Boardwalk leading line at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Travertine colors at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Sunlight gilding the travertine, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Killdeer on the travertine, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
I will be the first to admit that, when I would see photos in books of the Mammoth Hot Springs area, my first thought was “how dull-looking that place is.” In truth, it takes a personal visit to see this amazing sight. Some friends I know still say this is nothing like it used to be, but as a photographer, I can tell you that wonderful images are still there for the camera, as long as you are observant and take some time to put a little thought into your composition.
For instance, the boardwalks around there bring to mind wooden roller coaster rides. Spend some time creating interesting leading line compositions of the boardwalks.
Get some close-up images of the travertine formations you see. The colors are saturated, and if you are there during a sunrise, the formations are gilded with bright gold-yellow.
If there are interesting clouds in the area, include that in your shots.
And look for wildlife – particularly birds. I saw all sorts of killdeer hopping around the terraced springs. Their coloring blends in with the rusty hues of the travertine.
Copyright Rebecca L. Latson, all rights reserved.
