Yellowstone Sepia Snow | a 7 Image Story

Jan 6, 2019 | 7 Image Stories, AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED, AF-S DX 12-24mm f4G IF ED, AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED, Black & White, Nikon D200, Nikon D300, Nikon D3x, Places, Yellowstone, Yellowstone Sepia Snow

Yellowstone Sepia Snow | a 7 Image Story  At this time of year I like to look forward to visiting Yellowstone in the winter, even if I am not planning to go.  There’s nothing like Yellowstone in the winter.  It’s my favorite time to visit.  Yellowstone always provides perspective and introspection whether in color or B&W.  Over the last several years, I have had the good fortune to visit Yellowstone on numerous occasions spanning all seasons.  Every time I go to Yellowstone, the experience changes with new vistas, wildlife, challenges, and accomplishments.  On every visit, it always seems to be my favorite visit.  And, on every visit, I learn more about my photography and more about myself.

On the other hand, winter in Yellowstone can be so beautiful, and at the same time, so grueling for the wildlife.  It’s -20° F along the Madison River; yet, because of Yellowstone’s thermal features the water does not freeze.  Bison lose so much weight from fall to spring just trying to survive the Yellowstone Winter, nine percent of adult bison will die during the winter.  Many of these bison entered winter in poor condition due to age, disease, or injuries.  Young bison face a higher risk of dying: 20 – 40 of every 100 first-year bison die from accidents, winter exposure, or predators.  Yellowstone is a land of fire and ice while beautiful and harshly wild.

At Yellowstone, the rain and melted snow seeps into the earth. The cold water gets warmed by heat from molten magma deep underground.  The hot water with dissolved limestone rises up through small fissures.  Once above ground, the dissolved limestone solidifies into a white, chalky mineral called travertine.  Travertine forms the terraces at Mammoth Springs as well as many other formations.

The Yellowstone River does not look like much of a river in this image as it flows northward out of the park, but it becomes a nice size river as it travels further north. This image was captured the day after the first major snow of the season in mid November in the far northern part of the park just a couple of miles from the northern entrance.

Firehole Falls are located about half a mile upstream from the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers at Madison Junction.  With only a 40 foot drop, Firehole Falls aren’t real tall; just majestic, with unsurpassed rugged beauty. The falls lie about a hundred feet below the road.  It’s a difficult decent and climb back up from the river bottom; in fact, it’s dangerous. Actually, the rangers have now blocked off the way down to the river. Too many people were falling; it’s really steep.  I would not try it again.

Normally, I don’t like wildlife images in a B&W format, but this image seems to work.  This coyote is hunting for voles during the first snow in Yellowstone.  Coyotes are very good at finding the voles.  They can hear them in their underground burrows.

Each image will be posted individually this week under category Yellowstone Sepia Snow.
Click any image below for a slide show!