Glacier National Park - New Wildlife Viewing Rules

They say the rules are the same as in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National park.  . .  I can't confirm that as I never checked. But, after reading Tony Bynum's article about the new Wildlife Viewing Regulations in Glacier National Park, I'm not sure it makes any difference.

If you plan to visit Glacier National Park you should read: Montana Photographer, Tony Bynum - Glacier Park New Wildlife Viewing Policy .

Tony lists the new policy and explains why in his view it's unrealistic and could even contribute to additional wildlife human issues . . .

Oil Train Explosion - Could it Happen in Glacier National Park?

The truth is we all use oil. It also is true that trains are more efficient and economical than trucks when it comes to long hauling goods across our continent.

Accidents happen, no doubt! In this post I wanted to let people know that the same trains and cars recently involved in the explosion in Quebec that killed 5 while 40 are still missing, also run between the oil rich Bakken, though Glacier National Park, in route to refineries in the Puget Sound (related story).

Could the type of explosion, that happened in our neighboring country to the north happen in Glacier Park, East Glacier, West Glacier, or Browning?  Seems plausible to me . . . What's in place to stop it from happening here? As a member of the East Glacier Volunteer Fire Department I can not recall anyone from Burlington Northern ever talking to us about oil trains and emergency response . . .

 Here's to making sure that kind of accident does not happen again - anyplace!

Long "oil-train" hauling crude toward Glacier National Park and across the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Northwest Montana. ©tonybynum.com

Sincerely,
Tony Bynum

Fireworks and Glacier National Park - Independence Day in East Glacier Park, Montana

©TonyBynum.com - Fireworks over East Glacier Park Village, Glacier National Park, Montana. July 4, 2013. 

Great summer on hand in Glacier National Park. The fireworks were as good as ever over East Glacier Park, Montana.

Spring has made it to Glacier Country - Grizzly Bears are out - It's time to get your bear spray ready!

The first signs that spring is upon us in Glacier National Park is the presence of grizzly bear tracks, usually spotted in late March and early April.  While it is true that grizzly bears can and often do poke their heads out during the winter, the presence of regular tracks and sightings begins in the spring.

Please be sure to be bear aware if you're anywhere in Western Montana. Now is the time to check to make sure you have your bear spray handy!  I always like to check the expiration dates on all my bear spray cans each spring. I'm pretty sure they would still work well past their expiration date, but for the price of a new can of bear spray, why chance it?

I use and like very much the bear spray produced here in Kalispell, Montana by, Counter Assault.

Grizzly Bear Sow and Cub on the shore of Sherburne Lake
Glacier National Park. ©tonybynum.com. Photo may not
be used without permission from Tony Bynum. 

I recently checked in with Counter Assault to ask them about what to do with old cans, and here's what Melissa had to say: "disposal of counter assault is simple. Just point the can at the ground, clear of pets, animals, and other people, be sure the wind is not going to bring the product back into your direction, and discharge the can. Next wrap the can in news paper and dispose of it in the trash."

Sounds simple enough!  I actually had two cans that were past their pull dates. So, I went out and gave it a try. I actually wore latex gloves just in case, but it was very simple. I put the breeze to my back and discharged the cans on to the ground, wrapped them up and in the trash they went.

Be sure to check with the National Park Service - Glacier National Park website for road closures and other important park dates.

Get out there and start taking photos!

Tony Bynum

Glacier National Park, A Unique Photographic Perspective

Perspective means one thing, the way we see something. In photography, perspective is controlled in a few ways, first by viewing distance and angle, and second by lens selection. This unique perspective of the south eastern portion of Glacier National Park, and the south west portion of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was shot with a Nikon 500mm f/4.0G ED VR AF-S SWM Super Telephoto Lens for Nikon on a Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera.

This is a unique perspective because few people ever see Glacier National Park in this way. It was shot from about 20 miles away and from the top of a prairie hill, and with a long telephoto lens. It appears that the mountains and the hills are very close together, when it reality, they are much further apart. The light on the land, or lack there of, helps to isolate the snow covered mountain range and the wind blowing the snow off the peaks into the air helps give the winter time Glacier National Park photograph some added drama.

This photograph shows a unique perspective of the snow covered peaks of the south east portion of Glacier National Park in Northwest, Montana. Nikon d300, Nikon 500 f4 VR. ©tonybynum.com all right reserved. 

So the next time someone asks you, "what's a good landscape lens," you can answer, it depends. In this case, the answer would be "a 500mm."

Understanding compression, angles, lenses, and perspective can help you create unique images.

Good Shooting!

Sincerely,

Tony Bynum

Follow me on twitter @tonybynum or @outsidemontana and on facebook at Tony Bynum Photography and google plus +Tony Bynum