Kevin Palmer

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  • Early on the morning of February 19th, the northern lights made an appearance in Central Illinois. It happened to be one of the few winter nights that was clear and not bitterly cold. There was still plenty of snow on the ground, and the barn was illuminated by a quarter moon. I waited around for many hours, but the aurora was only bright for about 10 minutes. That is how it often happens with mid-latitude auroras.<br />
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Date Taken: February 19, 2014
    Barn and Pillars
  • The moon wasn't even full on this night. But the clear arctic air along with the powdery snow made the moonlight extra bright.<br />
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Date Taken: February 11, 2014
    White Shadows
  • The average temperature in space is -454° F. It wasn't quite that cold at Spring Lake, but it nearly felt like it. I've been looking forward to the milky way's return to the morning sky for months. I would have preferred warmer temperatures for my first shot of the year. But the best thing about arctic air is it often brings perfectly clear and transparent skies. Venus was just 2 weeks past it's peak in brightness, casting a nice reflection on the ice.<br />
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Date Taken: February 26, 2014
    Ice and Space
  • I found this old barn on the side of a road outside of Lincoln, IL. The foundation is fractured and the entire front end is sinking into the ground. The late evening sunlight was painting the barn gold as it melted what's left of the snow. It probably won't be long before it collapses and turns into a pile of rubble.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: February 6, 2015
    Leaning Barn of Lincoln
  • At the end of February I went camping at Mammoth Hot Springs, the only campground in Yellowstone that stays open for the winter. With constant snow coming down, it was hard to get out of my tent in the morning. But as the sun started to climb over Mount Everts, I knew something special was about to happen. I climbed the hill across from the campground to watch this 22 degree halo appear. The sun was too bright to include in the photo so I used this tree to block it out.
    Mammoth Halo
  • Purple wildflowers bloom in the verdant Chino Hills with the snow covered San Gabriel Mountains in the background.<br />
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Date Taken: February 24, 2015
    Chino Hills Wildflowers
  • San Juan Hill in the Chino Hills provided a great view of the valley with the snow capped San Gabriel Mountains in the distance.<br />
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Date Taken: February 24, 2015
    Baldy Green Hills
  • This was the 3rd time I've been to Chino Hills State Park and I've never seen it this green. Fresh snow on the mountains and clear air made for some great views. This was taken from the top of San Juan Hill.<br />
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Date Taken: February 24, 2015
    Chino Hills Panorama
  • Southern California is never more beautiful than right after a winter storm. It left the air very clear with snow on the mountains and greened up the Chino Hills.<br />
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Date Taken: February 24, 2015
    Snowcapped Green
  • I was able to catch these starlings taking flight early one morning in Sand Ridge State Forest.<br />
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Date Taken: February 2, 2015
    Taking Flight
  • I'm not sure what animal made these tracks in the snow, but I think it was a coyote. The bright moonlight was illuminating the snow covered landscape on this clear night. Despite the subzero temperatures, this creek was not frozen.<br />
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Date Taken: February 11, 2014
    Coyote Steps
  • February started off with a geomagnetic storm on a mild winter night. At 1AM the northern sky briefly glowed green as seen from St Xavier, Montana. The Bighorn River provided a reflection; the current is fast enough here that it doesn't freeze over. I scouted out this location in the fall and knew it would be a great spot to camp out and wait for the aurora when the opportunity presented itself. A giant hole in the sun’s outer atmosphere (the corona) allowed the solar wind to escape and head towards Earth. Coronal holes rotate around the solar disk every 27 days, so they can be predicted in advance. When the high speed solar wind (up to 600 km/second) hits Earth’s magnetic field, charged particles wrap around the poles and the auroral oval expands towards the equator. This leads to the aurora being visible from mid-latitudes. But the exact timing, local weather, and other factors dictate where it can actually be seen.
    Bighorn River Aurora
  • The San Gabriel Mountains tower 10,000 feet above Los Angeles. This is the view from just below the summit of Mount Baldy. Normally in February deep snow would cover the peaks. But warm temperatures and a drought meant only a small amount of snow remained on north-facing slopes. Down in the valley the blue skies were obscured by smog. But up here the air was clear and clean. This was a challenging 11 mile hike but the views were well worth it.
    Above the Desert
  • Morning sunlight illuminates the trees above a snowy road in Sand Ridge State Forest.<br />
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Date Taken: February 2, 2015
    Snowy Gold
  • Snow begins to drop from tree branches as the sun climbs higher in the sky. It was still only about 10 degrees though.<br />
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Date Taken: February 2, 2015
    Sunlit
  • I always like being the first person on a trail after a fresh snowfall. It's easy at Sand Ridge State Forest since there are 150 miles of trails and there usually aren't many visitors.<br />
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Date Taken: February 2, 2015
    Untouched
  • While coming down from the Bighorn Mountains I was treated to a dramatic sunset ahead of an incoming snowstorm. The mostly hidden peak on the left is Darton Peak, with Peak Angeline in the middle. Both of them are over 12,000 feet high. I often wonder what it would be like to watch a sunset like this from the summit of a tall peak in the winter. One thing for sure is that it would be brutally cold. This picture almost didn't happen because I was in a rush to return my rental skis before the shop closed at 6:00. After taking this one last shot I made it there with 2 minutes to spare.
    Flaming Winter Sunset
  • A pair of bull moose trot past grazing bison in Yellowstone National Park. At up to 7 feet high, moose are the tallest mammals in North America, while bison are the largest. Bull moose typically lose their antlers in early winter, but you can see the stumps remaining between their eyes and ears. The flap of skin hanging from their necks is called a bell and it is not known for sure what purpose it serves. The Lamar Valley where this was taken is located in the remote northeast corner of Yellowstone, along the only road that's kept open in the winter. It has been called the Serengeti of North America because of the wide variety of large wildlife that inhabit the valley. Grizzlies, black bears, moose, bison, elk, wolves, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and red foxes can all be found here.
    Trotting Moose, Grazing Bison
  • There were about 8 bighorn sheep grazing on this hillside. When I walked up to take pictures I didn't even notice this ram to my left at first. He traversed a steep 45 degree slope and came within about 50 feet of me. He looked like he had been in plenty of fights with patches of fur missing on both sides and a broken left horn.
    Roughed Up
  • A lenticular cloud hangs above the rising full moon during twilight. It was an extremely windy evening at the Sand Turn Overlook above Dayton.
    Hovering Above the Moon
  • I could tell there was a colorful sunset on the way so I drove outside of Sheridan to photograph it. There was nobody else around on this empty dirt road between ranches.
    Super Sunset
  • Wet Road Sunset
  • This was a wild day of weather in Illinois. It was the first warm day after a cold and snowy winter.  A cold front moving across the midwest caused severe thunderstorms to form. This storm produced a tornado earlier, but at this point it had weakened. The snow that remained on the fields caused a thick ground fog to form, which reduced visibility to near zero at times. It was an interesting scene.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: Febrary 20, 2014
    Destination Unknown
  • While skiing the Pole Creek cross country ski trail, I came across this meadow. A tree in the middle cast a long shadow across the snow as the sun came out.
    Casting Shadows
  • Abiathar Peak towers above the Lamar Valley in the northeast corner of Yellowstone, while 4 bison graze below.
    Abiathar and Bison
  • I liked the way Tongue River was reflecting the golden cliffs above. This canyon is always tricky to shoot because the sunlight disappears much sooner than I expect.
    A River Runs Through It
  • A bright red bush adds some color to the banks of the frozen Tongue River.
    A Splash of Red
  • Dillon Cemetery Sunset
  • While hiking to Tower Fall in Yellowstone National Park last winter I came across this bison bull grazing above the trail. I slowly made my way past while watching for any signs of aggression. At one point I could see his breath as he exhaled into the cold air and I had my camera ready. Bison are the biggest land mammals found in North America, with bulls weighing up to 1 ton. They typically live for 12 to 15 years. But it's always a struggle to survive the harsh Wyoming winters, with up to 40% of calves succumbing before their their first year. They will forage for grass wherever the snow cover is thinner such as thermal areas or on steep hillsides as this bull was doing. If the snow is too deep, the hump on their back enables them to pivot their head from side to side, sweeping away snow like a plow. Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. Their population dwindled to just two dozen in the early 1900's, but they now number at close to 5,000 animals.
    Bison Breath
  • This bridge crosses a canyon over the Gardiner River. On the upper left steam can be seen rising from the Mammoth Hot Springs geothermal features.
    Bridge Over Gardiner River
  • Electric Peak in Yellowstone National Park is the highest in the Gallatin Range. It lies directly on the border of Montana and Wyoming, exactly halfway between the equator and the north pole. The 10,969 feet high peak got it's name after the first men to climb the peak were struck by lightning near the summit.
    High Voltage
  • San Antonio Falls is a 100 foot high waterfall in the San Gabriel Mountains. It flows year round from springs higher up the mountain. I passed this waterfall on my hike up Mount Baldy.
    San Antonio Falls
  • A wave crashes against a rock as the clouds in the west start to light up at Crystal Cove State Park.
    Crashing Sunset
  • While the world may be chaotic and unpredictable, there's something reassuring about being out under the stars. When I look up I'm gazing at the same constellations that humans have marveled at for thousands of years. Their steady motion brings a sense of order, knowing exactly which stars will be where each night. In a 24 hour period, a star's position in Earth's sky will change by 4 minutes (known as a sidereal day). It makes planning shots like this over the Bighorn Mountains easy. No constellation is more widely visible around the world than Orion. And it's much more than just a belt and shield. A long exposure reveals faint details and colors that the naked eye could never see. Nebulas like Barnard's Loop, the Flame, Horsehead, Seagull, and Rosette are all hiding in plain sight, in wavelengths of light beyond human vision. All these wonders of space were never known until someone invented cameras sensitive enough to see them.
    Orion Beyond the Bighorns
  • It wasn't a bad sunrise at Squaw Mountain right before I hiked back to my car.
    Squaw Mountain Sunrise
  • The sky was the bluest blue and the brightness of the snow was blinding. In every direction there were more stunning Rocky Mountain peaks than I could possibly identify. But it wasn't a view I could sit down and enjoy. Quandary Peak is a 14,265' mountain just south of Breckenridge, Colorado. Climbing it was one of the most challenging hikes I've ever done. The entire climb was straight on into the wind. On the summit I measured gusts of 60 mph with a wind chill of -25°F, but it was likely worse at times. Covering every inch of skin was the only way to avoid frostbite. It was all I could do just to remain upright and not have any of my gear blow away. Changing lenses or using a tripod was not an option. Quandary Peak is considered one of Colorado's easier 14'ers and the safest in the winter since the route avoids avalanche terrain. But on days like this, it should not be underestimated.
    South Slope of Quandary
  • The evening light was really nice when I drove past these horses near Riverside, so I stopped to capture them.
    Three Chestnut Horses
  • The small town of Gardiner, Montana, is found at the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone River splits the town in half.
    Bridge Over the Yellowstone
  • After making their way past the bison, this pair of bull moose crossed Soda Butte Creek.
    Moose Crossing Creek
  • Abiathar Peak glows shortly before sunset during a brief break in the snow. Snowflakes were in the air almost the entire time I was in Yellowstone National Park. Some of the best views in Yellowstone are found here in the remote northeast corner of the park. On the other side of the mountain is the small town of Cooke City, the highest in the Northern Rockies. It's hard to find a more isolated town in the winter. The closest city with more than 1,000 people is 110 miles away with a 2.5 hour drive. That doesn't include the frequent delays caused by herds of bison, who often travel on the road to conserve energy and avoid the deep snow in the Lamar Valley
    Abiathar Aglow
  • Tower Fall is a 132 foot high waterfall in Yellowstone National Park. The road there is closed in the winter so it requires a 5 mile roundtrip hike. The view of the waterfall is limited because there is no way to get closer or find a different perspective. There used to be a trail to the base but it is now closed.
    Frozen Tower Fall
  • This is the view from the edge of the road near Tower Fall. If I slipped here I probably wouldn't stop until I got down to the river.
    Basalt Canyon Wall
  • The Gardner River wraps around the east side of Bunsen Peak, an extinct volcano. The peak was an easy climb when I visited Yellowstone in September, but I don't know if anybody climbs it in the winter.
    Bunsen in Winter
  • By the time I finished hiking the Upper Terrace loop trail the snow was coming down heavily.
    Upper Terrace Trail
  • Most of the snow had melted in Tongue River Canyon, but some ice remained near the riverbanks. After the sun set, I setup my tripod on the edge of the ice to try a long exposure.
    Tongue River Ice
  • After coming around a bend in the trail in Tongue River Canyon, the Keyhole Arch came into view with some colorful clouds behind it.
    Keyhole Arch Sunset
  • At 2AM Sirius was casting a long, shimmering reflection on the Bighorn River just before it set. With a magnitude of -1.5, Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. And at a distance of 8.6 light years away, it’s the 8th closest to Earth. Under certain atmospheric conditions when it's low on the horizon this star is known to twinkle wildly and flash a wide range of colors. This happens more often than other astronomical objects because of it’s brightness (planets do not twinkle). Sirius is found in the constellation of Canis Major and is also called the Dog Star. The ancient Greeks used to watch for the first appearance of Sirius in July, which marked the beginning of the “dog days of summer,” the hottest part of the year.
    Brightest Star Reflection
  • I went for a short walk along Massacre Hill to capture the sunset. This was the location of the Fetterman Fight in 1866 where 81 US soldiers were killed.
    Sunset at Massacre Hill
  • The Squaw Mountain Fire Lookout Tower is just 25 miles west of Denver and has a great view of the city lights coming on. The fog and clouds quickly cleared out as it got darker.
    Denver At Twilight
  • The sky was the bluest blue and the brightness of the snow was blinding. In every direction there were more stunning Rocky Mountain peaks than I could possibly identify. But it wasn't a view I could sit down and enjoy. Quandary Peak is a 14,265' mountain just south of Breckenridge, Colorado. Climbing it was one of the most challenging hikes I've ever done. The entire climb was straight on into the wind. On the summit I measured gusts of 60 mph with a wind chill of -25°F, but it was likely worse at times. Covering every inch of skin was the only way to avoid frostbite. It was all I could do just to remain upright and not have any of my gear blow away. Changing lenses or using a tripod was not an option. Quandary Peak is considered one of Colorado's easier 14'ers and the safest in the winter since the route avoids avalanche terrain. But on days like this, it should not be underestimated.
    Summit of Quandary
  • High on the eastern slope of Quandary Peak in the Colorado Rockies, I came across these bizarre shapes in the snow. Drifts several feet high were curved back over themselves, like waves frozen in time. Only recently when reading a book about Antarctica did I learn these formations have a name: 'Sastrugi'. Sastrugi are sharp irregular grooves or ridges formed by wind erosion. They are common in polar regions or other barren, windswept areas. Here at 13,000 feet there were no trees or any other barriers. The winds were relentless, gusting to 60+ mph and producing a wind chill far below zero. Sastrugi are known to make skiing very challenging, and the few skiers I saw on this day looked like they were having a rough time. In Antarctica sastrugi have even been blamed for plane crashes, since they make landings and takeoffs quite difficult. The peak visible in the distance is Red Mountain and down below is Highway 9 just before it crosses the Continental Divide. 2 additional 14’ers, Grays Peak and Torreys Peak, can be seen on the far left.
    Quandary Sastrugi
  • On my way back from Yellowstone, I stopped at Four Dances Recreation Area, to shoot the sunset. Here cliffs rise up to 500 feet above the Yellowstone River. The best view is looking south, away from Billings.
    Four Dances Cliff
  • This wasn't the sunrise I was hoping for. But I had to stop at this overlook for The Thunderer mountain and just appreciate the perfect silence. The snowflakes in the air seemed to absorb all sound and the thick forest blocked out the winds that were present further up Lamar Valley.
    Silent Dawn
  • A lone bison stands next to the river in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley.
    Bison Alone
  • On previous visits to Yellowstone I've passed by this Calcite Springs overlook without stopping. But I knew I wanted to see it in the winter. Since the road here is closed it requires hiking a couple miles down the road. Sulfur gas emerges from the ground at the base of the cliff along the Yellowstone River.
    Calcite Springs
  • The Orange Spring Mound is one of the more colorful geothermal features found in the Mammoth Hot Springs area.
    Orange Spring in Winter
  • A colorful sunset fills the sky over the Pacific Ocean. This was taken at Crystal Cove State Park in California during low tide. Many of the tide pools were exposed and hermit crabs, anemones and other sea creatures could be seen. Both low and high tide usually occur twice a day approximately 6 hours apart. During a quarter moon, when the moon is at a right angle with the earth and the sun there is less variation between high and low tides. This is called a neap tide. But when there is a full moon or a new moon the tides are especially high and low. The gravitational force of the sun and the moon combine to generate more of a pull on earth's oceans. This is called a spring tide.
    Reflected Tidepool
  • This was my first time seeing a fallstreak (or hole punch) cloud. It had a tail that it made it look like a sting ray. It appeared for a short time above the bluffs at Crystal Cove State Park.
    Crystal Cove Fallstreak
  • Beckton Road has one of my favorite views of the Bighorn Mountains close to home. When I noticed cirrus clouds filling the sky in the late afternoon I went here and the sunset colors did not disappoint.
    Buried Fenceline
  • After not being able to see the sun at all the previous day, this morning dawned crystal clear at Squaw Mountain. But it was very windy with lots of blowing snow. At night I measured a wind chill as low as -40°F.
    The Winds of Dawn
  • The 10,915 feet high Emigrant Peak can be seen from the Paradise Valley north of Yellowstone.
    Emigrant Peak
  • This magpie was very bold as I was packing up my tent at the Mammoth Hot Springs Campground. It was looking for any food I may have dropped under the picnic table.
    Magpie in Tree
  • The colors were very muted as the sun set over Soda Butte Creek in the Lamar Valley.  But it was the only hint of color I saw in the sky while I was in Yellowstone.
    Soda Butte Creek
  • From Tower Fall there is a short but steep trail down to the edge of the Yellowstone River. It was a little slippery with the snow but it wasn't too bad.
    Yellowstone Riverbank
  • I spotted these vivid iridescent clouds above the sun in Ranchester, Wyoming. The colors were more easily seen with sunglasses since the clouds were bright. It looked like an oil slick in the sky. There were plenty of lenticular clouds around, and it's common for those to show iridescence when they're in the right place.
    Iridescence
  • All morning long I watched fascinating lenticular clouds form around Squaw Mountain. This view is looking at Longs Peak.
    Longs Peak Lenticular
  • Two bison spar gently in the snow. They are part of a small herd at Kendrick Park in Sheridan.
    Locked Horns
  • Steamboat Point is a favorite mountain of mine that I've climbed more than any other. But I've never been able to catch a great sunset from the top, until now. The 7,877' peak is close to Sheridan and easy to access year round. On the lower south-facing slope the snow is quick to melt. After the trail bends around into the forest, the snowpack is often a couple feet deep in the winter. But the summit itself is usually scoured clean by the frequent strong winds. I'd estimate winds were gusting to about 80mph up here, making it difficult to stand up straight. But it was these same winds that contributed to the fiery sunset. On warm winter or early spring days it's common to get lenticular or mountain wave clouds over the Rockies. They are caused by oscillations in the air flow after encountering a mountain range. When the sun catches them just right, the color and texture of these clouds can be truly stunning.
    First Sunset of February
  • At 9200 feet in a beautiful valley of the Absaroka Mountains is a collection of abandoned buildings: cabins, a hotel, general store, stables, a post office, and shaft houses. This is the ghost town of Kirwin. Kirwin was established in the 1880's after gold and silver were discovered nearby. But the mines were never profitable and life was rough up here. Very heavy snowfall and avalanches were a regular occurrence. A bad avalanche in February of 1907 swept away buildings and killed 3 people. The town has been abandoned ever since, although some buildings have been stabilized in recent years. Another interesting tidbit of history is that Amelia Earhart and her husband loved this area so much that they had a cabin built. But when she disappeared it was never finished. I visited here at the end of August. The road up is steep and rocky, with river crossings that make it a fun drive. A storm was clearing and the sun came out for just a few minutes before disappearing again behind the high peaks.
    Evening in Kirwin
  • There’s perhaps no better way to practice social distancing and clear your head than to spend some time under the stars. The idea for this picture came months ago: to capture Orion setting over this jumble of giant boulders called the Fallen City. After doing the math and simulating the view, I determined exactly where to put my tripod and when to make it happen. But one problem is this is a very windy spot in the Bighorn Mountains. My attempt in February was foiled by the wind and I could not get any clear images. But March brought another chance with calmer weather. A fresh snowfall topped with rime ice made the forest glow in the starlight.<br />
<br />
The Orion Nebula is the brightest in Earth’s sky. It can be seen with the naked eye from dark skies and looks spectacular in a telescope. Also visible next to Orion’s Belt are the Flame Nebula and Horsehead Nebula. To get this picture first I took a series of images of the sky with my camera on a star-tracking mount. Once the nebula set, I turned the tracking off and took a longer exposure of the foreground.
    Orion and Fallen City
  • It was at this overlook where my photography logo was born, years before I knew I’d move to Wyoming. This was also the spot where Ansel Adams took one of his most iconic photos. At least that’s what the sign would say if it wasn’t buried under 4 feet of snow. Tree growth in the 8 decades since means his shot can’t be replicated because the Snake River is not as visible now. Every night between December and April Orion follows the star Rigel until it sets behind the sharp spire of Grand Teton. There exists plenty of night sky pictures of the Tetons in the summer, but not so many in the winter. The weather may have something to do with that. On a clear night cold air slides down these steep mountain slopes and settles in to the Jackson Hole valley. One February night in 1933 the thermometer here bottomed out at -66°F, a Wyoming record that still stands today. Spring officially began the very next day, but it still managed to reach -6°F this night, making it my coldest night of camping yet. While Orion will soon be gone for the season, the summer Milky Way will take its place. And you won’t need 4 layers of clothing to see it.
    Orion Over Tetons
  • Clouds swirl around Barronette Peak on a cold February evening after sunset. This peak in the northeast corner of Yellowstone is known for the many waterfalls which tumble down the mountain, all of which were frozen.
    Barronette Peak