February is a cold month in Yellowstone, filled with snow and ice, but it is a beautiful time. Photographers visiting Yellowstone in these cold months should pay close attention to how light is moving across the landscapes of Yellowstone.
Light plays across mountains to the North of Yellowstone National Park as the wind kicks off snow from the summit. Captured with a Canon 7D and 70-200/2.8L IS II in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of – 2/3 at ISO200, f/7.1, and 1/2500th of a second. The camera was resting on a beanbag.Dave ShumwayLight, Snow and Trees align on a mountainside above Round Prairie in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 7D and 500/4.0L IS in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of – 4/3 at ISO400, f/4.0, and 1/8000th of a second. The camera was resting on a beanbag.Dave ShumwayLight plays across drifting snow above the Blacktail Lakes in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 5D II and 70-200/2.8L IS II in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of 0 at ISO200, f/11, and 1/800th of a second. The camera was handheld.Dave Shumway
February is mating season for wolves…that means that wolves are on the move and many find, that with the increased movement, that wolves are easier to see. Ad to it the ease of spotting of wolves on clean white snow, and you have a great month to see, and if you are lucky, photograph wolves.
The Lamar Canyon Wolf Pack celebrates a sunrise reunion in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 7D and 500/4.0L IS in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 4/3 at ISO800, f/4.0, and 1/640th of a second. The camera was resting on a beanbag.Dave ShumwayA five year old male Wolf from the Blacktail Pack howls at the rest of his family. Captured with a Canon 7D and 500/4.0L IS + 1.4TC III in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 5/3 at ISO800, f/7.1, and 1/1600th of a second. The camera was mounted on a Gitzo 3540XLS and Induro GHB2 gimbal head with a custom long lens support.Dave Shumway
Sub zero temperatures and water equals ice. If you take the time to search the banks of Yellowstone’s rivers you will likely find magical scenes of rocks, snow and ice…when you mix in moving water with long exposures. Get out, be safe, and have fun.
Water races along the snow and ice covered boulders that dot Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 5D II and 70-200/2.8L IS II in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 4/3 at ISO50, f/16, and .6 seconds. The camera was mounted on an Induro CT214 tripod and Acratech GP 1 ball head, a 4 stop neutral density filer was used to allow a longer exposure and a Singh-Ray LB Polarizer was used to cut the reflection from the water.Dave ShumwayWater races along the snow and ice covered boulders that dot Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 5D II and 70-200/2.8L IS II in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 4/3 at ISO50, f/16, and .8 seconds. The camera was mounted on an Induro CT214 tripod and Acratech GP 1 ball head, a 4 stop neutral density filer was used to allow a longer exposure and a Singh-Ray LB Polarizer was used to cut the reflection from the water.Dave Shumway
Winter causes a change in Yellowstone’s wildlife, their coats fill out to handle the extreme cold of the park, and that makes most of them look beautiful.
A Bighorn Sheep, ram, grazes far above the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 5D II and 70-200/2.8L IS II + 2.0TC III in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 2/3 at ISO400, f/6.3, and 1/250th of a second. The camera was handheld.Dave ShumwayA Coyote licks its chops in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 7D and 70-200/2.8L IS II in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 1 at ISO400, f/4.0, and 1/200th of a second. The camera was handheld.Dave Shumway
February is an extremely cold month in Yellowstone, but it also has few visitors, ample wildlife and a special kind of pure beauty.
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.Dave ShumwayA 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.Dave Shumway
