Yellow Stone

There are views in Yellowstone that have been photographed countless times, and the classic overlook of Lower Falls is certainly one of them. But standing there in person, the scale and power of the scene are difficult to capture in a photograph. Far below, the Yellowstone River surges over the falls, throwing a plume of mist into the air, while the fast-moving water in the foreground rushes toward the edge, its aqua and blue tones hinting at its remarkable clarity.

What caught my attention was the contrast between the rushing river and the even greater violence of the falls beyond it. Framing the scene with the canyon walls also brought out something I particularly love about Yellowstone—the exposed, rough yellow stone, weathered over time and responsible for the park's name.

I wanted the photograph to capture both the character of the water and the landscape around it: the clarity and color of the river, the tremendous force of the falls, and the raw yellow walls of the canyon holding it all together. It’s a familiar view, but the combination of color, texture, and movement makes it one I never tire of.