Being a photographer, I have read a lot of how-to books and articles on photography and I have learned a lot from them. However I have not seen any guides on what not to do. Do to my growing experiences on what not to do I thought I would start writing about them so other photographers can learn from them. A trip to Yellowstone is often the highlight of a outdoor photographers year. Where else is the wildlife so diverse within? a two-day drive of most of the country. In Yellowstone you have Elk, Deer, bears, Bison, Antelope, Moose, Eagles, Otters, Beaver, Wading birds. Swans, Pelicans, Coyotes and Mountain Sheep. The scenery is also superb, with wild rivers, geysers, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, alpine meadows, mountains and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. There are also mountain climbers, fisherman, hikers, x-c skiers horseback riders and board-sailors. Photo opportunities abound for the prepared.

Imagine this, you have been driving around for three hours looking for wildlife, the sun is beginning to set, a full moon surprises you and pops up over the horizon then you see it. A six point bull elk skylighted on a hill, the moon behind him. You ease the car to a stop. You reach for your 600 mm and tripod, you get set up and you get a meter reading, then your dog spots him and starts barking his fool head off from inside the car, the elk disappears somewhere in the direction of the rising moon. You stand there in the magic hour with your thumb planted and feeling stupid. lesson; leave your dog at home.

Next day. Mission accomplished. I have found a cooperative bull moose in a meadow. I am easing my way up to him, I am gaining his trust, he ignores me. I maneuver for better position. one hour elapses; I want to get him skylighted, I am on the verge of getting some really good pictures. Then I hear it; it's the voice of my wife yelling Daryl! Oh Daryl! Daryl, where are you? The moose dashes plum over the skyline to Jackson Hole. Daryl! I have to go to the bathroom, and I am hungry and I was worried about you, there's bears out here you know. Lesson; leave your wife back at camp.

Next day. Daybreak, I have left camp early enough that no one wanted to come with me. I will have to remember this for the future; I am driving around looking for something to photograph then I see it. Some large mountain sheep rams heading up a cliff like hillside. I don't miss a beat, in a flash I grab my equipment, I scope out the situation, I figure If I head up a ravine next to the one with the Rams in it, I can get up near the top then I can cut across into their ravine. Breathless from exertion I set up and wait for them to work their way up to me. If you stock them, you spook them. However, they will come up close to you if you don't appear to be a threat. It takes a little more planning and strategy, but it works. I'm ready, the rams look at me I look back, no problem. They come into range, I snap a few pictures, I run out of film, I check my empty pockets, I feel stupid. The rams meander past me at 20 yards, skylighted on the ridge they look over at me and laugh. Lesson; drink more coffee in the morning, you might function better, or bring the wife along, as annoying as it may be, she is always reminding you of everything.

The next morning I was photographing a bull elk next to the Gibbon river with my 300 mm lens. This guy pulls up and jumps out of his car and yells to his wife and 2 year old, come here! we found a tame one. Then promptly positions himself half way between me and the elk and starts firing away with his pocket camera, The elk lays back his ears, stomps his feet and prepares to charge. I intervene and move his wife and child to safe ground then I prepare to watch a show of survival of the fittest. I feel like Marlin Perkins. A guilt trip sets in so I reluctantly warn him of the peril he is in. It was hard. Lesson; beware of neophyte photographers and be prepared to help the witless.

One afternoon while touristing around we decided it was time for lunch. We thought that we would be clever instead of smart for a change. Earlier we had passed a small boiling hot spring about three feet across. We figured it would be perfect for boiling hot dogs so we returned to it and proceeded to prepare our lunch. Into the spring we threw a package of hot dogs. We spread the checkered tablecloth on the ground and readied our buns. Have you ever eaten a sulfur favored frank?

Yellowstone is always a marvel no matter what you do. You could use my trip as an itinerary and still have a wonderful experience. Yellowstone is just one of those special places. I will be there again soon, armed with my new knowledge and prepared for new lessons learned only the way that I can learn them.