Yellowstone & Grand Tetons 

Agenda is subject to change due to weather conditions.

Arrive at Bozeman Airport on October 7th for an overnight stay at the Best Western Plus GranTree Inn.

The following morning, we will travel by limo van to the North Entrance of Yellowstone. From there, we’ll spend the day photographing the Northwest Corridor as we make our way to the West Entrance.

The Desert Inn in West Yellowstone will serve as our home base for three nights. We will depart for Bozeman Airport the morning of October 11th.

Day 1: Arrival Day – Routed instruction will be provided from North Entrance to hotel accommodations in West Yellowstone.  Group dinner to discuss itinerary, gear selections and shot preparations

Day 2: 6:00 Breakfast, 7:00 Departure for Wildlife Photography in Hayden Valley, Canyon and Yellowstone Lake areas, may detour into forested ridges or riverbanks for additional viewing

Day 3: Following Breakfast depart for various thermal attractions in Yellowstone. Throughout the day, we will photograph the geothermal processes of Yellowstone, the park's history, and ecology. Destinations include: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots & Lower Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin and West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Day 4: Following Breakfast depart for The Grand Teton range. One of the most photographed landscapes in the world, and for good reason it’s not just mountains, it’s a masterclass in perspective. We will visit Schwabacher Landing, Snake River Overlook, Mormon Row Barns, Oxbow Bend, Jenny Lake and everything in between.

Day 5: Departure Day: You may want to schedule an early afternoon flight Bozeman, MT Airport to take advantage of early morning shote in West

Instructional Itinerary
Day 1: Capturing Wildlife Photography: Technical Mastery of Wildlife Action Shots
Yellowstone provides an incredible opportunity to capture elk, pronghorn, coyotes, foxes, bears, bison, and a diverse array of swans, harlequin ducks, and great gray owls, there is a variety of subjects to photograph.

Camera Settings
Long Lenses (300–600mm): Essential for safe distance wildlife shots.

Shutter Speed to freeze movement of bison, elk, wolves, and bears.

Aperture: f/5.6–f/8 for balance between subject sharpness and environmental context.

Continuous Autofocus & Burst Mode: Track unpredictable animal movement.

Light Intensity: Early morning and late evening golden light for drama.

Shooting Techniques
Anticipation: Learn animal behavior (bison crossings, wolf packs, raptors hunting).

Framing: Use riverbanks, valleys, and forests as natural backdrops.

Safety First: Maintain park’s required distances

Subjects & Destinations
Elk Herds in Meadows: Capture antler silhouettes against morning fog.

Bison Crossing Rivers: Freeze splashing water droplets mid-stride.

Predators on the Move: Track wolves or bears with burst shooting.

Birds of Prey: Eagles perched or in flight over the Madison River.

Day 2: Photographing Geothermal Wonders: Creative Exploration of Geothermal Abstracts and Natural Textures.
Yellowstone is classified as a supervolcano, roughly a thousand times more powerful than the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The vast geothermal system created by this immense geological force fuels Yellowstone’s iconic features of geysers, steaming vents, boiling mud pots, and vibrantly colored hot springs. For photographers, this geothermal activity transforms the park into an otherworldly canvas where mist, mineral-rich pools, and shifting light interact to create surreal landscapes and dynamic compositions found nowhere else on Earth.

Camera Settings
Aperture: f/8–f/16 for sharp textures in thermal features.

Shutter Speed: Experiment 1/250 sec for steam plumes, slower speeds (1/10–1/30 sec with tripod) for ethereal steam effects.

Polarizing Filter: Reduce glare on pools and bring out color saturation.

White Balance Adjustments: Correct strong color casts from geothermal minerals.

Shooting Techniques
Composition: Include boardwalks, people, or trees for scale.

Abstract Patterns: Shoot close-ups of bacterial mats and mineral deposits.

Timing: Plan for Old Faithful eruption; frame for foreground interest.

Weather Awareness: Steam looks dramatic against cooler morning air.

Subjects & Destinations
Old Faithful Eruption: Wide shot at f/11 with geyser against the sky.

Prismatic Spring: Use tripod at f/16 to capture full depth and saturation.

Boiling Mudpots: Close-up textures at f/8 with a long lens.

Steaming Vents: Slow shutter to create dreamy effects.

Day 3: The Grand Teton: Classic and Dramatic Mountain Landscapes
October in Grand Teton brings rich autumn colors to the landscape, with golden foliage set against towering peaks. We’ll photograph mountain vistas, their reflections in the water, and the quintessential scenery that defines the Teton.

Camera Settings
Aperture: f/11–f/16 for expansive landscapes.

Foreground Interest:

Golden Hour: Sunrise at Oxbow Bend, sunset at Mormon Row barns.

Filters: Graduated ND for balancing bright skies and dark mountains.

Panoramas: Use tripod + overlapping frames for stitched wide-angle scenes.

Shooting Techniques
Reflections: Shoot lakes (Jenny, Jackson, Schwabacher’s Landing) for mirror images.

Wildlife in Landscapes: Incorporate moose, elk, or bison with Tetons in background.

Wait for weather changes to add mood.

Use wildflowers, lakes, or barns to anchor compositions.

Subjects & Destinations
Teton peaks reflected in Snake River.

Capture historic barns with mountains behind.

Wide-angle water reflections as leading lines.

Wildlife framed against snow-capped peaks.

• Workshop fee includes park entrance fees, daily wildlife and landscape photography instruction, and audio tour guide with points of interest.
• Workshop fee does not include transportation from Bozeman Airport to the Best Western Plus GranTree Inn, hotel accommodations, airfare, food and beverage, incidentals, etc.
• Hotel group accommodations have been reserved at the Best Western Plus GranTree Inn for one night arriving on Wednesday October 7th and The Desert Inn in West Yellowstone for 3 nights departing on Sunday morning, October 11th.
• Upon receiving registration, attendees will receive codes for SPS room block hotel reservations.

• Layers to wear, especially at night (base layer, windproof layer).
• Comfortable shoes
• Mirrorless or DSLR camera.
• Sturdy tripod and a remote shutter

Any or all of the following recommended lenses:

• Wide-angle lens 14-24 mm
• Medium zoom lens 24-70 mm
• Telephoto lens
• Super Telephoto lens

A non-refundable deposit of $500.00 USD is required for registration. Final payment of 1,250.00 is due by September 7th, 2026. Deposits are non-refundable upon payment, except if your spot can be filled. A 50% credit of the deposit fee will apply to future workshops. 

CANCELLATION REQUEST MUST BE EMAILED: Seacoast Photography School

This intermediate-level adventure is designed for photographers ready to work in dynamic outdoor environments. Attendees should be comfortable with long walks at a brisk pace over uneven terrain and shooting in changing conditions. Wildlife is always observed from a safe, respectful distance, with guidance on ethical field practices. A solid working knowledge of camera settings is recommended, along with curiosity, awareness, and a love for being outdoors with your camera.