Landscape Portfolio | Snake River Shore Line at Oxbow Bend

Landscape Portfolio | Snake River Shore Line at Oxbow Bend    OxBow Bend is located along the Snake River near Great Tetons NP.  It’s one of the most photographed places in the country.  In this image, Mt. Moran stands majestic in the background.  Several coyote packs could be heard in the distance.  Also, black bear, grizzly bear, moose, elk, and wolves call this area home.  Unfortunately, the wildlife did not appear except for a couple of river otters.  However, the crisp, cold morning air, the light spring snow cover, and the calm, no wind quiet of this remote place made me appreciate the scene in front of my lens.  As Mt. Moran became reflected in the Snake River and the morning shadows began to change, this composition appeared.

The Back Story  To capture this image, I arrived at the the Ox Bow Bend turnoff a little before o’dark thirty.  A light snow cover greeted me at the turnoff.  Just after first light, I climbed down the slightly frozen river bank to river’s edge.  Upon setting up my tripod behind several rocks, I waited for any wildlife that might amble by my position.

Details…

EventEarly Morning Photo Trip
LocationOxbow Bend on the Snake River
Date/Time5/06/2010  6:28 am Local Time
WeatherPartly Cloudy | 23°F | Light Winds
MethodShort walk to river’s edge, setup tripod, wait for the light.
GearNikon D300 with 12-24 mm zoom lens