Making Lemonade

The Moulton Barn on a Foggy Autumn Morning

I only have three sunrises here in the Tetons. This morning, having studied the maps, read the blogs, looked at the Flickrs and plotted the GPS’s, with no familiarity at all with the park, I headed out in the blackness to find the barns. It was cold and wet but I was too excited to think that the fog I was experiencing at 4am would last through the entire morning.

I arrived at the designated coordinates, and shining the 1000 watts of halogen bolted to the front of the Subaru, I realized I had indeed reached my destination. There was one other photographer waiting in his car, but otherwise the place was deserted. While there was a parking lot and a road along Mormon Row, getting into position was more than challenging with more than a few curse words at the time and sore muscles now. But I positioned myself along the fence, bundled in Carhartt and North Face, like any stylish and well equipped visitor to the area should be.

And then first light arrived. And the other photographer picked up his tripod and drove away. He never even unpacked his gear (nice Gitzo and RRS BH-55 though). There were no mountains to be seen.

I only have three sunrises. And coming back here means I give up another location, so I’m not sure if I will, thus I decided to stay and make the best of it.

I’m pleasantly surprised. There are probably a bazillion images of the iconic most photographed barn in the US against the majestic Teton Mountains. But in the fall, in the fog, with just a hint of the peaks struggling to upstage the milky bleariness of the morning? I like it.

I spent the rest of the day chasing after the animals that are purported to live here. I don’t believe they do.

Marketing. For sure.