Captured on a clear summer afternoon in Yellowstone National Park, this image shows the vivid bands of color surrounding Grand Prismatic Spring as rising steam drifts across the pool. The intense oranges and rust tones come from heat-loving microbes along the edge of the spring, blending into the deep turquoise center where the water is hottest. Even with the mist rolling over the surface, the signature rainbow of the Prismatic Basin is visible, and the contrast between the bright foreground and the dark forested hillside emphasizes the otherworldly nature of this geothermal feature. No filters or enhancements were used — the colors truly look like this in person.
