(This blog post first appeared on October 6, 2011)

The human experience of beauty is at once both universal and personal. The experience of beauty can vary from subtle and rather ordinary to dramatic and intense. When the experience is dramatic and intense, words like “it took my breath away” are called upon to describe the experience but, in reality, such words are inadequate. Photography, for me, has always been about a quest for visual beauty and the emotion that it can evoke … whether subtle or dramatic I’m compelled by the desire to share the experience with others.

Dawn comes early near to the summer solstice. Dawn is a favorite time of mine since few others are out and about. Near dawn one June morning I found myself alone in a field with my camera on the start of a morning walk through the Geyser Basin. I was not really expecting it, but neither was I surprised, when Old Faithful Geyser began erupting. It seemed at the time that I was the only witness. The experience was both dramatic and intense. During the course of the day that followed this iconic natural wonder would be watched and photographed by visitors from all over the world as it is on most days throughout the year. I realized at the time that I had been presented with a rare opportunity and with it I made this photograph.

Tell us about an experience of beauty of yours … or, tell us about your thinking about the human experience of beauty!