<p>An adult male grizzly chases ravens off the carcass of a bison at the Grand Teton National Park carcass dump. The dump was set up as a safe place away from tourists to put the bodies of animals killed on the road.</p>

An adult male grizzly chases ravens off the carcass of a bison at the Grand Teton National Park carcass dump. The dump was set up as a safe place away from tourists to put the bodies of animals killed on the road.

Photograph by Charlie Hamilton James, National Geographic

15 Majestic Views That Made a Photographer Move to Wyoming

Mountains, wildlife, and wide open skies inspired more than great pictures for our photographer.

Ever take a vacation and think, “I could live here?” For English photojournalist Charlie Hamilton James, that’s exactly what happened. Hamilton James and his family traveled to Grand Teton National Park on holiday in 2007, and when they were offered the chance to move there as a part of National Geographic’s special coverage on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, it was a no-brainer.

“It blows my mind every time I look at it,” he says. “To me it's the most beautiful place I've ever been.”

The assignment was meant to be temporary, a year to 18 months. Hamilton James enrolled his sons (then aged 7, 10, and 13) in the local schools and explored the territory with his camera.

Hamilton James says no

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