February is an extremely cold month in Yellowstone, but it also has few visitors, ample wildlife and a special kind of pure beauty. My February trip to Yellowstone in 2011 was a four day trip that due to ample bad luck became a one and a half day trip (ended with two nails in my year old tires).
Even with bad luck any trip to Yellowstone can leave a visitor with some lasting memories (and photos).
A lone tree battles high winds on a snow covered hillside in Yellowstone National Park (Near Soda Butte). Created with a Canon 7D and a 500/4.0L IS set in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of +2/3 to f/9, ISO 200, and 1/800th of a second. Shot from a beanbag.
A lone red fox walks in the snow on an 18° morning before the sun rises on Yellowstone National Park (near Tower Junction). Created with a Canon 5D II and a 70-200/2.8L IS II set in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of +1 2/3 to f/2.8, ISO 800, and 1/1000th of a second. Shot handheld during a roll by.
A yearling elk makes her way through deep snow while trying to feed in Yellowstone National Park (near Phantom Lake). Created with a Canon 5D II and a 70-200/2.8L IS II + 1.4TC III set in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of +1 2/3 to f/4.5, ISO 400, and 1/2500th of a second. Shot handheld during a roll by.
If you want to know the secret to photographing Yellowstone National Park in the winter… be there. Spending time in the Lamar Valley can’t hurt either.
