Antelope Island State Park
Maybe it is because I am Kansas girl that I love Antelope Island so much. I grew up seeing wheat fields, wide open plains, meadowlark and bison. So, I absolutely feel most myself in UT when I am at Antelope Island State Park. This is a beautiful place to view the Great Salt Lake. It’s got hikes, biking, camping, a restaurant, and great views of wildlife - such as buffalo and antelope. Not to mention the salt water is so reflective that sometimes it creates a perfect mirror of the mountains or sky.
If you are going there to take photos of the bison be sure not to get too close (because they can sometimes guard their territory and be a danger in the process), follow the state park rules by not stomping on the vegetation to get a closer look, and bring a telephoto or good zoom lens. This way you can still see and capture the beauty of the bison but at a distance.
The trick with animal photography is patience. Bison eat about 24 pounds of dry vegetation a day. That means they need to graze and then rest a lot! With all this munching it is hard to get a good shot of the face. So wait a while, (the land is peaceful to be in anyways) and when the bison get tired of their grazing place, they will lift their head to find another - giving you an awesome shot!
Antelope Island is also great for portraits. It’s got so many lovely, warm earth tones that it is great for any client that likes muted colors and nature included in their session. It’s also not over-crowed which is one thing I personally love as a photographer.
Next time you’re in UT and wanting to have a campfire with friends check out Antelope Island State Park. Best times to visit are in the Spring or Fall to avoid Brine flies (that don’t react to bug spray) and come out in full force in the summer.
