Sunstar over Mount Moran

Oxbow Bend is one of the most photographed spots in the park for a reason — this slow, wide bend in the Snake River lies at just the right angle to catch Mount Moran’s reflection, and in fall the cottonwoods along the bank turn it gold. The sun cleared the ridge right as I framed the shot, throwing a clean starburst across the peak.

Getting the shot

f/18 turned the sun into a sharp, many-pointed star rather than a blown-out disc — a small aperture is the easiest way to get that effect without filters. An HDR blend held detail in both the bright sky and the shaded foreground grass, which would have been impossible in a single exposure at that contrast range.