September 17, 2005 Yellowstone Camp

September 17 2005
Fishing Bridge
Yellowstone Camp
Wyoming

Woke up to rain that turned to snow as we drove up into the higher elevations. Glad the trailer was left at camp. The snow increased and at the top of the pass the road was closed so we headed back down. Made a few good images but I’m having trouble photographing here. The animals, especially the elk, pose in perfection as I set up my camera and just as I’m ready I get a look like “ya liked that huh?” and they walk off. Perhaps I’m paranoid but it sure seems that way. The landscape is so varied and I feel at home in the meadows and with the distant vistas but in the forests it’s a different story. Very difficult for me to find order within the chaos of the trees. I watch the other photographers here, which there are many, and the all have long-very long- lens. For the animal work it is obvious why, but also with the landscape- being able to isolate the subject from the background becomes very important. Using the wide lens is demanding much more thought, and it’s forcing me to understand the order within the chaos, or perhaps simply to accept the chaos as it is and record it. Yellowstone will be a learning experience. I have been focusing on the vistas, geysers and obvious stuff but tomorrow I’m going to force myself to walk among the trees.
Henry is quite the unhappy puppy here! The park is so very restrictive and he spends his days mostly in the car. Questions like, Why can’t I swim in that water, Why can’t I chase that bear, Why can’t I play with the people in the campground??? Seem always in his eyes.
The park is weird, even at this time of year it’s crowed and where ever you go there are people but no one speaks to each other. It’s like coming to the wilderness to seek solace and finding tons of people there. Your chooses? go home or pretend all those people aren’t there. Everyone is friendly but it’s like being in NYC no eye contact and as little interaction as possible. It must be insane during high season. Overall impression is that the park is designed for folks to stay in one of the big resorts and take the tour bus to all “the spots” then go home. Very little focus on individual exploration. Even now the parking lots around the park are crowded- you mush have to wait hours to park during the high season.
It is truly a magical place, though, and a good learning experience for me. I do wonder if I am limiting myself with the exclusive use of the wide lens but it is part of the trip and I ain’t gonna change now. It forces me to keep getting closer and closer to what I am photographing and to understand the relationship of thing. It’s interesting to try and do intimate work with a wide lens.
Hopefully the clouds will clear and my bright blue sky is on the horizon.

Henry Waiting