Notes from the Field

Yellowstone National Park, January 2026

I began the new year of Hunt’s Photo Adventures with back-to-back workshops in Yellowstone National Park.  Both weeks were exciting, action-packed, and fulfilling.  As always, our local guide, Adam Brubaker, was tireless and superb.  Thank you, Adam!  

Both workshops were conducted in January to capitalize on the dramatic impact snow, ice, steam, and cold temperatures have on wildlife and landscapes.  Winter photography in Yellowstone is challenging, but beautiful.  Both workshops featured a few days in the North between Gardiner, the Lamar Valley, and Cooke City before moving on to a few days exploring the interior near Canyon, the Geyser Basin, and Hayden Valley by snow coach.  

Highlights from Week 1. Group 1

 - Began our week with an exhilarating encounter with 7 wolves from the Junction Butte Pack at the head of the Lamar Valley.  Witnessing their behavior and photographing them was wildly exciting

 - Photographed an otter enjoying a freshly caught meal of fish on the ice of the Lamar River

 - Photographed Bighorn Sheep on rocky hillsides along the Lamar River

 - Photographed a beautiful Red Fox, several Elk, and Pronghorn Antelope

 - Saw numerous moose, but distances were great

 - Snow Coaches from West Yellowstone allowed us access to the closed interior to see and photograph Wolves, Bison, Eagles, Coyotes, Trumpeter Swans, and stunning landscapes

 - We finished our first Photo Adventure, photographing a lone black Wolf near the Madison River

Highlights from Week 2, Group 2

 - Began our week viewing a Mountain Lion and her three kits at a recent Elk kill (first ever sighting!!!!) through a spotting scope

 - Encountered many Bison to photograph along the Lamar Valley

 - A few Red Foxes to photograph in Cooke City

 - Colder temperatures in the Interior meant very dramatic landscapes and wildlife

 - Enjoyed seeing and photographing a Pine Marten

 - Watched 16 Wolves from the Wapati Pack at a recent Bison kill

 - Enjoyed and photographed the same Wolves stalking a Bison herd the next day

 - Photographed several very icy, frosty Bison in the extreme cold

 - Also finished our week photographing another lone black Wolf at the Madison River

Both Yellowstone Photo Adventures this year featured uniquely different experiences despite visiting the same locations at essentially the same times. The landscapes were breathtaking, and the encounters with wildlife were wildly exciting. Thankfully, both groups were successful, safe, and happy.  

Next year's Winter in Yellowstone Photo Adventures will be a bit different from those in years past.   The first Adventure, in early January, will feature a couple of days in the north along the Lamar Valley before moving down to West Yellowstone for 4 days exploring the Interior via snow coach.  

For something new and different, the second week will be held later in February. At this time of year, there will be more snow and less extreme cold. We will spend the whole workshop exploring the closed Interior via snow coach for 5 days. This will be a premium experience for total immersion in the wildlife and landscapes of the interior.

As always, many thanks to each attendee for their commitment, patience, and best efforts during each Adventure.  We shared great experiences, made great photographs together, and had a lot of fun!

Next up for Hunt’s Photo Adventures:  edu.huntsphoto.com

February:  Winter along Pemaquid Point, Maine

March:  Birding the Space Coast, Florida

A Winter Muse:  An Intimate View of the South Solon Meetinghouse, Skowhegan, Maine

April:  The Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee