm I had to crop (R5 45mp) as much as I dared to at least get an "animalscape" type image. As soon as I tried to crop further they just fall apart from the atmospherics.
As you can see, it's not the greatest shot but it works for me as a documentary. So absolutely take and use your TC when needed, so long as you wont need to crop much if at all. It also helps to take a few small burst to help ensure you get at least one clean shot on those distant critters.
p.1 #18 · Heading to Yellowstone and Grand Teton - any advice?
Good move and at some point you will end up buying it. I used mine for the first time in Yosemite earlier this year, and it really comes into its own in these vast natural expanses. I have now sold my 14-35, great lens but the extra 10mm to 14mm range is preferable. Just remember to put the lens cap on always as there is no room for a filter and no additional lens hood to protect the large frontal glass. Compared to the EF 11-24 that I had owned some years ago, the progress is remarkable. So much lighter and more compact, and inclusive of IS, this lens alone makes RF worthwhile.
autofocus would be beneficial when photographing wildlife. But I can interchange the cameras if you think that's a better way to go. 