One of the most iconic images in America. I was painting the Inn and hadn't even thought about the geyser. As I finished my day's work amidst snow and rain and snow again, I drove around a corner, looked up and the geyser went off. It was like a benediction. Overwhelming. Yes, I thought, that is why this amazing building is here. This geyser and it's clocklike regularity, really is one of the wonders of the world.
I resolved to come back the next day to paint it.
A cool thing is you can check the timetable. So I painted everything that wasn't the geyser and waited. Boom! Immediately, momentarily the entire area is filled with steam. Particularly witnessed this way because it was a coolish day. Upper forties. But brilliant blue sky and huge crisp, white cumulous clouds. The clouds much whiter than the steam from the geyser. I painted as fast as i could and still it was starting to go down and recede very quickly. Which worked well for my painting. The foreground became visible again.
I think I have become hooked on this. I will be back.
Honestly, I have seen this phenomenon enough to know that every eruption is different. Right now, early spring in the park, 2021, is a fine time for geyser viewing.