Painting with Photography

I'm just playing with the new filter software.....

The above image is along the Norris Basin area in Yellowstone.  I loved the colors in the original photo, and the steam from the springs rising up.  I applied an oil painting filter to this one and like look of the brush effect.  Sort of adds to the wispy look of the rising steam.

The image above is of the bison grazing in the Hayden Valley (also in Yellowstone) at dawn.  This time I applied a watercolor painting filter.  I really liked how pronounced the brush strokes were with this particular filter.  It adds a texture to the piece that I like.

And, finally, this image is using a pastel painting filter.  It's of the early dawn at Hayden Valley, too.  I like this effect, as the colors of the dawn did have a sort of soft pastel feel to them at this moment of the sunrise.  It's also interesting how the different painting filters really work with the different images.

 

Enjoy!

Spotting Elk

We were lucky to see elk a few times in Yellowstone as well.  Atho they aren’t obviously as potentially dangerous as the bison, if they catch you with those antlers – ouch!!

 

This was one of the first elk we spotted…..when we came upon a major traffic jam as everyone stopped to look or take photos of this guy!  We were just standing there when we heard there was an elk up ahead.  Jeff suggested that I get out and run up ahead to see if I could get a good shot.  I’m glad I did because by the time Jeff caught up to me in the Jeep, this guy had moved off into the woods.

 

This is the same guy just before he moved off further into the woods.  I really like the lushness of the forest, tho!

 

Along another road in Yellowstone, we spotted this other guy munching away!  Again, the colors of the vegetation were really pretty and complemented this guy wonderfully.

 

I really like this image of yet another elk just sort of enjoying the morning sun.  He was very relaxed and seemed to be unaware of the people viewing him from a distance!

Enjoy!

Life as a Bison

Since we often found ourselves driving thru the Hayden Valley, we got a good look at many bison going about their daily activities.  Here are just a few photos that help capture that…..

 

One time, we were lucky enough to see a number of bison crossing the Yellowstone River.  This herd seemed to stay in this area.  They did migrate southward while we were there, but didn’t ever leave the valley.  This was also a large herd – perhaps numbering close to 1,000!

 

There were a number of baby bison in the herd, altho this shot was one of the sweetest that I took of a mom and her baby.  Whoever would think one would use the word sweet when talking about a bison?

 

This was a rather unnerving situation.  When the bulls started fighting with each other, they were pretty much oblivious to anything around them.  That’s ok, except when they are just up the little bluff from our Jeep, which was stopped in traffic.  I certainly hoped they kept their tussling up there on the bluff and not bring it down the little hill!

 

I won’t use the word “sweet” again, but the baby bison are sometimes pretty cute!

Enjoy!

Bison on the Road !

If you are in Yellowstone, and drive thru the Hayden Valley, you can just about bet on seeing some bison (aka buffalo)!  And, they are not shy about sharing the road with whatever’s driving on it!  Of course, it’s really the human drivers who are doing the sharing…… 

 

It wasn’t unusual for us to have to slow to a leisurely 2-3 mph when driving thru the valley.  But, you just can’t rush a bison.  If anyone tried to toot their horn (which, of course, no one would), the bison might be startled and butt into whatever vehicle is closest – and a 2,000 lb. animal can really do quite the “car butt” if it chooses to!

 

Here’s a bison passing us on the left.  Never mind that the passing was happening right down the middle of the road.  You can see a bit of the motorhome on the road going in the opposite direction from us.  Both of us just pulled over to the shoulder to give Mr. B a wide berth!

(Insert Bison approaching)

And, here’s a guy walking down the road toward us.  Frequently, when a bison starts to cross the road, he decides walking on the road for a bit seems like a good idea.  Who are we to argue?

Enjoy!

Nature along Sheepeater's Cliff and the Gardner River Trail

It was hard to take my eyes off the beautiful river views as we hiked this trail.  However, when I did, there were also some beautiful sights to behold!

 

Thickstem Asters were truly in bloom throughout Yellowstone when we were there!  Here’s another really pretty view of them, with rocks as a backdrop.  Seems like this is another one of those images that is just asking for a quote to be added!

 

We met up with another marmot, climbing among the rocks from Sheepeater’s Cliff.  He was pretty oblivious to us, just enjoying the morning!

 

What a perfect pose!  This little butterfly was hovering around these sorts of spent blooms, but landed once with his wings perfectly spread to capture the beautiful pattern of his wings!

 

And, this is another perfect image of a butterfly!!  I was actually taking photos of the rocks because the texture intrigued me when I noticed this butterfly fluttering about.  When I focused on him, he suddenly landed and struck this pose.  Here’s another image that I think I may need to “play” with to create an art piece!

Enjoy!

Walking the Trail at Sheepeater's Cliff and the Gardner River

One morning at Yellowstone, we stopped at the trailhead for this trail, and since it was rated an easy one, decided to try it.  We were accompanied on this trail by the river on one side, and the cliffs on the other.  The further we walked the fewer people we saw.  Altho we only walked about a mile or so total, we did find ourselves alone with all this beauty before very long!

 

When I said the river was on one side, it truly was right next to us for a good portion of the trail!  Here’s a spot where the water, trees and sky just came together to create a beautiful scene!

 

Here’s another view a bit further down the river, right before a cascade.  If you look closely, you can see a mountain in the background!

 

Here’s the view of the river after the cascades.  This was at the point where we turned back, as the trail seemed to get more strenuous.  However, we were definitely alone at this point, and able to enjoy the view in solitude.

 

And, before I forget, here’s a view of the cliffs that were on the other side of us!  The cliffs were really interesting due to the texture of the cliffs – very different from typical cliffs.

Enjoy!

Magical Morning in Yellowstone

One day as we headed out early, an incredible sunrise greeted us.  It was one of the most amazing sunrises I’ve ever seen and I’m sharing it with you…..

 

This was one of the first images I shot this morning.  I thought it was breathtaking, but had no idea of how much beauty was still in store for us!

 

How many opportunities does one get for this type of shot?  When the geese started to take wing, Jeff rolled down my window in the Jeep, and I got my camera up and shooting!  It was so unbelievable, I couldn’t believe it.  I think I kept repeating that to Jeff – I couldn’t believe how beautiful this all was!

 

I think this image looks somewhat like an Impressionist painting.  It’s so pretty and gentle, it somewhat mutes the bright sun that’s just about to peek over the trees.  The sky is also really incredible, as the clouds provide a texture to the sky.

 

I could go on and on with images, but I’ll end with this one.  The absolute calm and peacefulness of the morning is summed up with this image.  The sun, the trees on the far shore and the vegetation on the near shore all add some texture and a great feel to this image.

Enjoy!

Bison on a Misty Morn

There will be more bison photos in a subsequent blog, but I wanted to include these images from a magical morning one day as we headed out to see more of Yellowstone.  It was an incredible morning, not one that I’ve seen that often…

 

Here’s a bison (buffalo) grazing, totally oblivious to the beautiful sunrise behind it!  The over-riding feeling of this morning was one of a peaceful way to start the day.

 

Here is more of the herd grazing in the morning.  The misty sunrise adds such a gentle touch to these beasts that seem to be anything but!

This image is a great profile of a bison as the herd seems to be heading toward the sun.  And, the sun thru the mist takes on a surreal glow.

I really like this last image – the sunrise, the bison and the mist moving across the water behind them.  What a great way to start the day.

Enjoy!

Mammoth Hot Springs

I’m not certain, but I think that this area was perhaps one of the first developed in Yellowstone.  It is one that is open year ‘round, and is the first place you come to when you enter Yellowstone from the north.  This is a huge hot springs area, altho some of the springs seem to have sprung, if you catch my drift, so all that’s left in those areas is a sort of prehistoric looking landscape.  You’ll see…..

 

It’s very hard to see from photos, but the more colorful part of this image is where the hot springs are actually flowing down, as a sort of boiling, steaming waterfall.  It’s a rather surreal sight, but is how these hot springs came to be formed.  The sentiments just sort of built up on top of each other until you have this enormous collection of hot springs.

 

This gives you a better idea of what I meant by some of the springs having sprung.  The foreground of this image is of just that type of area, completely dry (at least now), with mineral deposits left over that reminded me of salt, altho I don’t think that’s what it was.  I’m not certain if this spring is completely dead, or just “resting”, tho!  In the background, you can see a spring that’s actually looking more like a little geyser – in any event, definitely very active.

 

The springs are so large, there’s actually an auto driving “path” to follow to drive up among the hot springs that make up Mammoth.  This is one hot spring that was actually flowing steaming water, altho you can’t really see it from the photo.  The color seems to be the giveaway.  If there’s color, the water (and oxides) are flowing, creating color!

Enjoy!

Driving the Upper Loop at Yellowstone

One day while in Yellowstone, we drove the Upper Loop all the way up to Mammoth Hot Springs.  There were a number of interesting sights to see – take a look!

 

 

Yes, road work even in Yellowstone!  There’s nothing truly artistic about this shot – it was just the enormity of the rock face that made me take this shot!

 

As we drove up Chittenden Road (a little side trip), there were a number of flowers blooming.  I was especially taken with the beautiful, huge, dandelion head that was there, completely intact!!  I don’t think I’ve ever seen one this pretty before!

 

One of the other pretty sights along the road was this lovely waterfall, called Undine Falls.  I don’t know why, but I never really thought about Yellowstone having so many waterfalls!

Enjoy!