Yellowstone by Night and Day, From Stars to Canyon

The Milky Way Above the Forest

Just after midnight on June 13, 2021, the first scene was the Milky Way above a conifer forest. The ground is reduced to a dark silhouette while stars and the bright galactic core fill most of the frame.

The Milky Way crossing diagonally above the silhouette of a conifer forest.

A Valley Open in Daylight

At noon the following day, a road extended through a broad grassland. Low mountains on both sides and distant snow-streaked peaks create a depth entirely different from the night sky.

A road extending through a broad valley between low mountains.

Back to the Geothermal Basin at Night

Before dawn on June 15, another vertical frame held stars above low terrain and a geothermal basin. A small light and steam at the lower right are the only clear markers on the dark ground.

A vertical night sky above low terrain and a dark geothermal basin.

Later that morning, a geyser erupted beneath strong sunlight. Steam and sun reflect across shallow water while people along the boardwalk provide scale.

A geyser erupting beneath bright morning sun with its reflection in the water.

Canyon and Waterfall

The final photograph was made at noon on June 16 from a Yellowstone canyon viewpoint. A turquoise river moves between pale canyon walls toward the foreground, with a waterfall visible in the distance.

A turquoise river between canyon walls with a waterfall in the distance.

This is not a collection of Yellowstone mornings. Across five photographs, night and daylight reveal different parts of the park: sky, valley, geothermal basin, and canyon.

Record

Photographed: June 13–16, 2021
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Scenes: Milky Way, open valley, geyser, canyon, and waterfall