Lugers.

Luge Day is always an exciting day.  Who wouldn't love hopping in a sled and flying down a track as fast as you can?  I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked of actual luge participants - but I did get a few portraits that I really enjoy.

Gregor.

Berlynn.

Zach.

Matt.

Zac.

Gunga Ga Lunga!

Winter Wonderland.

Lone Star Rainbow.

Some days I feel really frustrated about my self-portrait project.  Most days I feel inspired.

I was feeling very low about taking pictures, in general.  I think this has more to do with the snow (read: icy) conditions that we were having this winter.  Until our big storm that has been lasting dumping snow on us over the last week, we've only had snow three days and we've been here for over a month now.  The days get above freezing, which means things start to melt.  The nights get well below freezing (-4 degrees F tonight), which means things freeze really hard.  This combination means that I don't feel inspired to leave my home.

However, because I've committed to getting out and take at least one picture a day that I have my camera with me almost always now.  If I'm going to go through the trouble of lugging it around, then I may as well use it - and I've been using it a lot out in the Upper Geyser Basin (ie the one right outside the Lodge).  In fact, I've been taking so many pictures that it's hard for me to stay caught up with organizing and any adjustments that I do (which is minimal on my landscape pictures).

The storm that we just had completely transformed the landscape.  We went out for a ski along Spring Creek and the up and around on the Howard-Eaton - it was calmly (i.e. no wind!) snowing the whole time creating a trail of wonderful powder that was so much fun to ski. 

Here are some of my favorites - I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Thermal Run Off along the Firehole River.

Grotto Geyser Erupting.

Blowing Snow and Shadows.

Lone Star Major Eruption.

Thermal Run Off on a Cold Morning.

Heart Spring.

Doublet Pool.

First Attempt at Night Photography - Castle Geyser

Old Faithful Eruption at Dawn.

Twigs in a Snowy Crack.

Of course, that isn't all.  Those are just my current favorites; however, if I were to remake this post in a year it would probably be a different handful that we posted.  I feel like my landscapes are getting calmer - maybe it's just the winter.

007/365 - Photo Shoot.

Today, I went out with the intition of a sad photo (or what I felt was sad) - I wanted a photo of my bare feet walking away in the snow with a rose falling out of my hand.  I am missing summer today and wanted to reflect that feeling. 

It's amazing how that idea changes once you get out in front of the camera.  I never even really got one that I liked where I was bare foot just standing there (or walking).  Instead, I started to enjoy the fresh crisp air outside and jumped for joy of life.

This one was my favorite closest to my original plan.

I cut my head off. 

007/365.

My belly looks weird and my face looks scared.

P.S.  My feet definitely felt the cold!  Right behind my camera I had a sleeping pad with a towel and my warm socks and boots to slip into as I needed to.  Even with that - I only took a small handful of photos.  Hope you enjoy!

Happy New Years!

Winter To Do List.

Every season there are always things that I want to do but just don't get around to it.  This season there are a few things that I definitely want to do.  I don't want to forget what those things are and I want to be held a bit more accountable so I'm relying on all you folks to help me with that task!

• Tag along on a Steam and Stars Tour.
• See a fox mousing. 
• Visit Shoshone Geyser Basin.
• Ski the Contential Divide.
• Go to evening Ranger talks.  (especially the one about Bison!)
• Canyon Ski Tour.
• Build a snow cave.
• Participate in Search and Rescue.
• Photograph in -20 degree temperatures.
• Olympics!
• Down hill ski.

Me at Kepler Cascades.

I'll keep you updated as I check things off (or think of more things).  Thanks for all your help in keeping me on task!