Mammoth Hot Springs, a photo from Wyoming, West

Photographer's Note

This is the top of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. I was there in the early morning and it was actually lightly raining when I took this. It felt like a b/w day with how much overcast there was to deal with. I looked on my LCD on my D200 and thought they looked b/w on my screen so I figured I’d approach this one the same way.

I know the white area might look like snow but it’s actually a pure form of travertine. What’s happening here is that the very hot water loaded with calcium carbonate is flowing through the area and creating the travertine rock through a sedimentary process. Travertine rock is actually used as a building material and was in fact used in the Coliseum in Rome. The purer the travertine is the more white it has in its color.

In the middle of the shot that is steam rising from the spring and not fog, hence the name Mammoth Hot Springs. Taken around 10am.

avene, andante, lilimih33, broken_nail, ChrisJ, Tue, ramesh_lalwani, chicken, plimrn, doubay, cessy, cunejo200, jhm, sabyasachi1212, AmiBe, papagolf21, Emile, aloyho, Didi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

avene (12675) 2007-11-13 17:14

excellent shot of a stunning primeval scene, quite hard to believe this is Earth right now, looks more like some planet still in the making. I definetly like the b&w option you've chosen, it emphasises the shapes and textures that would "disappear" a bit in a colour version; it also adds drama to the shot since notion "colours" are quite often associated with "cheerful". I also like your composition and how the line of the foreground fallen tree crosses the line of the trees in the center of the shot mirrored by the distant mountains in the background and patch of grass in the foreground, I find it ties the scene together (no idea if I'm making sense here :)) great shot.
best,
Kristine

emilbo (22616) 2007-11-13 17:19

Allф Stephen!
C'est vraiment merveilleux cette photo, зa me rend malade, j'aimerais pouvoir en prendre de semblables. C'est du travail de Pro. Зa me rappelle le temps ou je faisait du N/B. J'aime particuliиrement les arbres mort а travers ce magnifique paysage. Les tons sont parfaits en passant du blanc au noir par tous les tons de gris.
Fйlicitations!... et bonne fin de soirйe,
Emilius

andante (7092) 2007-11-13 17:22

Hi Stephen, this is not your regular shot. This is not the image that you accidentally take and push your Photoshop knowledge. There was planning and vision behind this image. Bravo for a successful shot!
Cheers,
Enrique

Krendo (31) 2007-11-13 18:01

Amazing shot, I love B&W and love this shot. Good work.

lilimih33 (9918) 2007-11-13 18:10

Hello Stephen!
Fantastic atmosphere in your B/W composition!
Intersting place!
Perfect clarity and good perspective!
Excellent done!
Best regards!
Lili

Luciana (2269) 2007-11-13 18:29

sureal...
a foto ficou interessante.

um abraзo,
Luciana.

Cormac (26565) 2007-11-13 18:55

Wow Stephen, this has a look of total desolation, with those dead trees and that steam rising all around. This could be something out of a movie. Great idea to use black & white too, as it really enhances the mood. Excellent work!

batalay (41261) 2007-11-13 20:04

Hello Stephen,

This is a very effective shot of what appears to be desolate land. But in these hot geysers there is teeming life, I understand. I have thoroughly enjoyed your shot from your trip out west. I think Ansel Adams would have been immensely jealous. The week following Thanksgiving, my good friend Hakan Delic, superb TE-photographer in Istanbul, is coming to the DC area for a few days. We should all try to get together in Georgetown for glass of wine or beer at Tombs in Georgetown. Would you be interested?

Warm regards,

Bulent

PJE (20758) 2007-11-13 20:35

Steve excellent choice presenting this in black and white. It really adds to the mood. It makes me think I am on a very different planet. Very nicely done Steve!

broken_nail (190) 2007-11-13 20:47

Hi Stephen,

this place is amazing and your choice for B/W is perfect!

Thank you for your note, it makes the shot even more interesting!

TFS
Regards
Gatti Matti

stellar_girl (302) 2007-11-13 23:40

Brilliant, the sahes of gray are perfect. Great B&W picture.

Regards

Luciano75 (0) 2007-11-13 23:48

Hello Stephen

Indeed looks like snow melting in hot water.
Really stunning shot.Those dead trees and the steam,the B&W works perfect here.Excellent work.
TFS

Regards,
Lucian

PixelTerror (0) 2007-11-14 1:28

Hi Steve,
Wow an impressive place, and turning it into BW was not a bad idea as it emphasizes its mordoresque dimension, and your blacks are very powerful, probably designed by Sauron himself ;-)
Have a nice day JY

ChrisJ (171818) 2007-11-14 1:38

Hi Stephen

Wonderful graphism of the 5 dead trees, against the lighter bg, with superb sharpness & tonal range, in this outstanding b&w image. I hope to visit Yellowstone next year. Tfs!

Tue (92312) 2007-11-14 2:34

Hej Stephen,
A very impressive view! The B&W works wonderful for this photo and helps to create a very interesting atmosphere, together with the steam and the silhouettes of the dead trees. Very well done and thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

wolf38 (30) 2007-11-14 3:00

Hello Stephen. Which for a fantastic photo in b&w. Dramatically in the screen layout and exemplary in the grey tones. Light, nebulas and the special tendency make this photo a masterpiece. Best regards, Wolfgang.

chicken (1557) 2007-11-14 4:46

B&W works great here, and the dead trees are just perfect. Besides the postprocessing I also like the composition with four trees standing on one diagonal and the fallen one lying on the other.

jcdurka1 (1950) 2007-11-14 6:33

Great shot that show us a very mysterious atmosfere enhance very well by the B&W version.
Well done,
Jean-Claude

plimrn (21344) 2007-11-14 6:50

Hi Steve,
An amazing work that truly cries out for B&W; the excellent light management give fine detail of the steam. It looks like an shot straight froim hell, or at least Southern California after the fires have passed through.
HLJ, pat

danyy (0) 2007-11-14 7:21

Bonjour Stephen,
une vue trиs lugubre que le b&w renforce encore, bien que les couleurs ici eurent йtй les bienvenues.
Un note interessante sur cette formation rocheuse spйciale.
Amitiй de Liиge.
Daniel.

doubay (674) 2007-11-14 8:09

Hi Stephen!
Looks like after the merciless attack of the Martians. Artistic capture with a very nice gloomy-spooky mood.
Regards
Andreas

carper (96) 2007-11-14 8:20

marvelous one Stephen,
fantastic atmosphere, good pov, a fantastic image for a album or cd. good photojob I like it na lot, have a fine day.
gr. jaap

baba_flies (8829) 2007-11-14 9:13

Hello Stephen! "Planet" Yellowstone, strange and beautiful at the same time, and I find it very well chosen that you went for black/white. I like the dead trees standing out with the steam coming up, definitely giving the impression that this was taken in another world. Excellent ... Barbara.

cessy (13647) 2007-11-15 2:53

woooww... marvelous BW landscape picture
the mood, the contrast, all are fantastic
the combination of dead, rigid trees, fogs, .. simply awesome

cunejo200 (7281) 2007-11-15 3:21

Hello Stephen,
A very admireable shot. Well planned and executed. Great tech details as always. Regards, Danilo

jhm (211736) 2007-11-15 3:27

Hello Stephen,

You chose for BW, I think that colour also a very great picture be shall.
The vapor above the water give a excellent atmosphere together with silhouettes of the dead trees.
Very well done. Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

mumek (20226) 2007-11-15 3:29

Good morning Stephen!
Fantastic scenery , looks like from another planet. Good choice of [email protected] colours, superb magical athmosphere.Very impressive, artistic work!
best regards
ziggy

Mishe (3533) 2007-11-15 11:27 [Comment]

Show Comment

sabyasachi1212 (19779) 2007-11-15 19:31

Hi Stephen,
This is a landscape and natural phenomenon totally unfamiliar to many of us. And it is exquisite too. Perfect choice for B&W. Your note is very informative too.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

jemaflor (147046) 2007-11-16 3:47

Hi Stephen,
impressive effect in b&w to show this dead valley, well composed with a good place in your shot with these trees, the mity background gives alos a good result.

AmiBe (6042) 2007-11-16 11:11

Hi Stephen,
impressive landscape... a nuclear war has begun...
Nothing alive in the perimeter...
Fortunately this is just my interpretation of this picture :)
The b/w really suits this picture.
rgs

quantabeh (5205) 2007-11-17 21:00

oh wow. look what we have here. I am totally impressed. If I were you, I would send this one to a photo contest. This is unworldly.
congrats man, one of the best in your arsenal.
Behrang

cam (9043) 2007-11-18 11:49

Desolation, that's the word that comes to my mind from looking at this picture Stephen.
B&W, is sure the way to go for the best atmosphere, much better then a clear sky, I am sure.
The trees are in fact giving a dimension to the composition, as otherwise it will be an empty picture.
ave a good day
charles

danielswalsh (13597) 2007-11-19 21:01

Great shot Stephen!

You REALLY have a winner here dude... Excellent exposure, intriguing subject matter, sharp detail and a good choice for B&W. This one goes in my fav's...

Well done!
- Dan (22 days)

papagolf21 (152607) 2007-11-20 0:58

Bonjour, cher Stephen,
Magnifique photographie d'un lieu qui semble remonter а la nuit des temps.
L'ambiance gйnйrale est parfaitement mise en scиne.
La rйalisation mйrite des fйlicitations.
Bravo !
Amitiйs.
Philippe

Emile (20352) 2007-11-20 9:03

Interesting shot Stephen.
A different atmosphere from your regular shots posted in TE, something new from you. Good B&W work in this lonely and desolated composition. Very well captured.
Well done.
Greetings from Miami.

aloyho (6798) 2007-11-30 1:43

Hi Stephen,
I fully agree that BW is the best and most effective way to present this shot. I am stunned by the atmosphere here and the lovely spot you have chosen allowed me to enjoy this scene to its fullest. There is nice depth and fallen tree lead us nicely into the composition. Congratulations!!!

Have a great weekend and thanks for the tip.

Didi (61589) 2007-12-02 1:57

Hi Stephen
I wonder whats looks the colour version of this nice shot.
Interesting steamy ambiance in this outerspace composition.
Cheers.