This past weekend I headed into Grand Teton National Park after hearing several reports from friends that both Grizzly Bears #610 and #399 had been spotted with a bit of regularity again. On Friday morning, I woke up just before sunrise in the park and headed out to Pacific Creek Road, where I had seen #610 the evening prior. Before she emerged however, I saw the makings of a pretty great sunrise in the works. Most of Pacific Creek Road isn’t exactly ideal for sunrise shots, so I headed back up the road to a clearing that was slightly elevated, giving me a nice view of the Tetons, where most of the action looked like it was taking place anyway.
Granted I visit this area very often, but even if you’re new to an area, it’s a good idea to scope out where you are when you’re not shooting to have a good idea of where to go should light like this make its way in. If you don’t want to shoot in midday light, that makes for a great time to explore, get your bearings and find a good spot for a sunrise or sunset should you find yourself there during that time. A little mental note goes a long way.