Yellowstone sunset.... Jerry Mercier

I was back in Yellowstone at sunset. Waiting on Great Fountain Geyser.

Every time I'm in the park near the Lower Geyser Basin around sunset, I check on Great Fountain Geyser hoping it will erupt.

Over the years I've waited for lots of eruptions that never came. 

And eruptions that started long after dark.

But tonight, I was right on time.

As the terraced pools filled and then overran with water, the geyser started erupting.

Steam rose and blocked the sun creating a golden pinkish hue.

A visitor walked the road near Great Fountain Geyser.

As the sun moved toward the horizon.

The eruption lasted nearly an hour. With long pauses between huge bursts of water and steam.

I did my best to make some cool images and take it all in.

I was in no hurry.

And there was no place I'd rather have been.

So I stayed until the very end. 

Once the sun had set and all the color was gone, I packed up my gear and just sat there.

And waited. 

After a while the first stars became visible, then several coyotes started howling in the distance

A bat flew low overhead, and a breeze carried the scent of lodgepole pines.

 

Just another beautiful night in Yellowstone.

At sunset... Jerry Mercier

I've shown up early to photograph more sunrises and sunsets than I can remember. 

More times than not things don't work out and the results are disappointing. This was not one of those times. 

I was in Yellowstone and waited for Old Faithful to erupt late in the afternoon.

As soon as Old Faithful was done erupting I got to my car and drove to the Lower Geyser Basin about fifteen minutes away.

I made a good choice and arrived in time to capture the sunset sky reflected in the terraced pools of Great Fountain Geyser.

It was a beautiful evening.

The only thing that could have made it any better, was if Great Fountain Geyser had erupted just then.

It didn't. So I continued to capture the beautiful sunset sky and colors.

I stayed until well after the sun dropped below the horizon.

Until most of the light was gone.

Finally I left Great Fountain Geyser and moved just down the road, stopping at White Dome Geyser. 

I stayed until the last color lit the clouds but not long enough for its next eruption.

In Yellowstone... Jerry Mercier

A while ago I spent an afternoon at the Lower Geyser Basin in Yellowstone Park.

I followed the boardwalk to Clepsydra Geyser just before sunset.

The boardwalk was empty and I had the place all to myself.

I used slow shutter speeds so steam flowed across the images.

A brisk northerly breeze kept the spray and steam moving across the frame.

As the sun got closer to the horizon the colors got even better.

Clepsydra Geyser erupts almost continuously so I always had plenty of water and steam to work with.

It was just a question of composition and then enjoying the evening.

Another beautiful day in Yellowtone.

Before I knew it the sun had set and it was time to leave.

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.