Jeff Diener
Owner, Jeff Diener Photography
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
www.jeffdiener.com
Your portfolio of photography is amazing, from portraits to adventure shots to wildlife, etc. What do you enjoy photographing the most?
The thing I like most about my work is the variety of subjects, locations and activities I get to cover. Every shoot is different--they all have their challenges--but I try to focus on creating the most dynamic and dramatic images no matter what I’m shooting. Getting the shot is the true enjoyment. Orchestrating all the key elements like the light, action, a gesture or composition into one powerful moment...that’s what I love.
Your work has taken you all over the world—why did you choose Jackson Hole as a home base?
I've definitely tested the waters in many other towns and cities but no location in the U.S. comes close to offering what Jackson Hole has. This small town boasts some serious “big city” culture and amenities while being perched in a remote valley surrounded by five mountain ranges, including the iconic Tetons. We’ve got world-class skiing, year-round outdoor recreation, along with amazing photo locations all right out the front door.
What are your favorite parts of Wyoming to photograph?
There’s a huge variety of stunning natural landscapes across the state but I’m always drawn to the northwest corner where I live. The rugged mountains are pretty special to me and the unique landscape of the Yellowstone caldera is an added bonus. If I had to pick one favorite spot in Wyoming, it would be the remote, high-altitude mountain lakes of the nearby Wind River mountain range.
Do you have any advice for amateur photographers who would like to take a great frame-worthy picture of nature?
Simplify the composition of your photos. When you see a scene you’d like to capture, ask yourself what the most intriguing part is—what’s drawing you in? Then make sure you orient your shot to show off that element. The key is to avoid including too much of a view. Keep things simple, clutter-free and composed on the strongest elements of a scene to make a powerful image.
