Yellowstone NP - Abyss Pool

[JimFox]

My youngest granddaughter who is 9 years old asked to come with me to Yellowstone NP last week. My 4Runner is set up with just 1 bed in the back, so I had to do a lot of pruning in what I normally bring on my trips to make room for a 2nd bed for her to sleep in. But it was well worth it, as she had the time of life and is still talking about it. We spent 2 nights there, I did have to give up shooting my planned Milky Way timelapses, though we did go see and photograph some single Milky Way images because she wanted to see the stars and the Milky Way. I let her use my iPhone 15 Pro Max on my DJI gimbal so it was easy for her aim the camera. She was so excited to capture the Milky Way.

But her main focus was finding and photographing a bear, it's all she talked about. We did end up finding one, and she was through the roof.

Now back to this image, I did take her to some of the geyser basins, which she did enjoy, though not quite on the level of looking for bears. Abyss Pool is in the West Thumb Geyser Basin next to Yellowstone Lake. I did a travel guide video to it in which she assists, but my daughters internet is so slow, it's going to take 36 hours probably to upload. The video is currently at 35% and I started uploading it almost 12 hours ago.

So this is the Abyss Pool, a fun looking pool there. I used the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 to get it all in one image without having to do a pano.

All comments are welcome,

Jim

 

[AlanLichty]

I love the color in those pools and the contrasts to the white crust around the edges.

 

[MonikaC]

Yellowstone is challenging to shoot because of all the restrictions (staying on walkways) and trying not to get the walkways in the shot. And the people and trash that seems to get dropped or blown in to the thermal pools. The pools have great color & worth the effort, though. One thought for having more room in your 4Runner for 2 people to sleep: there are these things called "tents"...........

 

[JimFox]

I love the color in those pools and the contrasts to the white crust around the edges.

Thanks so much Alan! It was a cool pool.

 

[John Holbrook]

Good story and good image!

 

[JimFox]

Yellowstone is challenging to shoot because of all the restrictions (staying on walkways) and trying not to get the walkways in the shot. And the people and trash that seems to get dropped or blown in to the thermal pools. The pools have great color & worth the effort, though. One thought for having more room in your 4Runner for 2 people to sleep: there are these things called "tents"...........

There is a bit of a challenge with the walkways for sure, though usually it's about how not to include a walkway in the image. But I understand the reason for them, so for myself they haven't bothered me except for when the pool is surrounded by a boardwalk.

LOL I like your idea about the tent. I usually have one with me, but I ditched it to get more room. The biggest issue with the tent is that I had still wanted to do Milky Way timelapses, and where I would have to spend the night to do them, tents aren't allowed. So unless I am backpacking, I just never use a tent.

My granddaughter got scared once it got dark and I was going to set up a camera for a timelapse. So I had to ditch that idea and go to one of the nearby campgrounds that still had some open campsites. She calmed down with the extra lights in the campground from the other people and the bathrooms. The 2nd night, when she wanted to see the Milky Way, she didn't seem scared, and did good. But I had pre-booked the same campsite in the morning just to make sure I did have a campsite as it was then Friday night. I decided that I didn't want to risk it and stay longer so after a half hour of the Milky Way, I asked her if she was ready to go back to the campground and she was. She is just 9, and never really been out in total darkness and no one else around. So I understand her having been scared. It was great that she was better the 2nd night. And she has already told me that she wants me to take her back to Yellowstone next month. So it's steps with the kids to get them used to not being scared at night I think. I mean, I know of lot's of adults who go out to shoot the Milky Way and they will report in some Milky Way Facebook groups about how scared they were about noises, etc and ended up leaving the dark area. So it's good to help her work towards not being afraid at night.

 

[MonikaC]

That's great that your granddaughter was OK in the darkness the 2nd night. And good on you (as they say down under) for exposing her to outdoor adventures. I found that when getting sunrise & sunset shots there (the one time I was there) was pretty free of tourists, and I was there when bikers were on their way to Sturgis.

 

[Alisa]

Nice Jim! The color is fantastic. I love the pools... but in the last few years wildlife has really grown on me.

 

[JimFox]

That's great that your granddaughter was OK in the darkness the 2nd night. And good on you (as they say down under) for exposing her to outdoor adventures. I found that when getting sunrise & sunset shots there (the one time I was there) was pretty free of tourists, and I was there when bikers were on their way to Sturgis.

Thanks Monika, with 9 grandkids I have worked to get one on one time with them all in different travel adventures. It's easier with the older ones, but l try to work them all in at various times. I think it's important that they learn to love and appreciate nature. We go on yearly camping trips with the whole family, but I think it's good to be getting the one on one time with them.

The Sturgis crowd can be noisy both with and without their motorcycles. The ones I have to kind of laugh at though are the people who you will see driving their in trucks with a trailer pulling motorcycles. I had always pictured the Sturgis crowd as the hardcore motorcyclists, and having your motorcycle on a trailer instead of riding it just never felt like they were hardcore, almost like they were wanna be bikers....

 

[JimFox]

Nice Jim! The color is fantastic. I love the pools... but in the last few years wildlife has really grown on me.

Thanks Alisa! Yep, and you are getting great wildlife photos for sure! I wish I had that kind of patience, but I guess if my granddaughter Makenna has her way, we will have to be spending more time sitting and waiting for bears!

 

[Kyle Jones]

Nice image. I love photographing the pools in Yellowstone, even though I often don't love the result. You filled the frame nicely with this one and it complements the sky well.