Yellowstone in Winter

[bnk1953]

Anyone have insights on photographing in Yellowstone National Park in the Winter?  We will be there for 1 week with 2 nights in Mammoth Hot Springs area and 4 nights at the Snow Lodge (Old Faithful Area). Planning on snowshoeing some areas.  Taking 4 batteries along for Nikon Z6II.  
~bruce.

[hmca]

Hi Bruce,

I have a friend who was there in February 2020. I passed your question on to her and here is her response:

"Hi Helen, First of all Yellowstone in the Winter is Fantastic. Absolutely amazing. It needs to be planned well. Clothes, Camera but also how to get around needs to be booked. Well in advance. If I went again I would hire a guide. I recommend staying longer if you can swing it. I’m not sure if this is much help. Need polarizer and wide angle lens for the Hot Springs. Long lens that you are used to. Plan what settings need to obtain specific situations!! I missed the fox in the snow because of wrong settings. I’d love to get Moose in snow.
Happy to answer any questions.."

She added that both hotels are renovated and lovely.

Let me know if you have any follow-up questions that you would like me to ask her.

[Sepiana]

Jan 16, 2022 21:20:58 GMT bnk1953 said:

Anyone have insights on photographing in Yellowstone National Park in the Winter?  We will be there for 1 week with 2 nights in Mammoth Hot Springs area and 4 nights at the Snow Lodge (Old Faithful Area).

Hi Bruce,

I have been to Yellowstone NP several times but not in winter. Here is some information you may find helpful. (It applies to visiting/photographing Yellowstone in all seasons not just in winter though.)

Plan Your Visit - Take Photographs - Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park Photography Guide - 138 Photo Spots

I stayed at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel; I highly recommend both of them.

[BuckSkin]

I know nothing about your camera but I would take at least eight batteries and probably more.

Take two chargers; one may decide to fail.

A CPL and a graduated ND filter will really help your photos; if there is enough light, stack them; ND closest to camera.

The handiest thing we ever put in our suitcases is one of those 99-cent extension cords; the kind that has a three-socket end; reason being, electrical outlets in motels/hotels tend to be hidden behind furniture and such, making it too easy to pack up and leave expensive chargers and the like; the cord will keep such things out in plain view, let alone the fact that it is so much easier to plug things in.

I have since found some really handy extension cords that have both normal outlets and USB ports, and we take them as well as the 99-cent one.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081ZSQQTH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[bnk1953]

Thanks for the responses - For Helens friend - did you snowshoe or did you find that one needs to cross-country ski to get to some of the areas (e.g. Upper Terrace at Mammoth, observation point over Old Faithful and the overlook at grand prismatic spring). We do have guides and they have been good about general things (clothing, etc) but when it comes to photography - I like to be able to have an overview of others before going in (being informed through as many eyes as possible). I do have my large plastic bags that my camera/lens fit into ready for going from the cold into the warmer air of lodges etc .
~bruce.

[hmca]

I will ask and let you know when I hear back from her, Bruce.

[Sepiana]

Jan 17, 2022 1:24:52 GMT bnk1953 said:

Thanks for the responses

You are most welcome! I'm not sure this will help with your trip to Yellowstone but . . .

I have hiked at Rocky Mountain NP and Mt Rainier NP with snow packed on the ground (and also with some slippery ice spots). If feasible, instead of snowshoes or cross-country skis, I favor outdoor gaiters and crampons. I have low-cut gaiters because I wear convertible water-resistant pants. Also, my all-weather hiking boots are waterproof (GORE-TEX).

I got mine at REI.

Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain Low Gaiters

Hillsound Trail Crampons

[bnk1953]

Thanks Sepiana. I'll be wearing my Snow-bibs so probably wouldn't need gators.. As far as footwear, a guide that I know for Yellowstone recommended these from LL Bean www.llbean.com/llb/shop/43355?page=stabilicers-lite&bc=&feat=ice%20cleats-SR0&csp=a&searchTerm=ice%20cleats&pos=1
Your suggestions are great. Those are some serious crampons. I would favor the walking also - but so many of the trails (especially around the geyser basins) seem to be for cross-country skiing and are groomed as such. Therefore they don't want people walking on those trails. I'm trying to get more info from my guide. Thanks again for the great suggestions!

[bnk1953]

Jan 17, 2022 1:24:29 GMT BuckSkin said:

I know nothing about your camera but I would take at least eight batteries and probably more.

Take two chargers; one may decide to fail.

A CPL and a graduated ND filter will really help your photos; if there is enough light, stack them; ND closest to camera.

The handiest thing we ever put in our suitcases is one of those 99-cent extension cords; the kind that has a three-socket end; reason being, electrical outlets in motels/hotels tend to be hidden behind furniture and such, making it too easy to pack up and leave expensive chargers and the like; the cord will keep such things out in plain view, let alone the fact that it is so much easier to plug things in.

I have since found some really handy extension cords that have both normal outlets and USB ports, and we take them as well as the 99-cent one.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081ZSQQTH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Great idea - It always seems hard to find those plugins and had never thought about your suggestion before.
BTW - I have a Nikon Z6II for main camera and Glacier Nat. Park in August - was going through 300 snaps a day and never drained a battery.  I do realize that the cold does take its toll on batteries - that's why i've got 4 and hope that I won't be disappointed.  Always keep the spares in pockets close to the body to keep them warm.  I'll let you know how it goes when we get  back.  Thanks again for the suggestion!

[hmca]

Jan 17, 2022 14:47:01 GMT bnk1953 said:

Great idea - It always seems hard to find those plugins and had never thought about your suggestion before.

Agree, BuckSkin.

From my friend Bruce in regard to snow shoes/cross-country skis....."I didn’t use either the photo workshop I was on, used the big buses. I didn’t make the hike to the observation point Old Faithful. Would have liked to photograph the Grand Prismatic spring. Sorry can’t help you. I’d ask the rental for the snow shoes!! Did u look into skidoo’s? Off road. ? All the best."

[BuckSkin]

The main thing that put the idea of an extension cord in my head was that once upon a time some of our friends left their phones and charger-cubes hidden behind some drapes in a motel room; I thought about it for half-a-second and came up with the idea that an extension cord would get those types of things out from behind hidden places and in full view.

[pontiac1940]

Bruce,
No comments about Yellowstone specifically. Also don't know your cold-weather shooting experience. As you likely know, keeping your feet, head and body warm is pretty simple as others have noted. Neck socks and/or balaclavas are great for head and neck when it is very cold. Being warm trumps fashion. 

Fingers and photography are another matter. If air temps are significantly below freezing, fingers can get cold when taking photos. Thin cotton gloves help (and allow you to take photos) but they don't keep fingers warm when shooting for long periods. My hands got quite cold a couple of weeks ago so I purchased some hand warmers and they are amazing. Just activate and tuck inside a glove for warmth. Mine are a different brand, but probably about the same. Although I have yet to field test them, I also bought a pair of flip-top mitts somewhat like this. These allow you to use bare fingers to shoot and then cover them up when needed...with a warmer packet inside. Some models come with a warmer packet pouch. You can buy much warmer ski gloves, but working the camera can be difficult. Electric gloves probably work well, but quite expensive and I am not sure how they work for adjusting a camera and shooting. 

Enjoy your trip! 

Clive

[Sepiana]

Jan 17, 2022 14:38:55 GMT bnk1953 said:

Thanks Sepiana. I'll be wearing my Snow-bibs so probably wouldn't need gators.. As far as footwear, a guide that I know for Yellowstone recommended these from LL Bean www.llbean.com/llb/shop/43355?page=stabilicers-lite&bc=&feat=ice%20cleats-SR0&csp=a&searchTerm=ice%20cleats&pos=1

Your suggestions are great. Those are some serious crampons. I would favor the walking also - but so many of the trails (especially around the geyser basins) seem to be for cross-country skiing and are groomed as such. Therefore they don't want people walking on those trails. I'm trying to get more info from my guide. Thanks again for the great suggestions!

Bruce, you are most welcome!

It just happens that I also have those ice cleats from LL Bean; they are a back-up if something happens to my crampons from REI.

Here is something else I carry on my snow-packed adventures -- trekking poles. I got these ones from LL Bean. They are worth every penny; I highly recommend them.

L.L.Bean Ridge Hiker Hiking Poles

[blackmutt]

Bryan Hansel is a photographer in Minnesota and he just did a newsletter post  about gloves and winter photography. Check it out

[bnk1953]

Yellowstone in Winter is so special - starting with no crowds. Dressing in layers against the cold is a must but the Nikon Z6 II was a trooper. Never went thru a battery and a half a day and probably could have even gone a full day with 1 without changing. Stabilzers are a must on the boardwalks. A photo of Canary Springs in the Mammoth Hot Springs area.