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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Seventy Six: Spring comes to Yellowstone – a travel photo-essay > Roosevelt Arch, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 2010
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25-MAY-2010

Roosevelt Arch, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 2010

This opening image is far different from a photograph I made of the same arch on a previous visit to Yellowstone in the late fall of 2008. The image I made then http://www.pbase.com/image/104717209 ) speaks of chilling cold, while this image, made from a far different perspective, speaks of the coming of spring. The snows of winter still linger on the mountains in the background, yet the giant swirl of cloud seems about to bring a nourishing shower to the fields of green below it. This historic northern gateway to Yellowstone, was built in the early 20th century, and dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt himself.

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Phil Douglis22-Jun-2010 20:33
I like your word "trumpeting," Iris. The cloud is shaped like an ancient trumpet. And yes, it is all about weather. The snow still clings to the peaks in the distance, but the green mantle of spring already covers the earth.
Iris Maybloom (irislm)21-Jun-2010 23:54
The wonderful cloud is trumpeting in the change of seasons and the verdant green acknowledges that the change is indeed taking place. As in 2008, it was still mighty cold at this spot. In the 2008 image, however, you can actually feel the cold. In 2010, it's implied........unless, of course, you were there and know how cold it actually was.
Phil Douglis19-Jun-2010 18:10
Glad you enjoyed the shot, Nancy. The slight tilt in the arch is due to my perspective and the long slope it sits upon. I did not correct it because I wanted to imply exactly what you have said here -- Yellowstone is essentially a volcanic crater, and it has a lot of ups and downs. And yes, we are looking out of the park here, while in my earlier image, we were looking into it. Thanks for your comment, as always.
Nancy Good19-Jun-2010 16:51
Beautiful shot and one that's quite unexpected. The cloud also seems to be leading us out of the park ... it's interesting to note that you were looking "into" the park the original shot and now you are looking "out" of the park (if memory serves me correctly, the words on the arch are visible as you enter the park). The slight tilt of the arch, too, throws me a bit, as if to hint that you'd better be on your toes as you leave because there's still plenty of rough ground ahead, which, of course, there is! I know, I lived there for 20 years. :-)
Phil Douglis18-Jun-2010 23:48
Thanks, Pete, for enjoying this image, and reading all of the comment here as well.
Pete Hemington18-Jun-2010 22:04
A great image with this swirl of cloud and the interesting explanation too.
Phil Douglis18-Jun-2010 00:31
Thanks, Bill, for noting the repeating curves in the arch and the cloud -- one more reason why to make an image such as this one.
bill friedlander17-Jun-2010 21:20
Beautiful capture of a lovely scene. The arc of the cloud echoes the arch of the gateway. V
Phil Douglis17-Jun-2010 17:57
Thanks, Ann, for comparing this image of the arch with the one I made a few years ago. The are world's apart, both in terms of the seasons and the perspective.
Phil Douglis17-Jun-2010 17:56
Your metaphor is wonderful, Carol -- the cloud does indeed make a perfect vacuum, transforming winter into spring. As for the gate, that was the reason for the shot -- I wanted to use this particular perspective, as a gateway to not only the park but to spring itself. The cloud made it work for me.
Phil Douglis17-Jun-2010 17:54
Thanks, Claudia, for your comment. Sometimes, photography bears gifts, and I think this particular cloud was just such a present. I still had to recognize its photographic value and link it to the arch, but if that curving cloud was not there, there would have been no image for me.
Ann...17-Jun-2010 06:12
Certainly a far more benign image than your 2008 one. Here, with a patch of blue sky and the possibility of rain to encourage the greenery there is hope for the coming season.
Carol E Sandgren17-Jun-2010 01:55
I see this cloud in an upward direction, vacuuming the snows of winter up into the atmosphere and leaving the warmth of spring behind. I like that the gate is right there, the grand entrance to both the park, and to spring.
BleuEvanescence17-Jun-2010 01:43
Ohhhh! You could not have asked for a nicer cloud to grace this image...
It gives a nice embrace to the whole scene.
Phil Douglis17-Jun-2010 00:32
Thank you, Cheryl --there is a lot of energy in the magical cloud, and the old arch gives it a special context.
Cheryl Klym-Edwards17-Jun-2010 00:25
WONDERFUL!! This is such a beautiful capture!
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