Workshops

This workshop is focused primarily on finding and photographing wildlife. The scenery can be incredible this time of year, but it can also be very stormy in early spring making the views of the mountains a bit challenging. This is the best time of year to see grizzly bears that have just emerged from hibernation with their new cubs. Wolves are very active as well. Bison, Moose and Elk are all giving birth at this time of year. Bears and wolves are constantly on the prowl for their opportunity at one of the new babies, so there are unbelievable photo opportunities! The valley floor is still waking up from winter and the leaves are just beginning to emerge on the Aspen and Cottonwood trees. The weather ranges from snowy and 20F to sunny and 70F.

Whether you are newer to photography or an experienced shooter, you will gain lots of new knowledge. In addition to learning photography techniques, tips and artistry, you will learn many aspects of Natural History of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

While animals are never guaranteed, this is by far the best and most consistent time of year for them. This workshop is geared more towards the advanced intermediate photographer and above who owns a zoom lens and a tripod. We will be doing lots of driving in search of wildlife and sometimes waiting and shooting a single bear or wolf pack for an hour or more. We will still hit all the scenic locations, but searching for and photographing bears, wolves, moose, bison and elk are our main goals.

Day 1-May 22, 2024:

Arrive in Jackson, Wyoming. We will establish our pick-up time and your hotel location before you arrive in Jackson. 

4pm:  A quick meeting for introductions and overview of what we will cover over the next 2 days.(location tbd or virtual meeting).

Day 2-May 23, 2024:
5am-10am: Sunrise and morning photography. Landscape, barns, wildlife.
11am-3pm: Break/Lunch. Download your photos from morning.
3pm-8pm:  Wildlife,  scenic, sunset photography

Day 3-May 24, 2024:

5am-10am: Sunrise and morning photography. Landscape, barns, wildlife.

11am-3pm: Break/Lunch. Download your photos from morning.

3pm-8pm:  Wildlife,  scenic, sunset photography

Oxbow Bend

Schwabacher’s Landing

Mormon Row

Snake River Overlook

And many more locations!!

How to get the right exposure

Composing a creative image

Depth of Field

Camera operations/functions

Camera equipment

Digital workflow, editing

Different types of photography: Scenic, wildlife, action, etc.

And lots more!

Camera-Digital SLR, mirrorless, or whatever you have! 

Sturdy tripod

Shutter release remote/cable

Lenses covering a range of about 17mm to 200mm(or larger if you have it—for wildlife)

Graduated neutral density filter for your landscape lens(Rectangular/not a screw-on filter)

LOTS of memory for your camera(at least 64GB)

Extra batteries/charger

Laptop (not necessary)

Backup external hard drive

Hiking boots, rain jacket, winter coat/pants, hat, gloves.(The weather can range from cold and snowy to warm and sunny this time of year, so be prepared for anything!)

Early summer in the Tetons is a special time of year. The bears have recently come out of hibernation and are very visible at this time. Very dramatic skies highlight the Tetons which are still covered in snow. The valley floor is clear and wildflowers are beautiful this time of the year. The animals are very active during this time and the photographic possibilities are endless.  The weather is typically great at this point in the summer with daytime temperatures in the 70's.

Whether you are new to photography or an experienced shooter, you will gain lots of new knowledge. In addition to learning photography techniques, tips and artistry, you will learn many aspects of Natural History of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

We will visit all the best scenic areas for photography and also try our best to find animals to photograph. Cody knows where to find the animals, so as long as they cooperate, you should see lots of them! (minimum of 2 participants and maximum of 4)

Day 1-June 19, 2024:

Arrive in Jackson, Wyoming. We will establish our pick-up time and your hotel location before you arrive in Jackson. 

4pm:  A quick meeting for introductions and overview of what we will cover over the next 2 days.(location tbd or possibly virtual meeting).   

Day 2-June 20, 2024: 

5am-10am: Sunrise and morning photography. Landscape, barns, wildlife. 11am-3pm: Break/Lunch. Download your photos from morning. 3pm-8pm:  Wildlife,  scenic, sunset photography

Day 3-June 21, 2024:

5am-10am: Sunrise and morning photography. Landscape, barns, wildlife.

11am-3pm: Break/Lunch. Download your photos from morning.

3pm-8pm:  Wildlife,  scenic, sunset photography

Oxbow Bend

Schwabacher’s Landing

Mormon Row

Snake River Overlook

And many more locations!!

How to get the right exposure

Composing a creative image

Depth of Field

Camera operations/functions

Camera equipment

Digital workflow, editing

Different types of photography: Scenic, wildlife, action, etc.

And lots more!

Camera-Digital SLR, mirrorless, or whatever you have! 

Sturdy tripod

Shutter release remote/cable

Lenses covering a range of about 17mm to 200mm(or larger if you have it—for wildlife)

Graduated neutral density filter for your landscape lens(Rectangular/not a screw-on filter)

LOTS of memory for your camera(at least 64GB)

Extra batteries/charger

Laptop with photo editing software loaded(Adobe Lightroom is recommended) 

Backup external hard drive

Hiking boots, rain jacket, winter coat/pants, hat, gloves.(The weather can range from cold and snowy to warm and sunny this time of year, so be prepared for anything!)

This is my favorite time of the year in Yellowstone! The photographic possibilities are endless. The animals are very active during this time and the scenery is beautiful! The bears are stocking up on the last berries that still cling to the Serviceberry and Hawthorne bushes. The elk are in rut, and the bulls are gathering their harems for breeding--which means lots of bugling and sparring bulls. The Great Gray Owl is also very active at this time. The skies are a crisp blue, the underbrush crimson and the Aspen and Cottonwood trees are bright yellow. We will visit every corner of the park during this workshop. If you've never been to Yellowstone at this time of year, you should come out this fall. It will be an incredible experience! Minimum of 2 total people required for the workshop to occur and 4 people maximum allowed in the workshop for a comfortable ride and more enjoyable experience. The workshop is 3 full days of photography.

Price is workshop only. Hotel, travel, food, etc. charges not included. 

Day 1-September 29, 2024:
5pm: Meet for introductions, an overview of what we will cover and a review of the locations we will visit over the next 3 days.(location tbd). Hotel in West Yellowstone, MT.

Day 2-September 30, 2024:
6:45am-11am: Sunrise and morning photography. Landscape, wildlife, geothermal features.
11am-12pm: Break/Lunch. We will spend the entire day in Yellowstone National Park with a break at a lodge/restaurant or picnic lunch.
12pm-7pm: Wildlife and sunset photography. Hotel in West Yellowstone, MT.

Day 3-October 1, 2024:
6:45am-11am: Sunrise and morning photography. Landscape, wildlife, geothermal features.
11am-12pm: Break/Lunch.  We will spend the entire day in Yellowstone National Park with a break at a lodge/restaurant or picnic lunch.
12pm-2pm: Classroom/Computer Editing/or continue shooting--group decision.
2pm-7pm: Action, wildlife, water, scenic, sunset photography. Hotel in West Yellowstone, MT.

Day 4-October 2, 2024:

6:45am-11am: Sunrise and morning photography. Landscape, wildlife, geothermal features. 

11am-12pm: Break/Lunch.   We will spend the entire day in Yellowstone National Park with a break at a lodge/restaurant or picnic lunch.

1pm-7pm: Wildlife, water, scenic, sunset photography. Hotel in West Yellowstone, MT.

Madison River(wildlife/scenics)

Geothermal features/Geyser Basins

Hayden Valley

Lamar Valley

Lower Falls/Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs
Dunraven Pass
Artist Paint Pots
And many more locations!!

How to get the right exposure Composing a creative image

Depth of Field

Camera operations/functions

Camera equipment

Digital workflow, editing

Different types of photography: Scenic, wildlife, action, etc.

And lots more!

Camera-Digital SLR, mirrorless, or whatever you have! 

Sturdy tripod

Shutter release remote/cable

Lenses covering a range of about 17mm to 200mm(or larger if you have it—for wildlife)

Graduated neutral density filter for your landscape lens(Rectangular/not a screw-on filter)

LOTS of memory for your camera(at least 64GB) Extra batteries/charger

Laptop with photo editing software loaded(Adobe Lightroom is recommended) Backup external hard drive

Hiking/Walking shoes, rain jacket, winter coat/pants, hat, gloves.(The weather can range from cold and snowy to warm and sunny this time of year, so be prepared for anything!)