Nikon 7100, 1/400 sec. f6.3, ISO 125, 18mm (18-300 f3.5-5,6 Taken on the Matador Wildlife Management Area.

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If you are staying at Cibolo Creek Ranch be sure to take the mountain tour. An interesting drive is the Pinto Canyon Road, FM 2810 from Marfa to Ruidosa. From Ruidosa you go to Presidio then north back toward towards Marfa. Starting at Marfa gives the best views. First part paved then gravel to Ruidosa. It says high clearance vehicle but that means don't try it in a Ferrari. Toyota 4 runner no problem.

There are several private tours available for Yellowstone, check out Trip Advisor. For hiking you might have a hard time finding one where you would be isolated. Do carry bear spray and LEARN how to properly use it. Aside from Yellowstone's beauty reserve some time for Grand Teton National Park. The visage of the Tetons can almost take your breath away. They make a stunning backdrop for the photographer. The Moulton barns, the Shane cabin, from the classic western 'Shane', to the Schwabacher Landing and the Oxbow Bend of the Snake river the photographic venues are almost endless. My wife and I toured Yellowstone and Grand Teton in 2017 for the solar eclipse and I returned to Teton in September 2019. Both times I spent a day solo with professional photographer and tour guide Daryl Hunter. It didn't take long to bond a friendship with Daryl. He is a terrific person without a big ego who just wants his clients to take home some keepers. You can google him or check out The Hole Picture safaris, I promise you will not be disappointed. I have included a few shots from the Tetons.

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Nikon D7100 with 18-300 3.5-6.3

Nikon D7100 with 18-300 3.5-6.3

A bit of advice to all of us who spend time afield. Regardless of age there is always a possibility of tripping. If possible resist your urge to recover, you will just pick up momentum and you're going down anyway. Last fall while in the Tetons a sagebrush root grabbed my right toe. I managed to ease the fall by going down right knee, right elbow, right shoulder, rolling to my back while holding the 7100 and 18-300 lens safely above ground in my right hand.

I have used Cotton Carriers, hip holster and the Scout, for several years and recommend them over any camera strap I have ever tried. Used both with a d7100 with a 18-300 lens quite comfortably but preferred the off center chest carry of the Scout. I tried out the 200-500 around the house and realized I wouldn't want to carry it for long. At 84 and in summer weather I am limited to about two miles anyway. At 75 your balance is probably better than mine but be very careful of where you place your feet, You don't want to trip and fall forward, talk about pressure on your chest! Down steep inclines, side step it.

I can with my D7100's and the Sony RX 100 111 but Lightroon doesn't recognize the nikon A1000 camera at this time. At least not my Lightroom 6.

Camera Nikon A1000, Approx. 90mm, ISO 400, f 5.6, 125th sec. I was trying for a light and shadow effect similar to the old Dutch masters, Since my Lightroom doesn't accept the A1000 I was left with playing with the exposure. A slight under exposure of the white flower left the shadows nice and dark.

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Suscribe. $97.00 per year! That's 26 cents per day! I would wager everyone on this forum wastes more than 26 cents a day on things far less valuable.

Leica IIIf, 50mm Elmar 3.5 Kodachrome ASA 10, year 1952. I was a junior in high school at the family hunting lease when I caught up with three REAL cowboys.

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Aurora microfiber cleaning cloths. Three individually sealed wet and three dry cloths, $12.00 B&H. $4.00 per cleaning seem kind of high but I wanted something that would fit in a shirt pocket for emergency field use. As a test I used one set to clean five lenses and had plenty left over so they could be used for a periodic cleaning of several lenses. For lens tissues I have found Bausch & Lomb wipes to be less streaky than Zeiss.

The photo of the elk required a bit of luck in that he did not move. The shot was taken 10 to 15 minutes before sunrise. Nikon 200-500 mm at 370mm, f5.6, 1/4 sec ISO 200 hand held braced against the car window frame. I was so excited and afraid he would disappear I didn't think to greatly increase the ISO.

Toured Yellowstone and Grand Teton in August 2017 and Teton again the last week of September 2019 to catch the color change. Yellowstone is wonderful and Teton is a photographer's paradise especially the eastern part. Most of my keepers came from Teton. The Moulton barns, Schwabacher Landing, The Oxbow bend of the Snake river with Mt. Moran, the opportunities are almost endless. If you would consider a personal guided photo tour I can recommend professional photographer Daryl Hunter. I spent a full day with him on both trips and consider him a friend. Unlike some he doesn't heed to impress you with his prowess. He just wants his clients to take home some keepers. Google Daryl Hunter Photography.

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It's a little more than your budget but consider the Siuri A 1205 carbon fiber with the Y-11 ball head. It fold to 14.5 inches weighs 2.2 lbs has a load capacity of 22 lbs and one leg detaches to become a monopod. $219 at B&H.