United States National Park Photography Tips
This is a simple guide to a few of our U.S. National Parks, which include travel information, and tips on how and when to photograph these spectacular places. Please note that the following information is based upon my personal photographic experiences as a professional photographer. Your experience may differ from mine. However, I hope this information assists you in how to take better, more inspiring nature, landscape, and wildlife pictures.


Arches National Park, Utah

Park Location/Overview:
Located just 235 miles from Salt Lake City, Arches is set in the southeastern region of Utah, and is the eastern gateway to red rock country. The famous sites of Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock and the Windows reside within this park. Accommodations are only 5 miles from the park entrance in the town of Moab. There you can stock up on food, and other items required to make your trip a pleasant one. Upon arriving at the park entrance, see the visitor center to get updated on weather and current park conditions.

Must See Photo Spots:
If you are planning on visiting this park, there are a few 'must see' places. The first is Delicate Arch. It is a freestanding arch at the top of a slick-rock bowl. It is a short 1-mile hike, but has a large elevation gain. You do not see the arch until you reach the top. The most famous place to photograph is from where you see the arch for the first time. Here you look down on it with the valley below (like most postcards you have seen). The best time to photograph this wonder is at sunset, regardless of what others say. The view is eastward, and with the setting sun in the west, it turns the rock a deep orange.

Other places to visit include:
Balanced Rock, which is right along side the road, with no hiking required. It provides good photography at either sunrise or sunset, depending on which side of the rock you are taking the picture from. The Windows is another 'must see' visit. They are a series of arches located just passed balanced rock, along a very short trail. Here there are multiple views, and a creative mind can produce great pictures. The best time to photograph is either late or early in the day. I have had good success in the middle of the day, if the sky is just right, just be sure to bring along your polarizer. The final 'must see' place is the Fiery Furnace. This place glows red at sunset and is an awesome sight, one not to miss. Even if you don't have a camera, just watch and enjoy!

Best Time to Visit:
In my opinion, the best time to visit Arches is between the months of December and February. Although this is during the grasps of winter, the air is cold which means there is virtually no one there. You can enjoy the park at your pace, without the hassle of the heat and the crowds.

Photo Tips:
Bring plenty of film, ISO 100 or slower to insure sharp rich images. The best time of day to photograph is in early morning, prior to and through the sunrise hours, and in the evening through sunset. A polarizing filter is a must in this region. It saturates the red rock colors and intensifies the deep blue sky. Other very helpful filters include the 81A Warming Filter (especially at sunrise and sunset). The best film for this area is Kodak Ektachrome 100 VS which enhances the Red Rock colors.
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Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Park Location/Overview:
Located in the southern heart of Utah's red rock country, Bryce Canyon is truly a wonder of the world. Located near 9000 feet above sea level, it is the final step in the Grand Staircase of the Colorado Plateau. It is sure to impress anyone who visits. Only 250 miles from Salt Lake City, it offers accommodations just outside the park boundaries and one lodge within. It needs to be stated that it is located at a high elevation, and therefore experiences extreme weather conditions. Summer comes later in the year and winter lasts well into April. Upon arrival check the Visitors Center to become aquatinted with park rules and current weather conditions.

Must See Photo Spots:
Some of the best places to photograph in this park are actually at the designated 'tourist' spots. These include Sunset Point, Sunrise Point, Bryce Overlook, and Inspiration Point. These places are truly breathtaking. The problem is everyone walks home with the same photo. For a successful photo shoot, be creative, get down in the canyons and find the details of the park. I have found that the biggest problem with most photographs is that people try to capture too much in one picture, and at Bryce it is very easy to do. Be creative and have fun.

Best Time to Visit:
In my opinion the best time to visit the park is in late April to early May. Although there are quite a few people in the park, the weather is nice and all accommodations are open and running. If you plan on visiting during winter months be prepared to brave subzero temperatures.

Photo Tips:
Photographic opportunities are endless in this park, but quality shooting time is often limited to the sunrise and sunset hours. Since Bryce Canyon faces northeast, the best time to photograph is at sunrise. This means that you will be shooting into the sun, which requires a little different technique. However, later morning hours should be spent down in the canyon itself where the rocks are still glowing orange in the morning light. Like all Utah desert locations, there are a few filters that are a must. The first is a Polarizer filter, this enhances the color saturation of the rocks and helps tame the sky. Next is the 81A warming filter, which is used to offset the potential blue cast from the big blue sky. Finally a neutral density filter is a must, especially here, where the best photography takes place at sunrise. Before you come here to photograph, be sure you understand the concepts of exposure and the exposure settings on your camera. If you plan on shooting slides, the best film for the area is Fuji Velvia. If you are shooting print film, I have found that Fuji Reala works great.
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Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Park Location/Overview:
Canyonlands National Park is located just north of Moab, Utah and Arches National Park. This park is located about 2-1/2 hours from Salt Lake City, Utah. You approach the park by Driving highway 313, which is a two-lane road through terrain that looks very bland and uneventful. Little do you know you are driving atop the Colorado Plateau and a few feet from this sagebrush desert lies a red rock geological wonderland. Canyonlands is a large park, with most of it lying hidden from roads. The park is divided into two parts; one to the north called "Island in the Sky", and the south called "the Needles." Each end is not accessible to the other via roads, and each has a separate entrance. This park can be very hard on the body, depending what time of year you visit. The summers are brutally hot and dry and the winters cold. Check in at the visitor center to become familiar with park regulations and weather forecasts.

Must See Photo Spots:
Some of the must see items accessible from roads is Mesa Arch, located in the north portion of the park. This is a great sunrise shot, but over photographed. If you plan on shooting this arch be to your spot early, or you may have to wait in line. Another must see is the Green River Overlook, which makes a great sunset shot as the red sun sinks into the canyons below. Don't be afraid to get out there and do some exploring in the daytime.

Photo Tips:
Photography is unlimited if you are willing to walk a dozen miles a day, or have an adventurous drive. Canyonlands is a park full of canyons upon canyons of red rock formations. The best time for photography is in the mornings and evenings. Most often you will find yourself shooting front-lit subjects. This means you are shooting into the sun. This can add great drama and depth to the surrounding environment, but requires some technical abilities to make your images perfect. If you plan to get off the beaten path don't forget your headlamp, as you will often be hiking to and from your subjects in the dark. It is essential to have a polarizer and graduated neutral density filter. The best film for landscape work in this area is Kodak Ektachrome 100VS, or Fuji Velvia. One bit of advice in photographing such a vast park, try not to capture EVERYTHING in your image. That is the biggest problem with landscape photography is people feel they need to capture everything in one image. Try focusing on one area of the grand landscape, and try to capture that.

Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit the park in my opinion is in the winter when it is bitter cold. Nobody is there, leaving the park to you. In the cold you do not need to worry about damaging film, fighting crowds, and getting cooked in the sweltering heat. Either season you choose, you need to prepare your gear accordingly.
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Denali National Park, Alaska

Park Location/Overview:
The king of the American national parks. Located about 240 miles from Anchorage, or 120 miles from Fairbanks, which is pretty close by Alaska standards. Many people make this a once in a lifetime adventure, to visit the last frontier, see a bear, or even catch a glimpse of the tallest mountain in North American, let alone the largest mountain in the world. Many people think they can drive through Denali like any other national park. This is simply not true! If you want to get into the park you must purchase a ticket and take an old shuttle bus. If riding in an old 1970's school bus on an 80-mile dirt road is for you then Denali is great. I have been in these shuttles and their primitive nature go unnoticed next to the absolutely vast landscape before your eyes. Thank goodness they outlawed private vehicles when they did. By doing so, they have been able to preserve the wild nature of the land and the wildlife that call it home. This park is HUGE, and it is impossible to see it all. With only a single dirt road in and out, you see only a speck of what the park offers. I have spent quite a bit of time in Denali and have not even scratched the surface. This is truly a wild land, if you don't believe me just take a short walk while deep in the park. There are no trails in Denali, you walk where you please, just like the wildlife there. After all you are just another part of the wildlife in this vast wilderness. Before you venture into the wild of Denali or any other WILD land, be educated on wildlife, survival tactics, and what to do in case of an emergency, because in Denali nobody will come looking for you. Keep in mind that wild country means there is no such thing as Search and Rescue. It is you, and you alone. If you get lost, nobody will come to look for you, so be prepared!
This park offers so much for every type of photographer. If you are there for wildlife you can photograph it. If you are there for Landscapes, it is there as well. Remember that Denali is not a zoo. If you go into the park, you may or may not see any animals. They are still wild, and if you see an animal count yourself lucky, if you do not, enjoy the scenery.

Must See Photo Spots:
Some of the must see places is of course Wonder Lake. If you buy a ticket for the shuttle bus, get it all the way to Kantishna that takes you into the park as far as you can go. Wonder lake is near Kantishna, but if you buy a ticket to wonder lake you get dropped off on the south end of the lake with no hopes of getting Mt. McKinley reflecting in the water, for the mountain is to the south. You must photograph from the north end of the lake. Mt. McKinley only comes out of the clouds on very rare occasions. Don't expect it to be there, because you are there, more than likely it will not.

Best Time to Visit:
If you are planning a trip to Denali the best time is in the autumn, which is in mid-to-late August. You will find this is the most crowded time as well. The spring is nice but snow stays on the tundra generally into late May or early June. The grizzly bears generally do not come out of the den until May.

Photo Tips:
Alaska lives in my veins and I can never be there enough. This place is truly the last wild frontier, where man and nature can be in perfect balance. I have spent many days high on primitive mountains with Dall sheep, on the tundra with the grizzly bears, and roaming the landscapes with the wolf. I've seen the vicious, yet beautiful cycles mother nature plays on the land and her children. Denali is not the place to learn photography. If you plan on investing your time and resources on an Alaskan Adventure, be sure you photography skills are sharp. Often times in this park you must photograph in tough conditions, either with wild animals, swarming mosquitoes, or changing weather. So once again BE PREPARED for ANYTHING! There is no way to pin down which photography equipment to take, and what to leave home. As far as film, you will need various kinds, for various situations. Like I stated earlier, your photography skills should be sharp. This is not the place to experiment with film or new equipment.
Denali is a wonderful place, once you are out in the wild. If you go, enjoy the presence of nature! Be safe, be prepared, and happy shooting!

**It is possible to obtain a permit to drive your personal vehicle if you are a professional wildlife/nature photographer. You must apply about a year in advance and prove with financial statements, publication references, and multiple examples of your work in published media in order to apply. Even when you apply and pay your $300 fee, you are not guaranteed a permit. Only a few are allowed in the park at a given time. Your application is put in a pot with other professionals requesting the same dates as you, and only a certain amount are drawn. If yours is not picked you are out of luck, and out of your application fee. If you apply during a busy time like in the fall, you have a better change winning the lottery than getting a permit. Remember you are competing against professionals. If you are not a professional, don't even try.**
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Glacier/Waterton International Peace Park, Montana & Alberta

Park Location/Overview:
This international peace park between the United States and Canada is located on the US/Canadian border in northwestern Montana. You can expect to spend a few hours in your car no matter what major city you are journeying from. This is a high elevation park located in the heart of the Rocky Mountain Range. Expect ever-changing weather and sometimes harsh conditions. There are multiple accommodations within the park, which means you can stay for days and never leave the area. Upon arrival to any park, see the Visitors Center to inform yourself on rules, regulations and current conditions. Glacier is a huge park! With only one road meandering through it, you are sure NOT to see everything this park has to offer. The best way to explore this area is by foot. There are multiple trails and back country camping sites, and if you don't mind living out of a tent, this is the way to go.

Must See Photo Spots:
If I was to layout the best places to photograph in this park, I would say the best place to photography wildlife is Logan Pass. It is usually the best place to find Big Horn Sheep or Rocky Mountain Goats, plus it is just off the road. Hike the Garden Wall trail in the morning and you are sure to see an animal out and about. Bears are usually found deeper in the forest, accessible only by backpacking. Ask a Ranger for tips on locating bears. One place that is beautiful is Avalanche Creek, located just above Lake McDonald. This creek contains deep blue water with brilliant green foliage surrounding it. Don't miss this! Another must see is a sunrise on St. Mary Lake with wild goose island in the foreground. Be sure to scout out your location prior to arriving in the morning. Arrive early, for you may be competing for a place. On the Canadian side be sure to catch a sunrise at Bowman Lake. This offers still waters and alpenglow peaks that are spectacular.

Best Time to Visit:
In my opinion the best time to visit this park is early summer. If you arrive to soon, Logan Pass may be closed. In the early summer, most of the snow is gone and the animals are out and about. Waterfalls are flowing at a steady rate and the foliage is green. If you wait until late summer, the rivers and foliage is dry with a little less splendor.

Photography Tips:
Photography in this area is tough. It takes time to explore the park and really get a feel for how to photograph it best. The best times for picture taking are early and late in the day. Luckily, it is also the best time to find wildlife out and about. In the summer time, early morning light fades very fast, and details soon wash out into blue light. Pick your site before you arrive to insure you're there at the right time. Don't try hiking around early morning, looking for a good place to photograph. By the time you find one it will be too late! Bring your 81A-warming filter to helps offset the blue cast early in the day. If you plan to take pictures of the waterfalls, bring your polarizer.
The best film for this area is a slow film such as Velvia. If you are shooting wildlife, your best bet would be to shoot a faster film such as Provia. If you are shooting print film, Fuji Reala will give you your best results.
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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Park Location / Overview:
This park is one of my all time favorites! Located about 4-1/2 hours from Salt Lake City, and just a few miles from Yellowstone, this park offers a very unique view of the Rocky Mountains. Accommodations are about 15 miles away to the south, in Jackson Hole, and there are many accommodations surrounding the park boundaries. This area experiences the extremes of all four seasons, with brilliant high alpine flowers, to deep colors in fall, Scorching summer heat, and bitter winter cold. Be sure you are dressed for all of them no matter when you travel. Like always, check in at the Visitors Center to obtain a map and get caught up on current conditions.  Most everyone assumes this park is a wildlife refuge like Yellowstone. Wildlife is abundant in this region, but there is so much more landscape photography potential, that I rarely spend my mornings photographing wildlife.

Must See Photo Spots:
Locations for good photographic opportunities are everywhere. Some of my favorites include early morning and sunrise shoots across Jackson Lake, toward Mount Moran. Although this is awesome at sunset as well, with the mountains silhouetted against the red sky. Up close to the mountains, in the Jenny Lake region is good early in the day. During the middle of the day, when photography is poor, put the camera away and get out there and hike around in the mountains. If you do take your camera, you won't be disappointed, there are multiple flowers and plants to photograph in the alpine meadows. When evening comes, the Snake River Overlook is a great place to watch the sun go down. Here the river below glows the same color as the sky. The key to this park, like any other is to get out there and photograph. In general, this is an early morning park, meaning the best photography is during the morning hours.

Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit this park is during early May or early October, you know when everyone else is working and no one is vacationing! However, if you do go during the summer months, it will still be as spectacular as ever! The Tetons are always a good idea!

Photo Tips:
Scout out your photo locations before you decide to take a picture. Be in you location a little early so you do not miss the "moment." I have found this park doesn't really require filters, except perhaps a Neutral Density filter for sunrise and sunset. The best slide film for this area is Velvia, or print film Reala. In order to insure your images are a success, be sure you know how to control exposure and all the functions on your camera.
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Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Park Location / Overview:
Like most National Parks in Alaska, Kenai Fjords is large and inaccessible. Located 130 miles from Anchorage it borders the fishing town of Seward. This is a tourist town with many opportunities to catch a boat into the ocean for a waters look at the park. The only road in the park is about 1 mile long and takes you to the glacial terminus of Exit Glacier, which is part of the Harding Ice field. There are a few bears in the area, generally black bears, but coastal brown bears are still present.

Photography Overview:
If you don't want to live out of your kayak for about 4 weeks, then you probably wont see much more of the park than Exit glacier. You can only hike so far without ice climbing gear and glacier experience. The real way to experience this park is via the water. These lands are wild once you get out of Seward and you must be prepared. Photography of the park is very difficult on foot for the mountains are very dense with foliage, so scenery is difficult. You can get some good images from the water but rocking on a boat you will need faster film. Generally ISO 100, or even pushed a stop or two depending on the light. Using a tripod? That is out of the question on an unstable kayak. You must generally hand hold all your shots. Good luck and Happy shooting!
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Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Park Location / Overview:
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a great little park that not many people visit or even know exists. Located about 1-2 hour drive from Chico or Red Bluff , California it lies on the east side of the Sacramento Valley. This park is very similar to Yellowstone with the geologic activity. Steam is constantly flowing from hot spring areas, and iron colored mineral deposits coat the hillside. Mt. Lassen is part of the "Ring of Fire" chain of volcanoes that stretch through the entire Pacific Ocean. Check in with the Ranger to obtain park or weather information. This is a harsh environment and the elements can change rapidly, so be prepared for different kinds of weather.

Best Time to Visit:
The best time for photography is in the early Spring just as the snow melts. Here the limited foliage is green and the lakes full. The temperature is pleasant at this time of year still cool from winter but not yet scorched by the California summer. There are many opportunities to obtain reflections of Mt. Lassen or other peaks reflecting in the many small lakes the park offers.

Photo Tips:
Be sure to take your polarizer filter for adding contrast between the blue sky and the mineral rich hills. The best times to photograph are in the morning or evening depending on which direction you desire. Plan out your locations before you get there to determine what times of day will be best. The best film for the area is Fuji Velvia, or Fuji Reala if you are shooting print film.
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Olympic National Park, Washington

Park Location / Overview:
When a person generally thinks of the Pacific Northwest, they inherently think of the visions of Olympic National Park. Located at the northwestern tip of Washington State, forming what is known as the Olympic Peninsula. It is located a few hours from Seattle and is best reached by taking a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island. You may also drive without a ferry by going down into Tacoma or Olympia. For most of the Park, you do not have to pay the entrance fee. If you wish to go into the forests or penetrate the mountains, then the fee is required. Olympic is one of the most unique parks in the world. In a short distance of 25 miles you can experience the rocky coastline of the Pacific Ocean, Temperate Rain Forests, Lowland, Montane, and Sub alpine Forests to glacier-laden mountains rising some 8000 feet above sea level. Everything a photographer could dream of photographing exists in this park. Most of the park lies hidden from roads and development, and is only accessible by foot, but there are a few spectacular places that the road can still take you.

Must See Photo Spots:
Olympic is famous for moss-covered rocks and brilliant waterfalls. A few of these are fairly accessible from the main roads. Be sure to visit Sol Duc Falls located a short hike from the roads end. Enter off 101 to the Eagle Ranger Station, once the road ends hike about a mile or so and the falls are there. Another accessible fall is Maymere Falls located near the Storm King Information Center. If you are up for a good hike, or want to spend the night in the mountains, I recommend hiking to Glacier Meadows via the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center. It is about 17 miles one way and you will need to show the rangers that you are properly prepared with the right gear. If you are planning on climbing the glacier you must show that you have proper mountaineering equipment. This area provides great alpenglow opportunities at sunrise and sunset. There is a portion of the pacific coastline that is accessible by highway 101 in the southwestern portion of the park. This area has spectacular rock formations that lift skyward from the ebbing waters of the pacific. Be sure to stop and photograph at one of the beaches at sunset.

Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit the park is in the Spring months prior to the Summer rush. I recommend early May for max waterfalls and green foliage. This is my favorite time.

Photo Tips:
Photographic opportunities are abundant in this park. You can photograph the rich green rain forests in the morning and spectacular sunsets across the pacific in the evening. For photographing forests and waterfalls you will need your polarizer to reduce glare on the rocks. A tripod is a must!!! In the forest there is very little light and long shutter speeds are inevitable. Photographing the coastline you will need your graduated neutral density filter, 2-stops minimum to balance foreground and sky. Be careful with your equipment in this park, especially around the ocean. The air is humid and your camera body or lens can become exposed to salt spray, or even worst sand, so pay attention that no sand gets into your camera. There is nothing worse than hearing a piece of sand scratch your film during the rewind process, and even worst when you edit your film and see a big scratch across your priceless images. No question the best film for this area is Fuji Velvia. Velvia captures the rich greens like no other film currently made. It holds the details in the shadows better than most slide films. If you are shooting print film, use a Fuji product with the "Superia" label. Try to avoid using a film faster than 100 so the details are not lost. Be creative in this park and enjoy the wonderful diversity that surrounds you.
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Redwood National Park, California

Park Location / Overview:
Redwood National Park is not your typical National Park. There is no fee stations that you pass through that acknowledges your entrance into the park. It is pretty low key, and not too organized. It is located on the perimeter of Crescent City California on the Oregon border about an hour north of Eureka California or about 5 hours from Portland. Regardless of the expectations of the park, the Redwoods are absolutely spectacular. If you have never seen the redwoods, they are very different from the sequoia redwoods. These redwoods are not red at all, but are gray. They are however extremely TALL. Sequoias are large in diameter and redwoods are large in height. They are unique in that they intertwine their roots together to make them very strong.

Must See Photo Spots:
I used to live in Crescent City for a short time, and I think the most spectacular portion of the Redwoods is a place called Stout Grove. You go through the town of Crescent City and head west on small road. This is a road less traveled, but offers the most spectacular array of Redwoods in the world. Photographing these giants is most often best during overcast or foggy skies, which happens almost every day. It is incredible to photograph during a fog storm as it laces between the trees.

Best Time to Visit:
Being on the pacific coastline, there is little variation from Spring to Fall because of the climate. There are not many people that congregate at this park, it is more of a drive by park, so crowds are generally not a big concern. My favorite time in this park is in the Spring when all the Rhododendron bushes are blooming among the redwoods. May or June are the best months.

Photo Tips:
A tripod in this park is a must! Especially during a fog storm, you are going to have long shutter speeds. Bring a polarizer filter, which can diminish the glare on the foliage if it is wet, which is almost constantly. The best films for this are FUJI based, for they capture the greens and shadow extremely well.
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Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska

Park Location / Overview:
This is by far the most primitive and remote national park I have visited. It compromises a landmass that dwarfs all in the lower 48 by comparison. It consists of the most in-penetrable mountains I have ever seen. If you are not an avid mountaineer, and if you do not have 25 lifetimes to explore, you will never even see a spec of it. There is only one bumpy road that penetrates a very small corner of the park. You approach the park through a small town called Slana just south west of Tok, well about 50 miles. The only other way into this glacial world is via airplane or helicopter.

Best Time to Visit:
No matter what time of year you visit, it will be cold, and just as difficult to access. I would not recommend going into this park unless you are willing to spend a substantial amount of time in the mountains. The great thing about this place is there is very little photography that has been done. When you frame your shot, you just may be the first person to make a photograph of this location. There is very little to say regarding this park because of its vastness and in-accessibility. However, if you are up for a wild adventure, this just might be the place.
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Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Park Location / Overview:
Located about 5 hours from Salt Lake City, Utah, Yellowstone is the countries first National Park, and unfortunately the most visited in the world. People from all nations travel great distances to this place, thus making it very tame. Although Yellowstone is very large, very few if any people get out into the vast land it encompasses for a walk in the wild. It is not uncommon to be stuck in traffic jams behind large RV's and family mini vans. If you are looking to get away from city life, then perhaps Yellowstone is not the answer.

Must See Photo Spots:
Even though the park is overcrowded most of the time, there is still plenty of photographic opportunities that perhaps make you forget about the crowds. The first place is to see Yellowstone Falls. This is a very popular place, and often over photographed. But, if you do not have these images in your library, you should! I will give you a little hint about this place, and the park in general. Most people that come are tourists. This means they are on vacation, and get out of bed when the sun rises. By the time they eat breakfast and head out to take in the sites it is 10:00. By then I am usually curled up in the back of my truck in an abandoned picnic area having a nap, after all I was up at 5am. By 10:00 photography is generally over! Get to your spots early, like before sunrise. You will not encounter anybody, except perhaps one other avid photographer who is willing to brave the morning for a great shot. Another great place is the Lower Geyser Basin between Madison and Old Faithful. In the morning air the steam from the firehole river can create great drama in the morning light.

Best Time to Visit:
I'm sure you can tell by now that I like places that are not crowded, and thus that is when I generally travel to photographic locations. This park, the absolute best time in my opinion is in the late fall; October sometime. Generally you have the park to yourself. You can photograph whenever you like and not worry about fighting crowds. Oh sure there will always be people in Yellowstone, but after working this park many, many times. October is the best. The grass brown, the elk tan, and the pristine mornings in the cold air are indescribable in both vision and feeling.

Photo Tips:
Most people travel to Yellowstone for the wildlife, well for the animals at least. Be sure to take a telephoto lens to safely capture the animals. Although they look tame, they are still very dangerous if you approach to close or put any stress on them. You will need to bring your polarizer if you plan on shooting the geysers or mineral deposits. The polarizer can really eliminate glare and bring out the rich whites and oranges. I have found that Kodak Ektachrome works great here to capture the yellows and oranges. If you are shooting for wildlife, use Fuji Provia. This has a faster ISO rating but is not grainy. Be sure to use your tripod in the early morning light for shutter speeds are bound to be long.
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Yosemite National Park, California

Park Location / Overview:
Yosemite National Park is one of the most visited parks in the country. It is conveniently located just 3 hours outside of Sacramento, or San Francisco. This is the home of misty waterfalls, tall granite walls, and the giant Sequoia redwoods. Before you plan your next trip to Yosemite, be sure to get a campsite reservation, these fill up fast and are available 3 months in advance. If you come to the Valley in the summer without one, you will most likely not get a place to lay your head.

Must See Photo Spots:
Some of the must see places in Yosemite are actually off the beaten path. The first is Glacier Point. If the road is closed, hike the 4-mile trail. This is best during sunset as the evening light illuminates Half Dome. Another is Nevada & Vernal Falls. This is a short 3 or 4 mile hike to see both falls, but each are spectacular. Be sure not to miss a sunset on Sentinel Bridge. This is a very famous and over photographed place, so if you want the shot, be sure to be there an hour or so before sunset to get your spot. If not you will be waiting in line (I'm not kidding!). If you don't want to stand in line, the park has numerous meadows that are great places to set up and photograph different angles of the surrounding granite spires. Another must see are the Sequoia Redwood trees. There are many original photographic opportunities within these forests.
Yosemite is a beautiful and awe-inspiring park. I often times find myself just lying in the surrounding meadows, enjoying the views before me. Don't be afraid to put your camera down for an evening and just lie in the meadows under El Captain. The great John Muir spent many hours in this place contemplating his life, and how all things, including himself inter-relate. Although more developed than in the days of Muir, the feelings and messages of this valley are still there. Take the time to be inspired!

Best Time to Visit:
Many people visit this park, in what I think is its worst time. Yosemite in a great park for Winter and Early Spring. You will find most people avoid these months and plan their trip during the summer months. Winter offers great contrast with the snow and the granite walls, plus the sunsets are more vibrant in the winter. Early spring is great because the snow runoff is in full swing, and waterfalls are running at maximum flow. If you are too late in the year, waterfalls will be non-existent or just a trickle.

Photo Tips:
Must have filters for this park include an 81 A Warm Up filter, Graduated Neutral Density (2 stops or more) and a polarizing filter. The best slide film is either Fuji Provia, Velvia, or Ektachrome VS.
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Zion National Park, Utah

Park Location / Overview:
Zion is located about 5 hours from Salt Lake City, or 4 hours from Las Vegas and is located in the southwest corner of Utah. The closest major accommodations is St. George located about an hour away. Zion is made of tall iron rich spires that reach heavenward like none other. In a sense it is very similar to Yosemite except that the walls are not granite but Red rock. In the spring, waterfalls tumble to the valley below; and in the fall, golden leaves cover the valley floor. Zion is a wonderful place, and like my second home. Zion is a fairly small park in comparison to most but more spectacular than most. During the busy months of May to September there is a shuttle that you must take into the valley, so plan accordingly to take your provisions with you. Check in at the ranger station upon arrival to get updated on shuttle times and weather info.

Must See Photo Spots:
An absolute must is to go up Zion Canyon. Be sure to stop at the Court of the Patriarchs. This is a great early morning shot as the rising sun illuminates the spires. If you have the energy, and the stomach to scale height Angels Landing makes a great morning or evening shot of the valley. You will however be hiking down or up in the dark which can be scary for some given the fact that you hang on to a chain embedded in the rock. If you slip or let go you will not touch earth for a thousand feet! Another must see spot is Kolob Canyon. This canyon is only accessible from I-15 about 30 miles north of St. George. This means you need to make a big loop to access it, but it is well worth the short drive. This is a perfect place for an evening shot.

Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit the park is either fall (September) or Winter (January-February). There is nobody in the park during these times and the scenery is absolutely spectacular. The worst time to visit is the summer. It is not uncommon to be in the 110's in the summer. Mix that with thousands of people and you could pass right through Zion without really feeling its splendor.

Photo Tips:
This is a very difficult park to photograph. The reason it is so difficult is you are generally photographing upward, and you have to deal with extreme light conditions from illuminating walls to a shadowed foreground. With this in mind you can create great silhouettes with trees and canyons against the bright red rocks. You will need to be creative in this park because there is no real places to just point and click. Be sure to bring your polarizer, and a graduated neutral density filter. The best film for the area is Kodak Ektachrome VS or Fuji Velvia. I prefer Kodak in the red rock country, for it brings out the rich oranges. Be sure to use your tripod and take advantage of the morning and evening light. During the day the sun bounces off the red rock walls and casts a warm glow on everything in shadow. Take advantage of that as well.
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