In and around Yellowstone in July

I am having fun with some new photo gear.   Chris gave me a wide angle lens for my birthday and an 11-20 mm lens does great things for the big skies of Wyoming and Montana, is nice and sharp, and makes me look at the bigger picture.  I had become accustomed to an 18-300 zoom and am finding I look at things quite differently with the new lens.  Also new to the camera bag is a 24 mm prime lens from Rod, a fellow photo guide here in Yellowstone.  It is incredible for close ups of flowers.   I also have a new 10 stop neutral density filter, allowing for super slow shots of things like waterfalls.

I've been doing more black and white work.   The next step is mastering more photo editing options.

I spent a night in Cody recently and began my trip back to the park early in the morning.  Afterall, I am accustomed to waking up a bit before 4 a.m. for my tours in the park.  Here are some samples of the new wide angle:

This one and the next are above the Buffalo Bill Cody Reservoir, west of Cody, WY

Ranch along the route between Cody and Yellowstone with small portion of a double rainbow

In the Beartooth Mountains

Along the Chief Joseph Hwy

Upper Geyser Basin (near Old Faithful) in the early morning

Firehole Spring on Firehole Lake Drive in Yellowstone

A few images of Moose Falls in the southern part of the park

I caught my reflection in sideview mirror as I photographed a grizzly by the side of the road

Lewis Monkeyflower is named for Merriweather Lewis.   I photographed this with the 24 mm prime lens after an early morning rain.  Same lens for both photos of the Monkeyflower and for the Inadian Paintbruxh below