days7 and 8

One last trip down Madison River before heading towards Jackson on Day 7 and a further days travel through Wyoming to Saratoga. 290 pictures and 340 miles in the 2 days. I must admit I could have spent at least another couple of days in Yellowstone. One can easily underestimate the time it takes to travel around the area and road works did not help. There is a huge variety of subject matter for the photographer - landscape, natural history, close-ups, waterfalls, spectacular thermal activity - a vast area of scenic beauty.

The morning mist on the Madison River was once more very photogenic and as I headed towards West Thumb the sun burnt through the steam and mist to create really photogenic conditions. I spent a very pleasant 45 minutes or so taking variations on the subject matter varying composition and exposure.

As I drove south of West Thumb more autumn colours forced photo stops

This is one of the few pictures taken in the traditional way using the F4 and a focal length of 300 mm to capture these two fratenising in the trees.

Lewis Falls is near the road and worth a quick stop. It is very near the south entrance to the park.

Three shots made up this panorama taken at Oxbow Bend with the Tetons in the distance and stitched together in Photoshop.

Two shots of the Tetons from Snake River overview. An infra red filter and black and white setting was usd on the left hand picture and a polariser on the right hand one.

I visited the old Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlings. It was opened in 1901 and only closed in 1981. Hot water was not installed in the cell blocks until 1978. The paintings in the cafeteria (above) were done by one of the inmates. Hanging was replaced by the gas chamber (right) in 1937 and Perry Carroll was the first man executed in Wyoming by hydrocyanic acid gas.

After a 2 hour stop In Rawlings I headed South to Aspen Alley in the Bow-Routt National Forest. Though the fall colours were not quite at their best in the alley itself (2nd above) the colours in the surrounding area made it a worthwhile visit. I then went back to Saratoga to stay at a local motel.