This is what it's like (see image) to photograph the Moulton Barns in Grand Teton National Park. So much photographic fuss is made over these barns -- for good reason -- yet when I finally arrived I was struck by the simplicity of the scene.

Suddenly there I was in front of one of the most photographed scenes in the West, no grand signage, no locked gate, just the barn, some trodden grass, and trees -- and only one of the most inspiring landscapes I've seen, the Tetons. It's not difficult to see why it's so loved. The photo almost makes itself. The challenge is waiting for the right light, finding the fresh perspective, and putting your own creative stamp on it. I was also amazed that the property around it isn't really controlled. This is why I urge leaving it in better shape than you found it. The scene doesn't change much (let's keep it that way) -- just the way it's photographed.

Because of the popularity of this spot, it's challenging to come up with fresh perspectives and interpretations. The reason you usually see the barns from the same angle is because there's only one perspective that frames them inside the Tetons mountains, and that's usually the most interesting.

However, when shooting the barns July 2013 I had only one day to shoot them, and we had spent sunrise shooting the mountains so we didn't get to the barns until later in the morning. We simply didn't have enough days to wait for the best conditions and shoot every location we wanted at sunrise and sunset. And we tried to use the best conditions to photograph the mountains. But the light was still soft, so I made the best of it.

The sky was bland, so I knew I needed an element of interest. There was a stand of trees nearby which you hardly ever see in photos, so I thought it'd be interesting to frame one of the barns with them. I explained my thinking to my fellow photographing family and they decided they liked the idea and took the shot as well. It was a nice "family workshop" moment. We joked about how this is the new perspective that will sweep the photographic community off its feet. Well, I think it's something different. The idea is when skies are bland, you need something else to enhance the image. I think it works.

There are almost always other photographers at the barns, every day from spring to fall, so you can imagine how many times they've been photographed. Maybe I'm onto something here. The barns are easy to find on Mormon Row with a park map. Once you get there, it's totally up to you how you want to photograph them. That's the beauty; there are no rules. Enjoy the scene and the experience, and leave the property in better shape than you found it!

GYT-0108-2-Edit-Edit This is the Thomas Alma Moulton barn, probably the most photographed of the Moulton barns. Members of the Moulton family still lead restoration efforts periodically on the barn. They have a donation fund to which you can contribute here. When you walk around the barn, try to stay on dirt so you don't kill the grass that makes for such nice photos. Turn onto Antelope Flats Road from the main highway (191/89) going through the park. The road runs into a north-south dirt road about 1.5 miles in. You'll know the spot when you see Moulton's pink stucco house on the left near a dirt parking area. Printed guides are available for a donation. Image created with Nikon D200, Nikkor 24-85 f/3.5 and Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod, exposure set to f/16 @ 1/8 on ISO 100, RAW, Nik Collection filters.

Full resolution image will be available in my gallery for purchase soon. I have about half of the gallery finished. There's much more coming, so stay tuned!

To learn more about landscape photography, check out Joel's workshop and mentoring.