Glacier Park: Photography Tips
Winter may be brutal but those Montana summers are an absolute dream! Shot on Nikon Z6ii + 14-24mm f/2.8.
The first moment I got into Glacier National Park was at about 4:30am on late August morning of 2021. My friends and I had an overnight caravan from Yellowstone, where we worked at the time. Then we napped. “I fell in love with Glacier from the moment I set foot in it” does not apply in this scenario. However, upon waking up hours later, I was blown away and have been every time returning. They don’t call The Crowned Jewel of North America for nothing! With so much to capture, it helps to have a little knowledge of what to expect, especially with popular spots lined with photographers.
This ‘Crowned Jewel’ is Vast
8 miles and the summit of our hike up The Highline Trail to Grinnell Glacier Overlook. Shot on Nikon Z5 + 14-24mm f/2.8.
Yeah, this park is over a million acres wide. I can be daunting to think of all of the possibilities that you have. Alpine ascents, insane trails everywhere, forests, waterfalls, wildlife, I could go on. If you wanted to cover everything in the park, I would tell you spend 7 full days of adventure to capture everything there is in the height of summertime. Instead, figure out your best plan of attack. Your plan from a Thursday-Sunday (humor me) could be very different from someone else’s trip lasting Saturday-Wednesday. Like any park, try popular trails on days with less visitors. Even in one area, there is plenty to explore. You could spend 3 full days in the Many Glacier region alone. Don’t rush your experience because it’s going to take multiple/extended visits regardless.
Feeling stuck? Take a walk
Capture in a creek in West Glacier. A favorite! Nikon Z6ii + 14-24mm f/2.8.
I’ve been in plenty of situations where I just don’t know what to capture. I think “there’s too much” or “there’s no direction.” While that’s true sometimes, it isn’t always. Reframe it: “maybe I’m seeing too much” “what if I turn around?” “what if I move 5ft to my right?” Always ask the questions, because you will thank yourself for it in post-processing!
Timing
Timing and photography go together like Nikon and…me <3. Timing is a funny thing in this park. It doesn’t mean fly through every stop on your itinerary, it means always be prepared. One minute you’re hiking in the fog of Highland Trail and the very next there are bighorn sheep barreling down the mountain (this literally happened). For all that aspire to snap cool wildlife photos, sometimes it’s not always achieved by searching it out but rather by waiting. I’ve done this plenty of times with an array of success and failure.
I was waiting for some wildlife in this area of Glacier and, sure enough, this big guy came along. I took a some nice shots with my telephoto lens but wanted to capture a different shot. I had just switched to a 70-300mm lens which was perfect for this walk across the street and under the mountains. In hindsight, I could’ve added more depth and really made him shine upon editing but it’s still one of the coolest photos I’ve taken of wildlife! (Nikon D7500 + F70-300mm f/4-5.6 Sept. 2021).
Be Different
Popular spots of The Hikers Paradise have been documented over and over again. Photograph those classic shots for yourself but don’t be satisfied with those alone; you have a style that is unique and you can display it every time you shoot. Use your creativity! Show off the parts of nature that you love the most by telling the story your story in this moment.
equipment - telephoto, tripod, ultra-wide, solid pack
Ah, the joys of the expensive hobbies. Going to mecca of landscape photography can leave blown away with something like your phone. Overtime, I have developed my personal list of must-haves of equipment for locations like Glacier:
Camera: DSLR or Mirrorless {I own Nikon Z cameras: Z5/Z6ii}
Lenses: Could go on but mid-range, ultra wide and telephoto for wildlife/massive peaks. It’s important for the first two to be lightweight, as you’ll be hiking quite a bit for some different perspectives. {I own the z14-24mm f/2.8, z24-120mm f/4, and Sigma 150-600mm f/4-6.3}
Backpack: In a location that requires lots of hiking for your photography, it can make or break you to have a solid pack. There are many greats from brans like Wandrd, Peak Design, Lowepro - some of the industry leaders. Personally, I love the versatility of my hiking packs from Osprey and REI. They have led the way in comfort and, above all, I focus on that while having equipment in carrying pouches within the bag. {Currently rocking the REI 40L Pack, with Lowepro Camera Pouches for trail transport}
Tripod: Necessary. In my opinion, vital in Glacier. The wildlife can sometimes be far from the road and the stability in shooting is a major plus. Not to mention, I’m going to recommend getting out very early and very late so those golden hour opportunities are abundant. Though I have two sturdy tripods now, I’ve worked through more affordable options, which have taught me great lessons and still helped capture awesome shots. {I own two Peak Design Aluminum tripods; solid but HEAVY.}
Capturing Swiftcurrent Mountain at sunrise on a tripod. Nikon Z6ii + 14-24mm f/2.8.
I’ve written notes about how to best utilize the equipment you have. You don’t have to have the best equipment to take insanely awesome photos. If you’re lacking some of this stuff, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGE. As always, get out there and upgrade when you need.
Wildlife spots
One of the main reasons I love this park is because of the ample wildlife photography opportunities. While you can see so much virtually anywhere, there are better areas for different wildlife as they’ll inhabit areas that provide the best ecosystem.
I’m begging you…don’t be famous for the wrong reason. Stay the recommended distances away from wildlife, protecting both parties. 100 yards from bears/wolves, 25 yards from all other wildlife.
Take it All In
My first visit consisted of much less photos than I wanted. With so much area, I wanted to soak in the moment and park first. When I started getting shooting more, I was comfortable and ready to take pictures for the sake of memories alone. This stunning park has so much to offer. Focus on what you can capture and be bold! If your longest lens reaches to 200mm, take a wildlife photo that includes the gorgeous landscape that is Glacier (instead of trying to get closer). If you go to Glacier, send me a photo you took! Give me a reason to go back - I dare you!
