If I were told that I could only concentrate on one genre of photography for the rest of my life, it would probably be landscape photography, as much for the process as the subject. Making landscape photographs transports me to a place of intense focus that usually lead me down one of two paths.
Often, its like composing a complex classical symphony for a full orchestra. One of the ways to strengthen a design is to limit the elements you include and in photography I can do that through the use of light and shadow as well as changing my point of view. Still, there can be dozens of elements that have to be arranged into a harmonious composition, and not all of them seem to fit at first.
On the other hand, after 4o years of making photographs, there is often a kind of grand calculus going on in my head that I’m not always aware of on a conscious level, a kind of instinctual process where I compose and select camera settings in order to achieve my vision of the photograph I wish to make that is much more like playing smooth jazz than composing that symphony.
Both processes can lead to compelling photographs, and in the end, isn’t that all that matters?
Grand Prismatic Spring, Portrait 1
I first visited Yellowstone National Park in 1977, and now live at the north gate to the park. The natural wonders of this magical place are incomparable and I am deeply attached to the region. Since my first visit Grand Prismatic Spring has captured my attention like no other feature in the park. I’ve made thousands of photos of it in all seasons and all weather conditions, but the one shot I lacked was Grand Prismatic from the air. In 2023 2 photographer friends from England, David and Paul, were coming to photograph in the American west, including Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. In pre-trip discussions they asked me for suggestions of lesser photographed subjects or unique takes on popular ones. When I suggested shooting Grand Prismatic from the air they instantly said, “YES!” According to the he US Geologic Survey, the diameter of Grand Prismatic Spring at its widest point is 370 feet, or 112 meters. The colors that make Grand Prismatic famous are a result of extreme organisms (organisms living in conditions once thought too “extreme” for any life) living in the hot water. The center of the pool is near boiling temperature and has a brilliant blue color. Away from the center, different thermophilic, or heat loving, species thrive at different temperatures, giving the pool the its characteristic colors. Grand Prismatic produces huge volumes of steam, which makes arial photos impractical. However the steam is reduced to near zero on the hottest days of summer, making this the best time for a clear photo of the colors and details of the spring. A cloudless day is critical, and mid-day is the best time to attempt this, allowing the sun to illuminate the spring to the greatest depth and show the colors at their brightest. We booked a helicopter for what we hoped would be a good day, but clouds and high winds left us grounded. My friends had just one more day before leaving and fortunately we were able to change our reservation. The next day was perfect. We boarded our doorless helicopter in the late morning for our single looping pass over the park and Grand Prismatic at 2000’ (610 meters) above ground level, allowing for both sides of the craft to have equal opportunities. When I returned home I realized that I had finally made the dramatic aerial photograph I’d been dreaming of for decades. If you look closely you can see visitors on the boardwalk above the spring. This photo was made on 07/18/2023 with a Canon EF 100mm macro lens on a Canon R5 camera, from a helicopter!