Road trip day 10: Yellowstone National Park

 Today it was cloudy and raining so it wasn't looking like I would get any shots today so I just went exploring some areas I had yet to see getting soaked in the process. 

It wasn't long before I wished I had been around the trails near Old Faithful sooner as there were two shots I really wanted to get, but the rain meant they would not look good so I continued round and headed back to the car. 

But on the way back the sun started to appear from the clouds so I rushed to get my gear and was so happy to get the shots. 

The second one is one of my favourites from Yellowstone. 

Road Trip days 6-9: Yellowstone National Park

I had a little lie today after my 2 5am wake ups then headed to Yellowstone for the next leg of my trip. It's a 2.5 hour drive from Teton Village and I arrived at 2pm and headed straight to the 'attractions'. 

I started off with the Geyser Basins, it's an amazing place, but big so lots of driving to get the interesting spots. 

Luckily it's nice and quiet as the season hasn't quite started, this wouldn't be a dun place in peaks times with people constantly walking on the wooden platform walkways wobbling your camera all the time. 

I love how it looks like a wasteland on another planet. 

The tough thing about this park is it's very well photographed, so that means I need to try take different shots, hopefully my style is achieving that as I don't want the same shots as everyone else. 

I would spend 20 mins or so in each spot waiting for the wind to blow the steam coming off the pools just the right way, most of the time it would blow at me so I'd be in a steamy rotten egg smelling mist. 

All through the park I would come across Byson wondering the roads.

They almost knew which side to walk on!

I then went to the famous old faithful geyser and had a 40 minute wait before she finally went off. It seems she is not faithful any more as her timings are becoming less predictable, quite a sight but the surrounding landscape and the light was a bit dull. 

I think I will mainly photograph the small details here, as the wider landscape is fairly boring, but I did spot  a shot looking over the middle geyser basin that I went to for sunset but there was no colour in the sky tonight. I will be back another night, maybe on a clearer day when the sun is lighting up the steam from behind. 

For my second day in the park I explored the east side of the park, there wasn't much going on thermally open at this time of year but I stopped at Yellowstones best waterfalls, its just a shame there is only 1 vantage point for them so I didn't take a pic on my medium format since it would only look like everyone elses shot. 

Whilst I was getting shots of the landscape most people around were tourists and wanted shots of them in the landscape, one Asian guy even spent 20 mins in the same location of as me on his own taking pictures of himself in front of different things in different angles, he was going cazy!

It made me think I should atleast get one of me there. 

Next was Norris geyser basin, lots more pools although these less colourful than the basins near old faithful. 

Mammoth hot springs was my last stop today, with more beautiful colours being created on the rocks as the hot water flows down the terraces.  Apparently this place regularly changes as the water flows change and looks totally different today than it did 30 years ago.  

I also spotted an opportunity for another self portrait. 

I was in the area at the perfect time for the low sun, but my last shot of the day of the main spring didn't work out as the sun dropped behind some trees before it could light up the terraces perfectly. I will have to come back tomorrow early when the sun is at the right angle. 

I rose at 5 am for my 3rd day in Yellowstone since it was meant to be a clear day, and it was. Lots of shots were presenting themselves as I headed back to some spots I had seen yesterday. 

Driving along the Madison river I could see it steaming in places, something I didn't see yesterday as I drove past midday, so I searched for a spot to capture it, the steam coming from it is very subtle and was more visible in motion. 

I don't shoot wildlife unless I can get them within a beautiful landscape and today I was very lucky as the Byson were in the perfect place in front of the lower geyser basin, a shit that is a little dull without them there.  When I arrived all the Byson were all lying on the ground but after a bit of waiting a few started to stand.

I then headed back to mammoth hot springs, 

It's a nice shot but still not perfect., I should probably have headed here first but the Byson shot is far better. 

For sunset I headed back to the spot or the geyser basin to get the sun shining through. 

Just I had finished taking this shot I was moved by the park rangers as apparently there are bears around so they don't want anyone off the main trails or roads. 

At the time I thought it sucked as I may miss out on a nice sunset, but I remembered a spot I saw earlier and headed there and it ended up being far better than the the shot I would have got of the whole basin. 

A great days shooting!

After the last 3 days of long days and early mornings I was in much need of a lazy day so spent my 4th in my hotel room going over the shots and relaxing. It was a cloudy day so nothing was missed, hopefully tomorrow will be nicer for some more exploring. 

Road trip day 5: Grand Teton National Park

I set my alarm for 5am today so I could  head to the Snake River spot I found yesterday for the sunrise, it was nice and clear and after 30mins walking across the hard snow I got this, my favourite shot of the road trip so far and thankfully a nicer sunrise than yesterday.  

Afterward I explored a little and hike up to Taggart lake whilst the snow was still frozen enough to walk on, slowly it gets softer as the day warms up making it difficult to get anywhere. 

There were some interesting creeks on  the way but nothing that jumped out at me to come back for at sunrise. 

I then realised as it was such a clear day I should see about going up

In a plane, so I headed to the local airport and even though they don't do plane rides I was told to speak to some guy who said for the cost of the fuel I could go up, but only if he had time and he would call me at lunchtime  to let me know. Unfortunately he was too busy but it would have been awesome to get some aerial shots for only 20 bucks! 

I then drove through the town of Jackson just outside of the park, first I was greeted with this very easy to read sign. Yes this 1 road is actually 4 different roads!

Shortly after traffic was held up by these Deer crossing the 4 roads, right now in the valley spring is just beginning which means animals migrating to the park from their winter hide outs so this is a regular sight meaning you have to keep your wits about you on the road. 

Entering the town square you are greeted by these entrances, and I have been told they are real!

For dinner I went to the Snake River Brewpub and had an awesome meal - 

Slash & Burn Trout - Pan-seared Idaho trout served on a tomato, bacon, almond, Brussels sprouts & potato hash. Topped with sweet & sour onion relish.

I was in need of this after some of the junk I've had along the way.

   

Road trip days 3 & 4: Grand Teton National Park

It was snowing as I woke, but that soon changed once I was on my way, the sun was out for the rest of the day but all the places I planned to stop along my way to Idaho falls were closed and there wasn't much of interest I could see along the way so I ended up making it all the way to Grand Tetons national park for 6pm after almost 500 miles of driving. 

As soon as I was there I was spotting shots and got this one on the side of the road just before the sun went behind the mountains. 

I decided I wanted to get a night shot at this spot as it is a very clear night which means a night sleeping in my car, but I'll also be able to get a shot of the sunrise too in the morning. 

The night shot was taken on film on my 617 camera so we will have to wait to see how it looks, to give you an idea I took this with my gf1 but this is only 2 mins whereas on film I left it for 4 hours soothe star trails  shoul look awesome. 

After 3 hours sleep in the back of the Subaru I drove around wanting to get a sunrise shot of the mountains reflecting in a lake but they were still frozen so I settled for this as time was running out. It would be nice if there were more to it than just mountains. 

I then explored the park scouting for other great spots for tomorrows sunrise, since the mountains face east sunsets aren't so great. I found a spot by the Snake River that I will get up super early for. 

I drove across this dam spurting water from the bottom like this!

I am so tired now it will be an early night tonight. 

Road trip to new York: Day 2 Washington to Montana

I left the hotel at 10 today having found  Palouse Falls, I decided to head there even though it was a diversion of my course as it looked like it was worth the extra time, and it was.

I spent 2 hours here and hiked to the top of the falls which was actually quite scary being stood right on the edge next to the raging water. I took a video so you could hopefully get an idea of it.

There was also lots of Beavers running around the area, clearly here to enjoy the view.

Afterwards I headed for Missoula, my destination for the night, after 450 miles and lots of rain and snow as I drove though the Valley along route 12 I passed from Washington to Idaho and to Montana all in the day. The weather meant there were no more pictures to be had on the way.

Finding my motel I also spotted this place in Missoula, if only it was open when I passed it at 11.15!