The Challenges Of Yellowstone

Salvatore Vasapolli gets off the beaten path, works around the crowds and shoots in fast-changing light. He shares some secrets from his 20 years of photographing this jewel of the American park system.

By William Sawalich; Photography By Salvatore Vasapolli

Labels: Locations, Portfolio

This Article Features Photo Zoom

Hot spring along Ferris Fork Creek in the Bechler River Canyon region

For any visitor to Yellowstone, Old Faithful is a must-see. But after that first visit—or, at least, after making the penultimate photograph that you could ever hope to make—it’s not the most scenic region of the park for a landscape photographer to spend his or her time. Vasapolli prefers other areas of the park, where he continually gets great shots, as well as those areas where the great photographs always remain just out of reach.

“The favorite places are the Upper and Lower Geyser basins,” he says. “I won’t tell you about my really favorite place—people will try to seek it out! What’s nice about those areas is that some of them are really close to the most heavily visited areas, but people never see them. You have to look off the beaten path. Yellowstone is a big area. In the Hoodoo area, you have to go when the water levels are down in the streams because you have to ford a river or two. It’s far in the backcountry, high up at the top of a ridgeline, so it can snow there any time of the year. A lot of times, when I tried planning a trip when everything seemed right, a snowstorm would come in. Every time I try to go, it’s, ‘I’m gonna do it next year, I’m gonna do it next year….’”

Much of Vasapolli’s enjoyment of Yellowstone is simply being in the park. When he does take his cameras, he carries a 35mm system as well as large-format. He’s especially deliberate when using the big 4x5 for a landscape.

Sunset in Yellowstone

“I never have the feeling that I have to go and shoot something,” he says of his chosen profession. “In my photography, most of my artwork is speculative. I go out there to find what I can find, and if I can find something unique to photograph, yeah, I’ll do it. I’ll hang out there. I’ll even come back if I don’t have the opportunity to photograph it the way I wanted to the first time. If nothing works out, I won’t pull out the 4x5; I might continue to use the 35 to get some okay photographs for the files. The 35, to me, is my point-and-shoot. I don’t even have a digital camera for that.”

Adds Vasapolli, “I’m looking for something that’s unique. I study other people’s photography—one reason is for research, the other is so that I don’t copy them. It’s going to be different. People have said, I look at your photographs and I see something different.”

Part of that difference comes from the way Vasapolli works. Like so many dedicated landscape photographers, he has continued shooting large-format film—both for the camera controls and for the unique color and contrast characteristics of the traditional media.

“Film has the widest color spectrum,” says Vasapolli. “You can’t replace some of those colors. I can take several sheets of it and I don’t have to worry about erasing it. The 4x5 is an artist’s camera. I try to use the 4x5 to get that long-range shot of something unique in the foreground that works well with its background. For me, you see that there’s something very interesting in the foreground—that’s the subject. But with the use of the 4x5, I can have the background in sharp focus as well. It may take 45 minutes to an hour to set it up right, but in the end you come up with something that’s a work of art.”

Salvatore Vasapolli exhibits his photographs at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Mont., October 11, 2008, through January 4, 2009 (www.museumoftherockies.org). Epson and Outdoor Photographer are sponsors. Vasapolli is currently working on a photo essay documenting California’s wine country. Visit www.vasapolliphotography.com.

Vasapolli’s Gear

Calumet XM Rosewood Field 4x5 camera Caltar 210mm, 90mm, 75mm lenses Various 35mm Canon EOS bodies Canon 24mm, 28-135mm, 80-200mm, 300mm L, 50mm, 50mm macro lenses Bogen tripods & heads Gitzo Mountaineer tripod

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Salvatore Vasapolli makes this comment

Friday, 06 November 2009

I would like let everyone know that prints from this feature and others from the exhibit at the Museum of the Rockies are available from Old Main Gallery, Bozeman, Montana. (888) 587-8860 Ask for Lynda
Salvatore Vasapolli makes this comment

Friday, 06 November 2009

I would like to announce that Peter's Valley Gallery will feature my art of the Delaware River Valley on a permanent basis starting November 16th, 2009. Please support the Craft Center. Visit them: http://www.petersvalley.org/
Salvatore Vasapolli makes this comment

Thursday, 01 October 2009

Come to the Sussex County Arts Heritage Council. I will be exhibiting 20 years of capturing the underrated beauty of the Delaware River Valley from the Water Gap to High Point in New Jersey. See Below
Salvatore Vasapolli makes this comment

Thursday, 01 October 2009

Just want to invite those photographers in the northern new jersey, Lower New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania to a reception and exhibition at the Gallery of the Sussex County Arts Heritage Council on 133 Sprint Street in Newton, NJ. Saturday, October 10th, 5pm
Salvatore Vasapolli makes this comment

Thursday, 01 October 2009

I would like to update this article by saying I have bought a new digital camera- the rebel SXi. This camera has brought back the fun to photographing. I love the ability to shoot and shoot then delete those images I would normally reject to the trash can. The difference is the cost of each image which comes down in cost with each image I take. The drawbacks is a narrower color spectum and softness when shoot in low light conditions- Fireworks and dark images are the domain of film. But for now, its my Point and Shoot to carry with the 4X5.
Jim Webber makes this comment

Sunday, 20 September 2009

Fantastic work of a true master photographer. I own his book on Montana that I keep on my table in our living room.
Gabby makes this comment

Saturday, 05 September 2009

Nice site. Very cool design! Useful information. Go on! Good Site. I am from Macedonia and learning to speak English, give please true I wrote the following sentence: "Different roads and transferred the problem's highest rockabilly regular of the shoulder." Thank you very much ;-). Gabby.
John makes this comment

Wednesday, 08 October 2008

What I like most about Salvatore's landscapes is the sense of movement he gets in so many of them. It really conveys the sense that the land in YNP is alive. If you haven't seen it yet, he has a very nice book of Montana landscapes called "Montana". It is well worth picking up.
Alice B makes this comment

Wednesday, 08 October 2008

Salvatore's photography of Yellowstone has got to be the finest that I have ever seen our america's first national park. I once took one of his photography tours of the Greater Yellowstone. He only works one on one with his students examining the weaknesses and strong points. He took me from being a average photographer and helped me become to create the professional images i thought I could never achieve. He's not cheap and doesn't hold many tours, but if your portfolio passes his review, he might allow you to take one of his custom tours.
Mitchell makes this comment

Friday, 26 September 2008

I live out side the park we go there almost every weekend, i agree yellowstone is constantly changing there are so many new little geysers that weren't there last year. That just means new photographs
Chip makes this comment

Friday, 19 September 2008

That is amazing. I used to live in Wyoming, but I never went to yellowstone. Now I live in a small town in Missouri. I love the art of photagraphy and I thank you for posting these photos.
Salvatore Vasapolli makes this comment

Thursday, 18 September 2008

Another note: I've been photographing Yellowstone for 30 years. It's only that the last 20 was as an professional. Remember, its illegal to boil yourself alive by jumping in the hot springs! Salvatore
Tony Barros makes this comment

Thursday, 18 September 2008

Great article right on! We need more articles like! Yellowstone is such an iconic place that even beginner like me can end up with great shots! Yes patience and waiting or being at the right place at right light would make the shots! On my first trip I took the Xanterra Photo Safari it helped me a lot. I want to share my humble shots with all! http://www.panoramio.com/user/308245.
Salvatore Vasapolli makes this comment

Monday, 15 September 2008

sorry for the marginal information on some of the images and equipment list, but we only had limited time to do this interview. Many of the 35mm images of which there is only one: "Hot spring along Ferris Fork Creek" was captured with my backcounty 35mm Rebel X body w/ ultra lite 35-80mm full carbonate lens. Along with a full backcountry backpack with a week's worth of food plus a field camera and two-three large format lens full gear is heavy enough! Here is brief list of 35mm equipment: Eos bodies: 1-n w/E1 Booster Drive, 620 and 630 Lens: 24mm f2.8, 50mm 1.8, 50mm Macro, 28-135mm f3.5/5.6 IS USM, 35-105mm f3.5, 100-200mm f2.8L, 100-300mm f3.5-5.6, 300mm 2.8L, 1.5 extenders. Luna Star F and Luna Lux handheld meters pentax Spotmeter V Tripods: Gitzo Mountaineer and Bogan 3046 w/ 3047 Head Silk standard Ball Head II and thank you for the compliments!
Russ makes this comment

Saturday, 13 September 2008

Thank you for your timely article on Yellowstone. Next week will be my first time to venture out West with my wife to Yellowstone for a pictoral holiday. Your images are both breathtaking and inspiring.
Gary makes this comment

Saturday, 06 September 2008

Thanks for sharing your photos, Mr. Vasapolli. Having photographed Yellowstone for over 30 years I, too, have some very spectacular pictures of the park, but am reluctant, as you, to divulge the locations of the best places. But the incredible light of the high country and a good dose of luck will get one the pictures one desires. Oh, by the way, a bit of patience doesn't hurt either.
Maureen makes this comment

Wednesday, 03 September 2008

Thanks Salvatore Vasapolli for such a great article. The photographies are just breathtaking. Also thank you for telling us where you took the photos and what cameras you use.

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The Challenges Of Yellowstone

Salvatore Vasapolli gets off the beaten path, works around the crowds and shoots in fast-changing light. He shares some secrets from his 20 years of photographing this jewel of the American park system.

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