A Millennium in the Making

Lower Yellowstone Falls captured by Z R / Z180-600

Even a mile away at Artist’s Point, the pounding roar of the falls thumps your chest. The Lower Yellowstone Falls are gorgeous and can be experienced from a number of vantage points on the north and south rims. In the winter, Artist’s Point provides a view right up the river to the cone at its base and the falls. This was our 24th time to experience and record the falls in winter, a beauty that never grows old and is always changing. I stand there trying to bring all that it is into the viewfinder to share, wondering what it was like in the past, and how it will appear in the future. It’s quite the sight, a millennium in the making.

Pines Outlined in Ice

Pines captured by Z 8 / Z180-600

When the Dew Point is just right, we have fog. And when that happens at the same time as the air gets near the Zero mark, we have Hoar Frost. In Yellowstone, when this all comes together, we have magic! The fine ice crystals stick to everything as the frozen fog settles. The beauty is breathtaking, the magic is everywhere. There isn’t any sound, just a sparkling beauty that grabs my heart as I race around making clicks. It doesn’t happen every winter, but I just love, love pines outlined in ice.

Good Time for a Rest Stop

Lookout Pass captured by Z 9 / Z270-200f2.8

Each bend in the road opened up a new view, each view more spectacular than the last. The clouds were smothering the mountains, the mountains pushing back, producing a wet, sticky snow. The light came and went with the clouds, painting the landscape with highlights and shadows. All I could do was drive slowly and scan every inch of the road for a place to pull over and indulge my need to make an image. Thankfully, a rest stop appeared, and while the ladies made use of the stop, I grabbed the camera and went clicking. I did get a few weird glances as I moved about the parking lot, clicking away. But it was gorgeous. It was a good time for a rest stop.

Huckleberry Had to Wait

The Bitterroots captured by Z 6III / Z24-70f2.8II

Saturday mornings, we typically greet the sun as we head to the Hamilton Airport. It’s where Vonnie is waiting for us with the most delicious Huckleberry Pancakes. Our table on the ramp had to wait though this past weekend as the skies were too gosh darn gorgeous to just speed off. The view from the ole homestead was again, breathtaking as the clouds did their dance. Just to have it out there, I don’t want you to think I really wasted anytime getting to breakfast. Once in the car and the bun burner going, I shot out the window. There was only so long them huckleberry had to wait.

When You Have Just a Sliver …

Yellowstone Backcountry captured by Z 8 / Z180-600

When Mother Nature provides just a hint, a sliver of new snow, you can make it speak volumes with just a touch of light. It would be convenient if She did so for us, but as you can see with these clouds, no light was coming. I turn to ACR Masking for the light. I simply select Objet and, as inaccurately as I can, brush across the top ridge of the mountain. Then I see what AI comes up with for the selection. 99% of the time, the selection is just as random in these instances as if the light was coming from the heavens. Then I simply raise the White and Highlights by maybe Five and bam, the sliver of snow speaks volumes.

Winter Makes Its Appearance

Absaroka Range captured by Z 6III / Z180-600

The tips of my ears were numb, the breeze coming down from the peaks bitter. The light walked across the mountain face as the wind pushed the clouds about. The winter storm that just hit us broke in spectacular fashion, producing photo ops in every direction. The hardest part of the photograph was braving the cold. The Z 6III was in Dark Tone Monochrome, the Z180-600 at 600mm and the rest, a great memory and rush back to the warmth of the truck. It’s with joy and awe that winter makes its appearance.

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