Landscapes are not only my focus in photography but also in my geography research. While photography focuses on wide sweeping landscapes geography looks at the broader landscape as well as singular elements and their connection to the broader landscape topic.
Yellowstone National Park, while not nearly the largest, is certainly a massive park. In square miles it’s nearly three times the size of Rhode Island. My first visit put all those square miles I read on paper into perspective.
We approached the gate in the early evening, still daylight, when the ranger warned that we may not have time to get to the closest campground before it filled. “What? How is that possible”. He explained it was 50 miles to the closest campground. Again, “What?” My mind couldn’t wrap itself around that number. He further warned if we didn’t get a campsite not only would we have driven 50 miles for nothing we’d have to drive back the 50 miles to the exit and another 50 miles back to Cody. Well we didn’t chance it and found a lovely cabin only about 20 miles outside the park.
This put these 3400+ square miles into perspective but the next few days would show me how vast and varied the Yellowstone landscape really is. It is one of the most amazing places I’ve visited in the lower 48 and one of my three favorite national parks along with the Teton’s and Glacier.
Ansel Adams is my favorite photographer and as good as he is even he could not capture the true vastness and sense of amazement of our national parks. Photos can entice us to visit but you will never feel that sense of wonder unless you are fully present, looking on its beauty with your own eyes.
It’s about 10 miles from Norris Basin in the forefront to the Gallatin Range in the back.
And here is my attempt at an Ansel type image…
Geophilia Photography 
Beautiful. Love the Ansel work. 😀
Thank you, none compare to him but he’s always someone to aspire to
Love the B&W version of your final image. Superb! 😉 xxxx
Well thank you. It came out better than I expected.
That’s what the wife said about me last week! Now she hates me… 🙂 xxx
Too funny 🙂
One can never be too funny ,just old and gnarly!
True, true…words to live by
Reblogged this on humanfealty and commented:
Nice
What a stunning landscape, I really like it in black and white, you’ve done it with really nice contrast and tone, it’s lovely.
Thank you. Yellowstone is just one of those places it’s hard not to take stunning photos, It’s a most amazing place
I have always wanted to go, it’s definitely on the Bucket List!
Run, don’t walk, just GO. It’s worth it. Summer, fall or winter. I would love to see it in winter, all those buffalo in the snow and steam contrasted against the frozen land.
Ooh yes that does sound lovely, I’ve never thought about going there in winter!
An impressive landscape and a perfect response to the challenge!
Thank you
Pawsome photo. It’s interesting how the B&W version seems to suggest a fallout after a volcanic eruption…the white of ash and leaning of the dead trees. My human had been to Yellowstone many years ago as a young girl and was very impressed with it all. 🙂
That’s funny about the volcanic eruption fallout, that’s exactly what it is. Good catch:)
Wonderous images! It works well in B & W, but the limited colors and the white at the river stand alone, too. I lived near the Flaming Gorge and I agree with you, Wyoming is nothing but landscapes!