Silence and Solitude - Winter in Yellowstone

慧波

"One of the primary aspects of Yellowstone's winter is how quiet it can be.

The silence is the silence of strength,

the silence of power,

the silence of endurance,

the silence of patience,

the silence of waiting,

the silence of expectations. "

- "Silence and Solitude", Tom Murphy

Silence and solitude. After spending a few days in Yellowstone this winter, I can't agree more that they are the best words for Yellowstone winter - a world simplified to its basic forms and elements, a world entirely different from the hustle and bustle in Spring and Summer.

Tom Murphy, a photographer himself, once skied 14 days solo for 125 miles across the breadth of Yellowstone during one of the worst winter storms of the decade. This is how he described the solitude that he experienced -

"The solitude you can find in Yellowstone promotes an independence of spirit. These experiences refresh our lives, teach us self-reliance, and reveal the wisdom of the cycles of the land. A natural place of solitude gives us the opportunity to see and value our place in this world, and gives us the necessary patience to wait for the unexpected."

Of course I didn't cross-country ski across Yellowstone solo, I came to the park in a comfortable snow coach. Still, when I saw Tom's book title, I stopped to contemplate. These words described why I had been longing to visit Yellowstone in winter; what's more, they best described the emotion I want my own photographs convey.

#1 Silence

#2 Solitude

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7 Harsh winter is the number one predator of Yellowstone bison

#8

#9 Lower Yellowstone Fall is mostly frozen in winter

#10 Dripping hot water, Mammoth Hot Spring

#11 A lone cottonwood in winter

#12

#13 A fallen tree trunk, a Bison, a pine tree hidden in the hot spring vapor, formed a visual triangle.

#14 A group of Elks and a lone eagle

#15 Hard rime on the tree branches, Mammoth hot spring

#16 Morning light lit up the trees and cold air, like a fairy tale.

#17

#18 An abstract view of hot spring pool

#19 Another attempt of abstract. There were tons of possibilities! But I only realized this too late..

#20 The famous Morning Glory in a cloudy winter day

Although it's far from what I originally envisioned to accomplish in this visit, I still hope these images offer you a more unique perspective, different from the Yellowstone images you've used to seeing.

Next time when the sound of silence calls, I'll be back to Yellowstone in winter.