Tag Archives: full moon

Yellowstone National Park’s geyser basins are some of the most geologically active areas in the world. In addition to the many dozens of geysers that punctuate these basins, the region also percolates with other geothermal features such as hot springs, fumaroles, mud pots, and travertine terraces. This is all due to the fact that the entire area sits atop an ancient active caldera and super volcano.

Acres of scorched, lifeless earth, the pervasive smell of sulfur, and drifting steam through the air gives the impression that you’re visiting a different planet, not the one with which we are so familiar. And in a national park no less! So as I set out to capture the landscape during a recent visit, I wanted to avoid being too literal, too documentary in style. That’s usually my photographic intentions anyway – imparting my own personal interpretation of a place through my photography that appeals to the emotions, not the intellect. But his place is so surreal, so different, that I wanted to take that artistic philosophy to yet the next level. Thanks to some imagination, a full moon, and some dramatic weather and clouds, I was able to capture, to my satisfaction, Yellowstone’s geyser basins through the filter of my raw emotional response to these surreal landscapes.

MIdway Geyser Basin and Firehole River under the light of a full moon, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Canon 5D Mk2, 17-40mm @ 40mm, 30 seconds, f4.5, ISO 320

Fountain Geyser with sunset light, Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Canon 5D Mk2, Canon 24mm TSE, 1/250 second, f16, 320 ISO

Sapphire Pool, Bisuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Canon 5D Mk2, 24-105mm @ 70mm, 0.4 second, f14, ISO 100

Mustard Springs at sunset, Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Canon 5D Mk2, 17-40mm @ 21mm, 2.5 seconds @ f16, ISO100

Clepsydra Geyser at sunset, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Canon 5D Mk2, 24-105mm @ 60mm, 1/80 second, f10, ISO 640