Day 4
Cody to Yellowstone

Glory be - today the sun shone and I was up nice and early to see what photo opportunities Cody had to offer. At the far end of the town is the Trail Town - a collection of historic cabins, homes and buildings. I was too early to actually get in but the shot on the left from the entrance gives you an idea of the place. However almost opposite is the excellent Tecumseh's Wyoming Territory Old West Miniature Village and Museum.

Below are three images from the museum section which is housed in glass cases around the sides of a large room behind the store. In the centre of the room is a large perspex covered table on which a series of miniature tableaux's depicting Western history. All the tiny models are hand made by the owner . Well worth a visit.

A rocky mountain rendezvous between trappers and Indians on Henry's Fork of the Green River . Between 1825 and 1840 they would meet regularly to trade and celebrate
Fort Laramie in 1837. It was known then as Fort William.
In the Battle of Platte River Bridge on July 26th 1865 Lt. Casper Collins was killed trying to rescue the US Army supply train.
The Deadwood Stage coming into Deadwood City, South Dakota in 1876. It was gold rush boom town. The oldies among you will no doubt be still listening to Doris Day !
Forest fires have hit Yellowstone Park over the past few years and there is plenty of evidence to be seen.
Some digital cameras are capable of good infra red photography and the Dimage 7 gives excellent results as you can see from the above. You can see the image in the LCD even with an opaque filter but exposures will be long so you may need a tripod. However be warned, the new Dimage 7 Hi has infra red inhibitors so I understand.
Elk are pretty easy to find in Yellowstone. There must be well over 14,000 of them. Getting good pictures of them is another business. You have to be patient and have a long lens - at least 200mm. If you see a string of cars parked raggedly along the road you can bet wildlife are nearby.
Plenty to photograph from West Thumb to Madison. Though Old Faithful is the big attraction there are plenty of other geysers that provide photogenic possibilities. Close-ups from the walkways are very rewarding.
This close-up looks like a shot from the air.
At Yellowstone you are likely to see Bison in abundance. However it is not recommended to take their picture close-up with a fisheye lens!
Guns and gambling went together in the old days
The bubbling mud at Fountain Paint Pots on the left is a composite of two digital images . Side lighting helps to bring out the texture of the subject.
Here I cut the exposure to silhouette the fisherman and tree against the steam and river. The jagged run off from the steam helps to link the elements together.
Another example of three different channels from three exposures of the running water merged together in Photoshop.
All images are copyright Richard Tucker
270 miles and 310 digital images in the day travelling from Cody to West Yellowstone.