This week, on Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #183, host Ann-Christine is exploring memorable events or moments.

When I found out I was going to Yellowstone in July 2021, I was not looking forward to this trip. First of all, I knew I would be exhausted, having to fly to Las Vegas one week before for a work conference, working over 12 hours each day for 3 days before coming back to work more. Fortunately, I didn’t have to be the navigator nor the driver, so I got to sleep most of the way.

Secondly, I have been to Yellowstone so many times that I don’t need a map to drive to any of the landmarks. I didn’t expect this trip to be memorable nor did I expect to walk away with many photos.

Yet, the trip was memorable in strange ways and I did take lots of photos.

I say the trip was memorable in strange ways in that just about the only thing memorable about this trip was the weather.

Bad weather makes great photos, as some say. I think bad weather makes awesome black and white photos.

And black and white photos tell great stories, don’t they?

Anyway, the thing about Yellowstone is the park is separated into sections and each sections has sort of its own micro-climate. For example, misty and foggy in one section of the park doesn’t mean it’s the same weather in another section.

On the final day in Yellowstone, we encountered foggy and misty weather as we visited the last of the tourist attractions. I had made the mistake of wearing shorts and sandals that morning, not knowing it was going to be chilly in the middle of the summer and in all honesty, I had no interest of touring this spot. After all, I have been here multiple times and smoky hot springs don’t make great pictures.

As we make the final turn back to the parking spot, it was like something snapped in my brain. How come I never noticed this before? Trees lay sideways as if a giant came and pulled the trees out by its roots and tossed them on the ground like garbage. Immediately, I knew what I want to do with this picture – turn it black and white and so I did.

The final destination for the 2021 Yellowstone trip was to see the Grand Prismatic Springs, which is a hot spring with multiple colors. Mom translated to “Rainbow springs.” However, it’s only beautiful if one can see it. Unfortunately that day, all anyone could see was smoke.