When I was eleven, our family drove with a camper on a half-ton truck to Yellowstone from Southern California. It was one of the most magical experiences of my life. I haven't been back in all of these years because so many people say that it's not as great. Having seen the wonderful photographs in the book makes me think that I didn't see the best the first time.Most of the two million annual visitors to Yellowstone come in July or August, and the roads are pretty crowded. I remember the begging bears best of all, but was also thrilled by the geysers and streams. An unexpected treat was to see the magnificent Grand Tetons on the way into Yellowstone.
Erwin and Peggy Bauer live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, not far from Yellowstone. As a result, they can come in all seasons and know where to leave the road to see things that almost no one ever sees. I suspect that you could visit Yellowstone 50 times and not capture nearly all of the wonderful vistas, wildlife and wildflower images in this gorgeous book.
Many of the color images evoked the feeling of the Hudson Valley school in their spiritual reverence for nature, such as Tower Creek on page four, Castle Geyser erupting at sunset on page 9, Grotto Geyser on pages 12-13, a bison at daybreak on page 14, Firehole River in winter on page 24, Mammoth Hot Springs under a threatening sky on pages 28-29, Castle Geyser erupting to blot out the sun on page 32, early autumn beside a roadside pond on page 35, Mammoth Hot Springs on page 36, a bull elk at daybreak on page 38, the Snake River during a smoky sunset in 1988 on page 56, a fawn in June on page 58, aspens along the Snake River in autumn on page 60, Oxbow Pond in Grand Teton Park on pages 64-65. And those are less than half of the truly inspiring images in the book.
The essays were equally impressive for helping even a first-time visitor plan the right trip, for the right length of time. Here are the essays:
The World's First National Park; The Yellowstone Landscape; The Wildlife of Yellowstone; The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem; Experiencing Yellowstone; The Fires of Yellowstone; The Rivers of Yellowstone; Winter in Yellowstone; and The Future of Yellowstone.
The facts were fascinating, from the dangerous pursuit of Burgess to capture Howell before he wiped out all of the remaining bison in the park, to the reintroduction of wolves into the park, to the problems of overgrazing caused by mistaken Federal policies, to the dangers of exotic species to the native species in the park.
Although I'm not much of a photographer, I think I could take the directions in the book and produce the best photographs of my life. The authors make it easy for even a neophyte to capture the best of Yellowstone.
Most of those who enjoy natural photography are drawn to either the startling black-and-white photographs of Ansel Adams or to subdued natural images in color. I found these images captured the spirit of Ansel Adams in color that captured the moment well rather than over-romanticizing what is being displayed.
After you finish this wonderful book, start making your notes and plans to visit and photograph Yellowstone . . . sometime before or after the crowds come next year. If you can, find an eleven-year-old to take along!
