All of you know the feeling of trying to find out what something is called but having trouble with getting the information you need. It’s so satisfying when you finally learn what you wanted to know. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time doing this in my landscape photography. Recently, I had a breakthrough which I want to share with you. I also captured the scene as winter lingers late in the season. Check it out.
I’ve been chasing the location of several famous landscape photography locations for several years. As money permits, I go out and get my own versions of these famous landmarks for myself. I’ve had the chance to add another such location to my portfolio lately. In the process, I also learned a lesson about the area which I didn’t know before.
The Moulton Barn (also known as American’s Barn) has been one such location which I’ve been chasing down. I went to Grand Teton National Park more than once but couldn’t figure out where this highly photogenic barn was. Thanks to a photographer I follow on Instagram, I finally located this barn’s name with the geotags.
However, I had to wait for my chance to shoot this barn for myself.
I just got my chance to go back to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. So, I made a point of setting the famous Moulton Barn as top on my list to photograph. It was the entire reason for my trip as far as I was concerned. We made the trek and I set up for my shot.
I noticed that there was an abnormal amount of snow on the ground for May. In fact, there were areas still blocked from public access thanks to the remaining snow. I expect that those areas of the park are dangerous as winter lingers late. I arrived too early for the kind of landscape photography I wanted. Still, it was cloudy and I had decent light. I decided to try for it anyways to see what I would get.
I tried a couple different positions for the barn. However, I finally got a photo which I could run with. I also wanted to check out some other options such as the famous Schwabacher’s Landing. That location was blocked off. I made a note and plan to return at some point when the weather improves.
I took some time and found other locations to photograph. The landscape is still wide open and the mountains still had snow. There was still plenty of opportunities for me to get some landscape photographs for my portfolio. I intended to pursue them as long as I had good light.
On the way out, I saw this pasture of horses. I had a feeling to get a photo of them too. I don’t know why, but I had the feeling that THIS was the shot I had come to get. It didn’t make sense to me. I went there for the Moulton Barn and I had photos of the barn already. Still, I don’t ignore thoughts like this as, more often than not, I end up getting my best photos out of following through. So, I captured the horses against the Teton mountain range as a last-minute addition.
All in all, I think it was a very productive day out at Grand Teton National Park, don’t you?
