Yellowstone NP Spring 2010

[KevinBarrett]

I returned earlier this month from a 3000 mile road trip to Yellowstone National Park. I've pent most of my days off sens then sorting through and processing the 1300-odd pictures I took there. Most were shot with the Sony a700 + Minolta 70-210/4 "beercan," which was, unfortunately, the longest lens I had with me. Let me know what you think!

[KevinBarrett]

Not all of the pictures here are from within the park (obviously there is no center-pivot irrigation within Yellowstone), but naturally there are pictures from along the way. The trip wasn't just about getting pictures of wildlife, but also about making an insane trip in an impractical car.

[bossel]

I like 1,3,4 and 5! Kind of low contrast, but works for me!

[KevinBarrett]

...and what car would that be? A 2300 pound roadster. There was plenty of pointing and staring, and one other person in a Miata tracked us down at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge to congratulate my wife and I for making it there safely.

[KevinBarrett]

I like 1,3,4 and 5! Kind of low contrast, but works for me!

Thanks! A few of these ended up with less contrast than I would have liked when I moved them from IDC to PS6. I'm not sure what happened, but I was just trying not to clip shadows or highlights.

[sury]

I love #1 and #3. Especially the contrast between the spring like weather in #1 and the late winter of #4
are very striking. It's amazing how such vastly different macro climates exists in such a small space.

With best regards,
Sury

[Juanito200]

Kevin I congratulate you on your automotive fearlessness, taking a loaded Miata that far... #1 and #3 are my faves, along with the shot of the Miata, and a Unimog??? John

[KevinBarrett]

Thanks guys! And, yes, that's a big, giant, bear-proof Unimog. They were filming a wolf dragging an elk carcass out of a river.

[Dr. Harout]

Nice series, Kevin.
I wouldn't dare travel with such a car for a long trip. You're quite bold.
More please (pictures, I mean)

[KevinBarrett]

Thanks Doc! I might make a similar trip again, but not with the intent of camping. There was so much in the cabin with us that it became a great ordeal if we ever wanted to put the top down...but it could be done. Staying in motels will greatly decrease the cargo.

Plenty of bison roaming around with their winter coats still on--that's just one of the benefits of going to Yellowstone in the Spring. The other benefit is no mosquitoes!

[Juanito200]

Great bison shots.. Where there throngs of people in the park, or is spring a pretty good time to go?

[KevinBarrett]

Hey, "throng" is my word! There were actually very few people there, and in that regard it was quite pleasant. The reason there were very few people, however, was that the temperatures hovered between 10 and 30 degrees Fahrenheit and most of the roads in the park were closed. While we were there, you could drive between West Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Old Faithful. So, there was no Yellowstone Lake, no Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, no West Thumb, and so on. About two thirds of the park roads were completely inaccessible. I should point out that, because of the off-season, lodging rates outside of the park were quite reasonable.

Time for some elk:

[david antony]

Glad you had a good safe trip Kevin.
I enjoyed all of your photos especially
the Bison. Thanks for posting.

[Juanito200]

Whoops missed that one Kevin. Thronging hoardes sounds better anyway. Vaguely naughty sounding though.. I'd definately brave the cold to miss the crowds. Keep 'em coming John

[mikehawthorne]

i would love to be able to photograph bears in their natural surroundings, your shots are great and i am envious.

mikehawthorne