Hot stream of steam – Yellowstone

by Frank Schröter Photography

A narrow stream winds its way through the open thermal landscape of Yellowstone National Park. Light-coloured mineral surfaces alternate with greenish-brown grasses and darker watercourses. Behind them, steam blankets the landscape. Trees and gentle hills emerge through the shifting veil, lending the expansive scene a tranquil sense of spatial depth.

The composition follows the water from the foreground into the softer forms of the distance. Clear, small structures on the ground contrast with the flowing transitions of the steam. Cool shades of blue and grey blend with subdued earth tones. It is precisely this interplay between visible details and the veiled landscape that defines the atmosphere of the photograph. Here, Frank Schröter focuses on movement and stillness within the same landscape. The stream gives the image a sense of direction, whilst the steam gently dissolves its surroundings. The photograph was individually developed and retouched. As a wall hanging, it brings the open expanse of a geothermal landscape into the room and invites the viewer to follow the subtle gradations between water, earth and steam.