Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs offers one of the most otherworldly landscapes in North America, where cascading terraces of white and cream travertine are stained in streaks of orange, yellow, and rust by heat-loving bacteria. The boardwalk system winds through the upper and lower terraces, giving you multiple vantage points to work with. Wide-angle lenses let you capture the sweeping scale of the formations, while a telephoto helps you isolate the abstract patterns of mineral deposits and vivid microbial mats. Midday light can wash out the pale travertine, so aim for the soft, directional light of early morning or late afternoon when shadows add depth and the warm tones in the terraces really come alive. The boardwalks keep you on a fixed path, so plan your route through both the upper and lower sections to find the best angles. (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States)