Making the most of it ... Jerry Mercier

I don't get to Yellowstone very often anymore. So when I do, I like to make the most of every day. 

This is how I spent the afternoon the last day of October in 2021.

I stopped by Great Fountain Geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin to see if the terraces were filled with water and if the geyser was likely to erupt. They weren't and it wasn't so I drove up the road and waited a bit for White Dome Geyser to erupt. (as seen in both of the above images)

It was still early with clouds in the sky to the west. Perfect for what I had in mind. I last photographed Lone Star Geyser a few years earlier and today was the day to go back. 

Parking for Lone Star is a few miles from Old Faithful near the Kepler Cascades. From the parking lot it's a 2.5 mile walk one way along the Firehole River on an old park road.

I parked the car, took my camera, tripod and some water and began walking quickly towards the geyser. 

Lone Star erupts about every three hours and I wanted to make sure I would be there to photograph an eruption before sunset. So I hustled, knowing I may have to wait three hours if the geyser erupted just prior to me getting there.

When I reached the geyser I checked the light, chose a good location, put my camera on the tripod, sat down and drank some water. 

Three other people were there. A woman who'd been waiting a while and a couple who'd passed me on their bikes during my walk in. 

I was only there 10 minutes before I heard water splashing near the top of the cone.

I checked the settings on the camera, left my jacket and water by a tree, called to the others to give them a heads up and started making some photos.

The geyser shot water 50 feet or more into the air. During the eruption wind blew water and steam in my direction, getting both me and the camera wet.

I had to keep changing locations and wiping the lens off as I continued photographing the eruption.

By using a polarizing filter and paying attention to the angles a rainbow was visible in the spray.

If the sun went behind cloud or the angle between the water and the sun wasn't right the rainbow would mostly disappear.

Compose, focus, shoot. Then check for any water on the lens, dry it off and do it some more.

I kept at it until the eruption was mostly over and the geyser was shooting only steam skyward. Clouds partially obscured the sun and it was time for me to go. 

The geyser would be in shadow before it next erupted and if I hustled back to the car I could probably still make it to Yellowstone Lake before sunset.

I visited briefly with the other folks that were there as I put my camera away, gathered my coat, tripod and water and started walking back.

I didn't waste any time and walked quickly. The couple on bikes passed me about a half mile before I got to the parking lot. They were still putting their bikes on the car rack as I got in my car and left.

By the time I got to Yellowstone Lake things were looking pretty good.

The water was calm and clouds filled the sky.

I love images with reflections of the sky and so far the conditions were just right. There wasn't much wind, there were beautiful clouds and sunset was just around the corner. 

With a little luck this could turn into a very colorful sunset. So I fashioned a fairly comfortable seat out of driftwood along the lake shore and kept working while I hoped for just the right light and lots of color.

As the sun moved low towards the horizon the clouds disappeared and the colors never came. 

Mostly just blues and blacks.

Nevertheless, I stayed until well past dark and was in no hurry to leave. 

Just another beautiful day in Yellowstone.