Not All Who Wander Are Lost (Joseph Rossbach)

While leading my Grand Teton Autumn Tour, we found ourselves down near Shcwabacher Landing on the last morning of the trip. The clouds and light seemed very promising and I wanted to get my clients some amazing images to end the tour. Shwabacher Landing is an iconic location and a beautiful one at that. As we drove down the dirt road approaching the first pull out, I could see at least 50 photographers in the upper parking lot and there must have been at least another 20 to 30 shooters already down on the river. I was not concerned about this as I had no intention of taking my group to this spot anyway. While they were assuredly fighting over the same tripod positions, we parked at the first pullout, all alone, and wandered down the river to a secluded location about a 1/2 mile from the parking lot.

We made our way to a location that gave a clear view of the range with amazing reflections in the still waters of the Snake. The light came up and began painting the mountains in early morning light. The reflections were amazing and we felt proud that we took a chance a getting a unique image of these iconic mountains.  So the next time your out in the field and you feel tempted to hit the easy spot, remember the words of Mark Twain – “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” And remember, not all who wander are lost!