Multi-Day Photography Workshop

Included in workshop:

• Local, professional photographer/naturalist Evan Watts
• (3) full days (8-10 hours) on Yellowstone’ famed Northern Range including the Lamar Valley, Blacktail Plateau, Little America, and Round Prairie
• (3) full days (10-11 hours) venturing in Yellowstone’s interior in a privately chartered snowcoach. Stops may include Old Faithful, Madison Valley, Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Norris Geyser Basin, and other locations
• Hands-on learning and discussion with your instructor
• (2) evening sessions for group orientation, gear Q&A, instruction, and more
• Plenty of space for your camera gear and extra clothing *Please see drop down menu titled “Recommended Clothing/Outwear”*
• Round-trip transportation from Bozeman, MT, to Gardiner, MT
• (1) Night lodging in Bozeman, MT, the day you arrive
• (7) Nights lodging in Gardiner, MT
• (2) Private catered dinners – All other meals are guest responsibility. Lodging facility is within walking distance of several restaurants.
• Freshly-baked breakfast pastries to start each day
• Hot drinks (coffee, tea, hot cocoa)
• Healthy and hearty snacks (various protein/granola bars, mixed nuts, hummus, crackers, snack cheese, fruit, veggies, etc.)
• Fruit juice, sparkling water, and fresh water
• Full picnic lunch spread (GF and vegetarian available)
• Snowcoach driver gratuity
• Interpretation of wildlife activity and behavior to help understand the wildlife in the context of their habitat
• Day 2 orientation to become more familiar with place and subjects
• Final group breakfast before returning to Bozeman
• Hand/toe warmers
• YakTrax ice traction “boot chains”
• Park Entrance Fee(s)
• Snowshoes/poles as needed
• Comprehensive packing list
• Day-by-day detailed itinerary provided no more than one week prior to workshop start date

NOT included in workshop price:

• Transportation to get to Bozeman, MT, for start of package
• Dinner on Day 1
• Breakfast/lunch on Day 2
• 5 dinners while in Gardiner
• Gratuity for workshop instructor
• Camera equipment/gear

Itinerary:

Day 1: Jan. 5th, 2025  – Arrive in Bozeman, MT.  Free shuttle to Best Western GranTree in Bozeman, MT.  Dinner on your own.

Day 2: Jan. 6th, 2025 – Breakfast on your own. Your workshop leader will pick you up at noon for a leisurely transfer to Gardiner, MT, with the potential for opportunistic photos as time allows. You’ll check into the Absaroka Lodge with time to settle in and unpack before enjoying a privately catered dinner with a your instructor, who will provide an overview of the upcoming week.

Days 3-5: Jan. 7-9, 2025 – Your workshop leader will pick you up each day at 6:30 a.m. to venture out in search of wildlife in the Northern Range. These days are focused on photographing moose, bison, bighorn sheep, elk, coyotes, foxes, river otters, winter songbirds, birds of prey, wolves, and as many other species as possible. Each day begins before the sun rises, increasing the possibility for magnificent landscape shots highlighting the start of a new day. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and a variety of hot and cold beverages will be enjoyed in the field throughout the day. Each afternoon you’ll return to your lodge between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Dinners on days 3 and 4 are on your own at a nearby restaurant of your choosing. Dinner on day 5 will be a group, privately catered offering, with your instructor joining for discussion, coaching, and tips for maximizing the next 3 days.

Days 6-8: Jan. 10-12, 2025 – These days are centered around visiting the park’s rarely visited interior via a privately chartered oversnow vehicle (snowcoach). Your instructor will pick you up at 6:30 a.m. each day for transfer to Mammoth Hot Springs where you will board your coach for the day. Due to strict limitations on the number of oversnow vehicles allowed into the park’s interior each day, this is a highly sought after experience by all visitors. You’ll have the opportunity to photograph otherworldly thermal basins, rainbow-hued canyons, frozen waterfalls, rivers, frosty bison, elegant trumpeter swans (among other wild occupants), and vast expanses of snow-softened landscapes. Based on weather conditions, current wildlife sightings, and eruption cycles of various geysers, your photography instructor will likely choose to spend time in the following areas: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin, Madison Valley, Fountain Flats, Firehole River, Norris Geyser Basin, Swan Lake Flat, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Hayden Valley, or Fountain Paint Pot. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and a variety of hot beverages will be enjoyed in the field throughout the day. Each day you’ll return to Gardiner between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. where you will enjoy dinner on your own at a nearby restaurant of your choosing.

Day 9: Jan. 13, 2025 – Your guide will pick you up at 7:30 a.m. to enjoy a final meal together at a local restaurant before transferring the group back to Bozeman, MT, where our workshop ends. Due to possible adverse weather conditions during this travel day, we ask that you DO NOT book flights out of Bozeman/Yellowstone International Airport any earlier than 1 p.m.

Included in workshop:

• Local, professional photographer/naturalist Rob Harwood
• Afternoon of Day 2 exploring the oft-overlooked, delicate beauty of the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces
• (2) full days (8-10 hours) on Yellowstone’s famed Northern Range including the Lamar Valley, Blacktail Plateau, Little America, and Round Prairie
• (2) full days (10-11 hours) venturing in Yellowstone’s interior in a privately chartered snowcoach. Stops may include Old Faithful, Madison Valley, Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Norris Geyser Basin, and other locations
• Hands-on learning and discussion with your instructor
• Plenty of space for your camera gear and extra clothing *Please see drop down menu titled “Recommended Clothing/Outwear”*
• Round-trip transportation from Bozeman, MT, to Gardiner, MT
• (1) Night lodging in Bozeman, MT, the day you arrive
• (5) Nights lodging in Gardiner, MT
• (4) private, catered dinners and evening sessions for group sharing, Q&A, instruction, and more
• (1) Dinner at a local, high-end cafe
• (1) Sit-down lunch en route to Gardiner for orientation, trip preparation, and Q&A
• (1) Sit-down breakfast on the final day before returning to Bozeman
• Freshly-baked breakfast pastries to start each day
• Hot drinks (coffee, tea, hot cocoa)
• Healthy and hearty snacks (various protein/granola bars, mixed nuts, hummus, crackers, snack cheese, fruit, veggies, etc.)
• Fruit juice, sparkling water, and fresh water
• Full picnic lunch spread (GF and vegetarian available)
• Snowcoach driver gratuity
• Interpretation of wildlife activity and behavior to help understand the wildlife in the context of their habitat
• Park Entrance Fee(s)
• Hand/toe warmers
• YakTrax ice traction “boot chains”
• Snowshoes/poles as needed
• Comprehensive packing list
• Day-by-day detailed itinerary provided no more than one week prior to workshop start date

NOT included in workshop price:

• Transportation to get to/from Bozeman, MT, before and after package dates
• Dinner on Day 1
• Breakfast on Day 2
• Gratuity for workshop instructor
• Camera equipment/gear

Itinerary:

Day 1: Feb 9th, 2025  – Arrive in Bozeman, MT. Free shuttle to Best Western GranTree in Bozeman, MT. Dinner is on your own. There is a restaurant on site.

Day 2: Feb 10th, 2025 – Breakfast on your own. (We recommend you eat early or wait until lunch with the group around 11:30 a.m.). Your workshop leader will pick you up at 10 a.m. for a leisurely transfer to Gardiner, MT, with a stop for lunch at the popular Old Saloon in Emigrant, MT. After lunch you will continue to Gardiner where you will then head into the park for an afternoon exploring the magnificent Mammoth Hot Springs terraces. You’ll  check into your lodging around 4:30 to 5 p.m. with time to settle in and unpack before enjoying a catered dinner with  your instructor where he will provide an overview of the upcoming week.

Days 3 – 4: Feb 11 – 12, 2025 – Your instructor will pick you up each day at 6:30 a.m. to venture out in search of wildlife in the Northern Range. These days focus on photographing moose, bison, bighorn sheep, elk, coyotes, foxes, river otters, winter songbirds, birds of prey, wolves, and as many other species as possible. Each day begins before the sun rises, increasing the possibility for magnificent landscape shots highlighting the start of a new day. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and a variety of hot beverages will be enjoyed in the field throughout the day. Each afternoon you’ll return to your lodge between 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dinner on day 3 will be at a high-end, local cafe. Dinner on Day 4 will be privately catered.

Days 5 – 6: Feb 13 – 14, 2025 – These days are centered around visiting the park’s rarely visited interior via a privately chartered oversnow vehicle (snowcoach). Your instructor will pick you up at 6:30 a.m. each day for transfer to Mammoth Hot Springs where you will board your coach for the day. Due to strict limitations on the number of oversnow vehicles allowed into the park’s interior each day, this is a highly sought after experience by all visitors. You’ll have the opportunity to photograph otherworldly thermal basins, rainbow-hued canyons, frozen waterfalls, rivers, frosty bison, elegant trumpeter swans (among other wild occupants), and vast expanses of snow-softened landscapes. Based on weather conditions, current wildlife sightings, and eruption cycles of various geysers, your photography instructor will likely choose to spend time in the following areas: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin, Madison Valley, Fountain Flats, Firehole River, Norris Geyser Basin, Swan Lake Flat, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Hayden Valley, or Fountain Paint Pot. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and a variety of hot beverages will be enjoyed in the field throughout the day. Each afternoon you’ll return to Gardiner between 5:30 and 6 p.m . Dinner on Days 5 and 6 will be privately catered.

Day 7: Feb 15, 2025 – Your guide will pick you up at 7:30 a.m. to enjoy breakfast together at a local restaurant before transferring the group back to Bozeman, where our workshop ends. Due to possible adverse weather conditions during this travel day, we ask that you DO NOT book flights out of Bozeman/Yellowstone International Airport any earlier than 1 p.m.

Evan Watts ~ Workshop #1 Instructor

My name is Evan Watts. I’m a wildlife photographer based here in Yellowstone National Park, and I spend the vast majority of the year out in the field, either leading tours, photographing wildlife, or both. I have an intimate understanding of the park’s ecology, meaning I know when and where to look for all the species you want to photograph.

I shoot a Canon R5, and am most familiar with Canon equipment, but I have experience using both Nikon and Sony as well. This workshop is designed for anyone – beginner to pro. Going on this workshop will give you a deeper understanding of both the technical and artistic sides of photography. You will learn the concepts necessary to create artful, impactful images that tell a story about the species you are working with. Additionally, by the time this workshop is over, you will have a greater understanding of Yellowstone’s fascinating ecology.

Check out my website,  Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook pages by clicking on the links.

Rob Harwood ~ Workshop #2 Instructor

Yellowstone has been a huge part of my life for the past 24 years, and I have worked full-time as a photography guide in the park since 2022. There is simply no substitute for a truly “local” guide—someone who lives locally full-time and knows the park and its wildlife on an intimate level. Whether guiding a trip or exploring Yellowstone on my weekends, I am constantly in the park gaining a better understanding of its wildlife and how they use this landscape during each season.

My aim is to help you understand wild animals on a deeper level so you can anticipate those perfectly-timed photos and tell a better story through your images. I love working with photographers of all backgrounds, regardless of experience or equipment. I am most familiar with Canon equipment, but I can help answer technical questions and troubleshoot camera issues whether you shoot Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fuji, or others. My goal is to provide you the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed during future trips.

Check out my website, Instagram, and Facebook pages by clicking on the links.

A deposit in the amount of 30% is required at time of booking in order to secure your reservation. 

I​​​n case you need to cancel your trip with us, we will fully refund your deposit minus a $300.00 service fee up to 61 days prior to the start day of the package.

Balance of tour price is due 60 days prior to the tour start date and will be charged to the form of payment used for the deposit. If you would like to change your form of payment prior to the final payment, it is your responsibility to notify Yellowstone Wild in advance. A receipt will be emailed upon payment of deposit and again when the balance has been collected.

Any cancellation made fewer than 60 days before the starting date of your trip is non-refundable.  

We regret that, as a small business, we cannot make exceptions to our cancellation policy.

We reserve the right to cancel the trip if the minimum enrollment of 4 guests has not been met 31 days prior to the trip start date. A full refund of your Yellowstone Wild package price is given if this occurs. Yellowstone Wild is not liable for reimbursement of travel-related expenses such as airfare, car rentals, or other incidentals.

We strongly recommend you purchase third-party travel insurance that will protect your investment in case of unforeseen cancellations or changes to your travel plans (For suggested travel insurance companies, see [Forbes Advisor].

What our Workshop Leaders Recommend:

Photography Gear:
While we are happy to accept all levels of photographers, there are a few things you should know about gear as you plan your trip.

Wild animals in Yellowstone tend to either be right next to the road or a mile away from it. While you don’t need professional photography equipment in Yellowstone to get an award-winning image, at least one telephoto lens reaching 600mm is ideal for wildlife subjects. 

Recommended Gear:

Batteries/Charger – Enough battery power to shoot the entire day (recommend 3 batteries per camera body).
Media – Enough memory to shoot the entire day/week (recommend at least 64 GB per camera body).
Cleaning – Lens cloths, air blower, lens solution.
Filters – Clear UV, Polarizer
Tools – Allen wrenches and/or a Leatherman-type tool

Required Equipment:
At least one quality camera body (DSLR or mirrorless recommended) with lenses of your choice.
At a minimum, we recommend one telephoto lens (maximum focal length of 400, 600, or 800 mm is ideal) for safely photographing wildlife, as well as one wider lens (examples: 16-35mm, 14-24mm, 24-70mm, etc.) for photographing landscapes.

Recommended Lenses:

• Canon/Sony/Nikon 500mm or 600mm f/4
• Canon/Sony/Nikon 400mm f/2.8
• Canon/Sony/Nikon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6
• Canon 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1
• Canon 200-800mm F6.3-9
• Nikon 600mm f/6.3
• Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6
• Nikon 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3
• Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3
• Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3
• Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3

Renting lenses is also an option at the following sites:
www.borrowlenses.com
www.bozemancamera.com

Yellowstone exhibits some of the most extreme changes in temperature and weather conditions anywhere. Temperatures on a winter tour could range from -40°F to +40°F (-40°C to +10°C). We therefore recommend plenty of warm clothes that can be layered and easily removed, allowing you to adjust and stay comfortable throughout your tour.

For winter tours, here is what our guides wear:

• Long underwear. Starting with your base layers, synthetic or wool long underwear tops and bottoms are critical to your comfort (we can find places to shed this layer later in the day if necessary). Please stay away from cotton, which can hold moisture and chill the body, whereas wool and synthetics wick moisture and can even insulate while wet.
• Sweater or fleece. Ideally multiple insulating layers like fleece and/or wool sweaters allow for effective layering and to easily shed layers as the day warms up.
• Fleece or down vest. Vests are great as a layering item that can really hold in core body temperature yet also allow for maximum comfort and mobility.
  A windproof and water-repellent insulated jacket is your most important protection from the biting Wyoming wind. Gore-Tex or something similar is highly advised as the best moisture/wind barrier and goose down is the best insulation.
• Snow pants/ski pants. Insulated pants with moisture/wind barrier should serve as an outer layer. You should wear long underwear thermal layers in addition.
• Heavy gloves or mittens with windproof barriers.
• Warm hat that covers your ears. We lose tremendous body heat from our heads. Protect your ears from the chilly wind with a wool or fleece hat.
• Warm wool or synthetic socks are key to keeping those toes from hampering your good time. Be sure you have plenty of wiggle room inside your boots. If your socks are too thick and fit too tightly in your boots you can actually reduce blood flow to your feet, resulting in cold toes, regardless of how warm your socks are.
• Insulated winter boots (roomy boots are better as you do not want to restrict circulation in your feet/toes). There are several ways you can go for winter boots including the insulated rubber “muck” boots that farmers and ranchers prefer. These are slip-on boots that come in varying levels of insulation (down to -50 degrees). They are fine for short walks, but you would not want them for full-day hikes. For the purpose of this trip, they are fine. Brands including Muck and LaCrosse are probably the best bang for your buck.
  https://www.lacrossefootwear.com
  https://www.muckbootcompany.com
  The other option is a lace-up, insulated boot. There are lots of them on the market. Here is a link with discussion about boots recommended for Antarctica tours:
  https://www.coolantarctica.com/Shop/antarctica-clothing/antarctic-boots.php
• If you need to order boots and have them shipped here, we can have them on hand for you when you arrive, no a problem at all. Just let us know.
• Hand and toe/foot warmers. We advise everyone to place a full-sized foot warmer inside your boots every morning before the tour. This keeps the edge off and keeps you comfortable to be able to enjoy yourself to the fullest during those hard-earned wildlife encounters! Toe and hand warmers can be used as needed.
• Sun protection. With high-elevation sun, many of us burn easily, especially when we are distracted by something like watching wolves for extended periods of time.

A daypack can be very handy for personal items: hand and toe warmers, water bottles, sunglasses, cameras, and, of course, for all the extra layers you will want.

Please let us know if you have additional questions about gear.

Yellowstone Wild photography instructor/guides are leaders in the field of ethical wildlife photography. An in-depth understanding of wildlife biology and keen observational skills drive their ability to set our photography clients up for powerful images while respecting the wildlife and without causing any undue stress, discomfort, or harm. Your guide’s capacity to read animal behavior and anticipate their next movements, paired with a familiar understanding of the local topography, often allows them to plan ahead and help you set up for wonderful shots of Yellowstone’s wildlife on the stunning winter landscape.

We encourage photographers to focus on capturing images of wild animals interacting naturally with their habitat, with one another, and with their prey species, unaffected by human presence; our photo guides strive to help clients capture images that tell powerful stories of animal behavior and ecology while creating a sense of place within the pristine winter setting of Yellowstone.

We adhere to our ethic (and Park Service regulations) that if our presence is causing an animal to change its natural behavior in any way we are causing undue stress. Life in the wild is never easy, and Yellowstone’s severe winter conditions make each day a struggle for survival for wildlife. By reading animal behavior and being sensitive to their needs, we can ensure we are not making their day-to-day lives any harder. 

The result of honoring this ethic, coupled with proper equipment (see above), is authentic images of wildlife living their lives in their native habitat and behaving as if humans are not present. These stories of the realities of life versus death in the wild offer compelling additions to any photographer’s portfolio!

It’s important to remember the wild animals we seek to observe and photograph are exactly that, wild, free-ranging animals that can roam throughout all of Yellowstone’s vast and rugged 2.2 million acres and beyond. The probability of locating and observing them is greatly elevated due to your guide’s familiarity with the landscape and the animals themselves. We do not guarantee any wildlife sightings on our tours; however, we will guarantee your guide will use his or her knowledge, skills, and network of other guides, wildlife watchers, and photographers to do everything possible to find and photograph the animals you’d like to see. Our guides are in the park nearly every day searching for and watching wildlife, and that consistent experience pays off in finding the animals you’ve traveled to observe.

How likely are you to photograph wild wolves? Over the course of the workshop there is a strong likelihood you will see wolves (sometimes multiple packs in a single day). However, as these wolves are truly wild (they do not like to be close to people) and their movements can be unpredictable and lengthy, up-close, portrait-style photo opportunities are rare and should not be expected. We encourage our photographers to focus on capturing images of wolves out on the vast Yellowstone landscape, interacting naturally with their habitat, with one another, and with their prey species, unaffected by our presence. Our photo guides strive to help you use your images to tell powerful stories of animal behavior and ecology while creating a sense of place within the pristine winter setting of Yellowstone

2023 Winter Photography Workshop Trip Report