I’m back at home watching the snowfall after an amazing week in what is truly a winter wonderland, Yellowstone NP. Most go there for the critters which is understandable. Personally, I love being in Hayden Valley which, while it can have critters, it’s its vast expanse of white that grabs my imagination. The snow blows in from the west and blankets the landscape in white, molding and sculpting the hills and valleys, the creeks and draws into seductive forms and shapes the wind howls through in an unique call of the wild. That chill of the wind bites at your cheeks and numbs the finger making the whole experience personal and very real. It tells you that you’re alive and witnessing Mother Nature at her finiest.
We had the opportunity to shoot in Hayden twice when the sky added the needed backdrop of speak of the drama. For me, just any old sky doesn’t work for this white sculptures. Nor does any old finishing, here one is in color and one is B&W … tell which is which? The shooting is pretty straight forward, D4s with +.07 dialed in to minimize shadows. The 24-70VR at 28mm nailed all the detail which is so important as there is little and without it being sharp, the softness of the shapes wouldn’t come through. The real key ingredient though is being lost in the silence of the experience, embracing the cold and taking those feelings and incorporating it all when you go click. It was a rich, full week of experiences, views, emotions and insights that are good for the soul of a photographer. None as special though as being in such an environment and enjoying the silence of snow.