Episode 8: The Mountain Monarchs of Yellowstone

In this episode, Jared and Annalise discuss everything you could ever hope to know about photographing bighorn sheep. Given the extraordinary amount of snowfall in the Yellowstone this past winter, the bighorn sheep opportunities were truly incredible. Jared and Annalise spent two months this winter in Yellowstone and much of that time was spent working with and photographing these mountain monarchs. 

Key Takeaways 

• Where to find bighorn sheep in the winter and why you will find them in the same place every year

• The biggest conservation challenges facing bighorn sheep today

• Winter brings unique challenges, but none more so than falling snow

• When the snow is falling, you need a solid focusing strategy as the success rates of most AF Area Modes falls to 25% or less in falling snow

• Backgrounds with bighorn sheep are more important than most other species in the Yellowstone Ecosystem

• Creating separation between our subjects and the background will make or break your compositons and is one of the most important considerations we make in the field day in and day out

• Creating three-dimensions in our compositions is critically important 

• The importance of slowing down and dedicating yourself to working with one species at a time when on a photography trip