Posts Tagged ‘Wyoming’
Yes, a layout today, and a bit of a twist on The Story Behind the Click. All of us have these types of photos – ones that bring you straight back to that place and time. You see not only the photo, but all the surroundings and you can almost hear the conversations that went on. This is the journaling that should go with your photos no matter how you record your life – no matter what your end purpose of the photos.
Grab a photo today and write your story behind a click.
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The big slide in Cody, Wyoming. Not long ago, it was deemed a huge eyesore by someone advising the town and down it came – and it was time for it to go. But in this photo it was the new big attraction in Cody. That’s me in front (gangly and all) and my sister behind. The photo was taken by Ruthie, my grandfather’s cousin. We were her only family and she loved photography. In fact she (being a teacher) was the first one to help me learn how to compose my shots better and the first one to say to me, “get closer and fill the frame.” During this time in the 1970′s she hoped to break into stock photography as a bit of extra retirement income and this was one of her photo shoots. She got permission from our parents and treated us to quite a few times down the slide.
After climbing the stairs for the umpteenth time, legs aching, we’d wait until she was ready (she did handle those harsh bright light/shadow contrasts well), and called out to us to slide down. On this one, she requested that we hold up our arms. I’m not the ‘arms up and smile while you’re terrified’ type on rides, but screwed up the courage and did it simply because I knew it would make for a better photo for her. Of course my trepidation made my solid and rarely ruffled sister just roll her eyes. Of course, she got the coordination gene that I didn’t.
I now have Ruthie’s slide collection and while some of it has been scanned in, I need to scan more. I cherish so many of the photos she took – she stayed with us for part of each summer, and often at Christmas. Her photos are a unique snapshot of that time in our family’s life. I can see now how she, too, struggled with the creative effort every photographer (or artist of any medium) faces. I think she had a few minor successes at stock, but nothing in her records indicate she was ever accepted at an agency. But she was a success. Her success, though, wasn’t fame or fortune – it was simply doing what she loved and connecting with those in her life. I can still hear her laughter.
As I work at building my own stock collection, Ruthie often crosses my mind. At times it feels as though she’s standing next to me just on the other side of the veil, supporting and encouraging me as always. When I take what feel like enormous steps, I screw up the courage to do the “arms up and smile” thing even if I’m terrified as I take that step. And I keep in mind that success can be defined in many ways. Doing what you love and connecting with others in your life – making memories – definitely counts as tremendously successful.
Happy Friday!
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I think all artists have to define success for themselves – just so you know when you hit your own ‘success.’ And while none of us can define it for another person, we sure can recognize it and celebrate it when we see it in someone else.
Not long ago, an artist friend of mine made a leap that I certainly see as well deserved success – Deb Trotter, the Cowboy’s Sweetheart licensed some of her work to be featured on leather items. I saw her post the other day about a second licensed work for Icon, and I cheered for her and made a mental note to ask to see them next time I headed up there. Then today the UPS truck brought me a Valentine’s package from my folks (FedEx brought me my repaired camera early this morning – a day for things coming in, I suppose). The “Val and Tiny’s Day” gift was filled with goodies yet to open and yummy cookies (THANKS, MOM!) and an extra surprise from Deb and WOW – it looks SO good!!!! This little key coin purse is the perfect size for when a cowgirl wants to travel light – just what I love. THANK YOU, DEB! And CONGRATS on such a wonderful “Living Deliberately” example!
I may not get to this every Friday, but today I want to start telling a bit more of the story behind the photos. My inspiration comes from watching videos at LensFlare35. I listened to Brenda Tharp’s a couple of times – having taken a class from her at Better Photo a couple of years ago, I watched the video immediately, and then had to watch it again. It’s really another way to document life with words and photos – which, of course, I love. Hearing her tell the story behind the photo helps me to better see her vision behind the click.
As I’ve worked on the organization of my files rather heavily this week, the videos sat in the back of my mind prompting me to better define what captured me enough to make or simply take the image. And in helping me to better define my vision, writing out the stories like this should help.
Last August I headed to Yellowstone for three days. West Thumb holds a special place in my heart and I stopped there a few times on this trip. Between Fishing Cone (just the rim is sticking out of the water over there on the right) and Big Cone (far out of view to the left) I noticed these boards. Maybe a dozen or more of them. I honestly don’t recall seeing them before and checking other photos taken, I’m still not sure if I just missed them. If I hadn’t had the time on this trip to make it to West Thumb for sunrise and sunset shots, I wouldn’t have worried about trying to get something more stunning. However, I did have time, so arriving back at West Thumb a little before sunset and using a polarizing filter to cut through the glare on the surface of the water, I took a few shots. I have one where Fishing Cone is the focus, but this one intrigues me more simply because of the unanswered question: What are they from? The old dock? Were they dislodged from a resting place by the underwater thermal activity? I’m not sure if anyone has an answer, but I’ll start digging and see if anyone knows.
While processing the image, I worked to bring it to what I remembered the scene to be. While the sunset wasn’t one to stun you, there were a few moments where the spectrum of soft colors nearly took my breath away. I was pleased to take the ordinary shot in extraordinary light and having just the rim of Fishing Cone exposed was icing on the cake for me. I hope you enjoy it, too.
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I love West Thumb. I think it’s among my favorite spots in Yellowstone. Don’t get me wrong, I love the large geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin, but what brings me back time and again isn’t them, but rather looking for changes. I try to take photos of darn near everything I see. It’s a cataloging project unto itself, but I love seeing even the small changes in the smaller features. It’s the main reason I really wanted to start really knowing the thermal features better. I knew there were changes, but without photos and notes and knowing the geysers and hot springs well, I didn’t really trust my feelings on what I saw.
Plenty of folks watch the big stuff. I watch those, too, simply because they’re fun, delightful and amazing, but I equally like to watch the smaller stuff. And, in particular, West Thumb. Going to the Park while growing up, we always came in the East Entrance and very often stopped at West Thumb, and through this it grew near and dear to my heart. Being on the shore of Yellowstone Lake, it’s just a gorgeous and relaxing place to spend a day. Since really organizing my photos by date starting in 2005, I’ve done this – especially at West Thumb since there aren’t a whole lot of hot springs and geysers to keep track of. Though now, I need to step it up to some sort of album.
During this last visit, again, I noted quite a few changes in some features, and virtually none in others. One, in particular changed by heating up since June. Seismograph Pool was lined with green microbes in June and here, in August, it’s a hot, clear blue – too hot for the microbes to live. The hot spring beyond it, Bluebell Pool, looks unchanged.
Comparison of Seismograph Pool in Yellowstone from 2007-2009
In 2007, I was told that by a few folks that West Thumb was cooling off all over. Many thermal features sat low in their craters, but others had heated up. This type of year-to-year and even season-to-season observation intrigues me more than anything.
Collapsing Pool didn’t change a whole lot since June of this year, but it did boil slightly every time I watched it in the three days in Yellowstone. The arrow shows where the boiling is (hard to see it smaller). My notes and photos in June don’t show that.
Collapsing Pool Comparison 2005-2009, West Thumb, Yellowstone
And another set from the very top of the Lower Group at West Thumb (the main area you walk around). I don’t think color in this one has changed, but rather the difference in how the light hits the upper pools. That same color shift seems to also show in the lake water. However, looking closely, you can see that not all of the pools changed levels, but a few did.
West Thumb Upper Pools (Mimulus Pools here) Comparison 08-09 in Yellowstone
There are more changes, but the one that struck me the most to watch is a patch of ground down toward Lakeside Spring, right near the water, next to the curve that takes you across the lowest boardwalk. I didn’t notice it when there with lots of folks, too much noise. But the morning I walked West Thumb at sunrise, I could hear a slight sizzling sound – not unlike the lid on a pot of boiling water that has a steam release hole – and noticed the newly dead grass here. A bit of water showed, but not much. I waited long enough to have enough light for a ‘good enough’ photo of the spot. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a new thermal feature there soon.
Dead grass + slight sizzling = New Thermal Feature at West Thumb?
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Sunset at Abyss Pool, West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone
Guess where I’ve been! Yep, back to Yellowstone. This time treating myself to three wandering-filled days and two nights at Grant Village. I didn’t really walk the thermal features much in June simply because it was so cold, and the steam covers them up. However, this time I had just perfect weather the whole time! These days were sandwiched between some cooler/colder ones, so I’m grateful for the warmth that allowed me to add to my Yellowstone collection.
While coming in one night to Grant, I overheard a gentleman on the phone with someone ‘back home’ and the one-sided conversation clicked for me as to why scrapbooking Yellowstone can be so very difficult.
“Well…yes, I suppose relaxing.”
“Yes, we’re having a great time.”
“Just busy – it’s relaxing in a way, but very busy.”
“Oh, we’ve been doing walks around things and these half day hikes.”
“Just always busy.”
And that’s it. Yellowstone has so very much to do that a week or even a month isn’t enough time to get it all in. And you’re busy. Always busy. The family in the room next to me came in one evening when I did and they all looked slightly sunburned and definitely windblown with that exhausted glazed look in their eyes. At least for me, I’m going down in altitude, but for most, it’s much higher than they’re used to. I did pace myself, but still pretty much went beyond the limits Fibromyalgia sets for me. I imagine another 3-4 days and I’ll be back to full speed.
Trying to scrapbook these action-packed, 500-photos-taken days quickly becomes overwhelming. In looking simply at these three days, I could almost do a mini-album for each day! So, I’ve created an outline for myself to follow, based on my ‘just the facts’ journal and browsing through the photos.
Wed, Aug 12
- Driving In (didn’t take many photos)
- Steamboat Point
- West Thumb – walk through and notes of changes in thermal features from June – Kayakers
- Out to West Yellowstone to meet with a client – Saw military helicopters – Secret Service stuff for Obama’s upcoming visit.
- Back into the Park – stop at Fountain Paint Pots area
- Firehole Lake Drive
- Stop at a pullout on way to Upper Geyser Basin for some macro fun
- Back to Grant Village to check in – Dinner at the Lake House
Thurs, Aug 13
- Up early to try and beat the sunrise. Almost made it. Got a few good shots – LOTS of color due to wildfires in the West.
- Drive to Old Faithful in hopes of a nice backlit early morning eruption – almost made it. It erupted while I was still in the Old Faithful Inn parking lot.
- Walk Geyser Hill to see what I see. Walk to Grand to see what the prediction window is. Walk to see where Beauty & Chromtatic are and notice that Oblong looks promising. Wait 3 min or so and watch the eruption. The wildflowers look fabulous this August!
- Off to see if I can catch Great Fountain – arrive to find I missed the first series, but stayed for the others.
- Back to the Upper Geyser Basin to stroll through Black Sand Basin.
- Back to Old Faithful to find all of it blocked off (other than the gas station where I bought water and pop) for Obama’s visit. Watch a very pretty and tall eruption of Old Faithful and move along back toward Grant.
- Stop at Isa Lake where the water lilies are all in bloom.
- Wonderful dinner at the Grant Restaurant (Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Grilled Chicken). Overheard a comment about the last bloom on the fireweed is a sign that summer’s over. Yep, that makes sense.
- Head over to West Thumb for sunset photos.
- Download photos and hit the sack.
Friday, Aug 14
- Up and out before sunrise today – drive to West Thumb for sunrise shots. This becomes the best moment of the trip – I’m the only person there for the first half hour – quiet except for a few cars on the road and the sounds of the thermal features. Chilly morning – the warmth from the sun definitely helps.
- Back to Grant Village to check out – but stop first to watch some bull elk interact with each other in that golden morning light.
- Pull in to check out and find the cow and calf elk by the Post Office.
- Head over toward Old Faithful. Stop at a hillside I noticed last year (?) that has springs coming out of the lower part of it. Take a closer look and wonder about it a bit more – add it to the list of ‘things to watch for changes.’
- Stop again for macro work on some flowers I wasn’t familiar with. They line the drive from Grant to the Upper Geyser Basin.
- Breakfast at Old Faithful Inn.
- Wander through OFInn taking photos. Outside and in, preparations are being made for Obama’s visit – hear a rumor he might cancel due to the weather which is expected to cool considerably. Workers pulling weeds, painting, sweeping, and dusting.
- Overhear someone saying that Silver Spring is erupting – head over to get some photos and watch it for a bit.
- Watch Old Faithful with the crowd – really a pretty eruption.
- Decide to head to Norris as the road is still open for now – walk through Porcelain Basin and find I have a full card when Constant Geyser decided to erupt. sigh. Still pretty to watch. Walk the Back Basin and decide that’s enough walking for now.
- Stop at the Chocolate Pots.
- Start working my way back out the East Entrance, stopping at Mary Bay to let the wind and sun and spray wash over me for a bit – really large waves, and yet the birds riding them appear as though on calm water.
- Stop a few times on the way up Sylvan Pass – never quite ready to leave, yet I’m too tired and I really don’t want to be in the Park when all the hoopla over the president is going on, so keep moving east.
Relaxing? Yes. Restful? Not really. Delightful? Definitely!
Now to carve out time to start scrapping just the three days.
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This vacation has progressed differently than I originally thought – but it’s all good. I thought we’d have more time too head into the Park, but my lower energy level this year has us hanging around Hebgen Lake more. We’ve got a lakeside spot at Yellowstone Holiday and simply watching the birds and the water relaxes us both. Plus, we’ve gotten to know the delightful staff here a bit better.
The ever changing water surface
Wildflowers near Yellowstone
Wildflowers near Yellowstone
Wildflowers near Yellowstone
Wildflowers near Yellowstone
Wildflowers near Yellowstone
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We decided to visit some of the less visted thermal features of the Upper Geyser Basin. Here are some of the photos from the day:
Mama and Baby Elk along the Firehole River
Then we parked in one of the pullouts near Biscuit Basin and hiked in to Daisy Geyser. Really a pretty walk.
Bison Trails in the grass made as they pulled the mud along
Marmot Keeping Watch
A large patch of Shooting Stars in the marshy areas
Oblong Geyser - the steam from the large area the eruption water covers
I watched Daisy from just below it - a different angle
More Bison Trails in the Grass
Beautiful Black Sand Pool
Ferns in an old crater that still bubbles, but the water level is low
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Well, not terribly old photos – ones from Yellowstone in 2007. This double rainbow was just incredible, but I hoped to merge two photos together to capture it all. I tried various combinations with no luck until now! Just tickled to get this one done and ready to add to my stock portfolio.
Beehive Geyser with Double Rainbow - Yellowstone in Fall © SnowMoon, LLC
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Ok, one more post on this perfect fall day in Yellowtone. As I was driving out, I think it was along near Sedge Bay, but it may have been Mary Bay, I just don’t remember. I was tired and determined to NOT take any more photos (unless it’s a griz, I told myself). But the foliage was so stunningly spectacular, that I had to stop. The trees along North Fork may not have been terribly far along, but the undergrowth was near its peak.
OH – and I saw one lone bull bison making his way over Sylvan Pass – my folks saw him at the top last weekend. Hope he makes it through hunting season if he leaves the Park - I know three or four of them did last winter.
Happy fall!
Fall Colors along the Shore of Yellowstone Lake
Fall Colors on a Hillside Next to Yellowstone Lake
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Yellowstone - West Thumb Geyser Basin - Mimulus Pools
Bear Warning Sign
In working to put together this post, I’ve checked my reference books (by the way, the 4th edition of T. Scott Bryan’s book, The Geysers of Yellowstone is out – sold out in the Park, but GOSA still has some copies), and it seems to me that upon closer a closer look, it’s really only the central portion that seems REALLY low. Thumb Geyser (or, at least I’ve always guessed this is Thumb Geyser – no sign, but it matches the location on maps I have) is a good representation of the differences in water levels for that area. In 2007, this feature was about as low in water, but it wasn’t agitated much that I could tell. This year, it was definitely more active, sloshing about in the crater and boiling harder at times. I didn’t think I caught a photo of it this year, but with a bit of work on the file, I was able to pull out the water in it.
June 28, 2005 Photo of Thumb
Sept 14, 2008 Photo of Thumb Geyser
Comparing photos, the features that were this low were:
- Percolating Spring
- Ledge Spring
- Surging Spring
- Collapsing Pool
- Thumb Paint Pots
Bluebell Pool and Seismograph look virtually unchanged from photos from last year, and Lakeside Spring also seemed at the same level, and still hot enough to not allow growth of microbes. So the small earthquake that affected West Thumb in early July, apparently didn’t affect everything.
The Thumb Paint Pots, though, were non-existant. No mud cones that I could see, and the water in this area just slightly moved back and forth – and if you looked closely, you could see ripples from a bubble that didn’t’ make it to the surface.
Yellowstone - West Thumb Geyser Basin - Thumb Paint Pots - Sept 14, 2008
Again, looking at photos, Perforated Spring, Ephydra Spring and Blue Funnel Spring look close to what I saw in October 2007. Twin Geyser(s), though, was back to being more full of water. In Oct 2007, the photo shows two empty holes, with perhaps a bit of water down at the bottom of them (from another angle). This year, it defitinitely looks more alive.
Yellowstone - West Thumb Geyser Basin - Twin Geyser(s) - Oct 15, 2007
Yellowstone - West Thumb Geyser Basin - Twin Geyser(s) Sept 14, 2008
Yellowstone - West Thumb Geyser Basin - Fishing Cone - Sept 14, 2008
- Feature near Lakeside Spg Comparison
- Feature Near Lakeside Spg Vent Comparison
It was late in the day and I still had a couple of hours of driving to do to get back to Cody, so it was hard to pull myself away, but it was a perfect fall day in Yellowstone! Hope you enjoyed the report!
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