Mark's Blog

Yellowstone Grand Prismatic Spring

Published at: 03:06 pm - Sunday June 25 2017

There are many iconic locations in Yellowstone, one of my favorite being Grand Prismatic Spring. According to Wikipedia:

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world, after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake in Dominica. It is located in the Midway Geyser Basin.

Grand Prismatic Spring was noted by geologists working in the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, and named by them for its striking coloration. Its colors match the rainbowdispersion of white light by an optical prism: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.

The vivid colors in the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The mats produce colors ranging from green to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and on the temperature gradient in the runoff. In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green. The center of the pool is sterile due to extreme heat.

Many aerial views have been photographed over the years, as well as high angle photos from the hillside behind it. This give the best insight into the size of Grand Prismatic. On this particular visit, the hillside area was closed for nearby road construction. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Carl and I have photographed from above, but until this day we had never visited the boardwalk at the spring itself.

The colors and textures are unbelievable (literally), and the size of Grand Prismatic is difficult to capture or explain. The trees on the hillside of the second image below are an estimated mile away from where I am photographing. The hot spring extends from my standing position to within approximately 100-200 yards of the tree line! This is ONE GI-NORMOUS POOL! The first image captures approximately 200+ yards of calcified channels on the western side of the spring.

Channels – Grand Prismatic Spring

Fluorescent – Grand Prismatic Spring

Posted in: Abstract, Landscapes, Spring, Yellowstone by Mark 3 Comments

Hope Springs Eternal

Published at: 09:06 pm - Saturday June 24 2017

Just a few miles north of Flagg Canyon we saw this! See my previous post for the contrast. Spring, popping through but not yet completely overtaking the snow. Just inside the Yellowstone south entrance, much snow still remained in early June after a 700+ inch winter of snowfall!

Hope Springs Eternal – YNP Near South Entrance

Posted in: Flora, Landscapes, Plants, Spring, Water, Yellowstone by Mark 3 Comments

Circle of Life – Flagg Canyon

Published at: 08:06 pm - Saturday June 24 2017

North of Grand Teton National Park, just shy of the Yellowstone National Park south entrance, is Flagg Canyon Trail. It’s a beautiful trail that runs north to YNP along a fabulous river canyon overlook. Last year this area was part of thousands of acres that fell victim to a forest fire. One year later, the contrast of a badly charred forest slowly being renewed with a plush green “floor” was gorgeous in it’s own right. The National Park Service often let’s nature take its course, allowing such fires to burn and die a natural death rather than extinguish them. This allows God and Nature to administer recovery all on their own, on top of clearing out years of dead underbrush. There are documented cases where certain seedlings only initiate growth from extremely high temperatures of forest fires like this. The fires are an inconvenience to us park visitors, but they are an essential part of the circle of forest life. And as seen here, they bring their own unique brand of beauty.

Overcoming such adversity reminds me of Ephesians 3:20: God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Fire Scorched Remnants – Flagg Canyon Trail

Posted in: Flora, Landscapes, Plants, Spring, Tetons by Mark 3 Comments

Old Patriarch Tree

Published at: 08:06 pm - Saturday June 24 2017

This old friend continues to stand through thick and thin, brutal winters and of course a lightening strike or two. Old Patriarch is well deserving of the half mile walk through brushy terrain before sunrise.

Old Patriarch Tree – GTNP

Posted in: Flora, Landscapes, Tetons by Mark 3 Comments

Spring Awakens in Wyoming

Published at: 05:06 pm - Saturday June 24 2017

The famed Moulton Barn on Mormon Row in the Tetons never grows old (figuratively speaking). It is classical and magical, regardless of season!

Moulton Barn – Mormon Row, GTNP

Posted in: Architecture, Landscapes, Spring, Tetons by Mark 5 Comments

Historic Downtown Norcross (The Other Side)

Published at: 08:05 pm - Tuesday May 30 2017

One of my local favorite small town vignettes is Historic Downtown Norcross. It is a very small train depot town from years past, replete with a handful of nice shops and eateries. It has continued to improve with age over the past 20 years, thoughtfully blending nearby historic residential neighborhoods with new homes. Many of the neighborhoods are a short walk from downtown and a nearby park, all reminiscent of the 40’s. Lots of folks stroll the sidewalks with their family or significant other, and the town hosts annual events like an antique British car show to arts festivals. You get the picture … warm, friendly, inviting, and easily accessible.

Over the years I’ve done several outdoor portrait sessions along the storefronts, railroad tracks, and neighborhood sidewalks. Also, a favorite photo spot has been the alley behind the main set of shops.

This weekend I was on a casual motorcycle ride and decided to swing through town, not having been there in months. I hoped there might be a Memorial Day parade or event in the works, but this was not the case. Things were “dead” on my early morning pass through. So plan B – zip through the alley and see if there’s anything new and interesting to photograph. Much to my surprise, the old sleepy back alley had seen a facelift! The color and artistic flare have made it come alive.

The Doors

The Blues

Foxy

Posted in: Architecture, Cityscapes by Mark 4 Comments

Spring Into Color

Published at: 10:04 pm - Sunday April 16 2017

Local Republic

Couture

Station #10

Hard to Contain

Dirt Tracks

Georgia Clay

Clay Stained

Dual

Courthouse Tree

Posted in: Architecture, Reflections, Spring, Transportation by Mark 3 Comments

Window Shopping

Published at: 10:04 pm - Sunday April 16 2017

Happy Easter!

Gotta Run

Scottish Treasures

Fashion Forward

Posted in: Abstract, Architecture, Reflections by Mark 2 Comments

Winter Enthusiasm

Published at: 11:01 pm - Saturday January 14 2017

Passing Through Winter

Winter, often gray if not blue figuratively, is in it’s prime. While taking a walk through the park just after the new year, I saw this tree. It has undoubtedly withstood many winters; some mild, some threatening. Rarely do we have a sustainably threatening winter here in the deep south. That said, we have our fair share of ice storms and winter-bookended tornados that threaten even the most deeply-rooted hardwoods.

Seeing and thinking about this tree triggered a couple of reminders: 1) Winter can be cold, gloomy, and “heavy-hearted”, but like every season or phase of life it is only temporary; and, 2) this winter has been mostly mild, with spring already in the foreseeable future. For these reasons, I chose to interpret this scene with a warm texture and tone. Trees are mostly winter-barren now. Leaves are gone with the exception of evergreens and the occasional dead leaf refusing to give in to dropping. But, the imminence of spring and a hopeful new year bears feelings of warmth and optimism.

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” ~ Hal Borland

“Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.” ~Pietro Aretino

“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” ~ Percy Bysshe Shelley

Posted in: Abstract, Flora, Landscapes, Plants by Mark 4 Comments