Bailey Clique Blog

Tag: Journey

  • The Ultimate Guide to Yellowstone’s Scenic Photography Locations

    The Ultimate Guide to Yellowstone’s Scenic Photography Locations

    -7 Beautiful Locations-

    I went to Yellowstone in the beginning of June last year (2024). It was not busy and the weather was 40°-75°.

    So where are the best photo spots?? Pretty much everywhere, but I am going to give you all the exact locations of each of the following photos.

    Lets start out with West Yellowstone, which is actually in Idaho.

    #1 Mesa Falls- Idaho

    You can see Mesa Falls from multiple vantage points, including the stunning overlook at the very top. This is a view from the very top; you need to drive to it and see from high above. (Lower Mesa Falls Observation site)

    (below is Upper Mesa Falls)

    You may think this is “lower Mesa Falls: but this is actually Upper Mesa Falls! You can experience a cool mist from the edge and a close up view.

    #2 Brink of The Upper Falls

    Observation Deck in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

    I don’t know if there is always a rainbow here but it is breathtaking either way! The waterfall is powerful and you can get very close. Not to mention, you will be right next to artist point…

    #3 Artist Point

    Artist point is popular for a reason! You can sit down and enjoy the falls. There are also many birds who will fly through the canyon. The colors are beautiful and I can imagine how pretty it would be at sunrise/ sunset. This picture was taken around 1pm.

    #4 Grand Prasmatic Spring

    Grand Prasmatic Spring is so beautiful! But make sure you go when it is hot and sunny! If it is too cold, you will not be able to see the spring because the steam will cover the spring up.

    What else did I see at Grand Prasmatic Spring?

    Well, I saw a bunch of Bison in the parking lot. I would add a video if I could, but I saw them running together. But trust me when I tell you this, you will see bison everywhere. Including the roads.

    #5 Washburn Hot Springs Overlook

    The Washburn Hot Springs looks different depending on where you look and what time in the day it is. This photo was taken at sunrise. You will see the steam come out through the trees while there is a golden light on the mountains

    -Still Washburn Hot Springs Overlook, but photographed on the left

    #6 The North Entrance of YellowStone National Park

    All I did was stand on a hill by the entrance and saw this moody scene. How beautiful are these dark and gloomy mountains?

    Drive over to Lamar Valley!

    It’s a long drive, but you will see a lot along the way! I saw a bear, an elk, an eagle, coyotes, and a whole lot of bison.

    Here are some pictures I took on the drive there:

    #7 Lamar Valley

    You see those little dots on the bottom in the grass? Those are bison!

    By the way, lamar valley is huge! You can stay here for hours and take pictures of so many things. You will get to see bison calves if you go in the spring. I was lucky and visited early June!

    I even saw this cute field mouse and a badger hiding on a hill. Make sure to observe your surroundings! Sometimes the unexpected photos will turn out to be your favorite

    Thank you for reading and have an amazing time in Yellowstone!

    Be sure to subscribe so you can find more photo spots in Yellowstone, Colorado, Florida, and California!

    More Nature photos will be here: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/BaileyClique

  • My Most Difficult Painting Ever

    This painting was not something I suggested I should do!

    In 2023, I wanted to make a little painting of something simple. So I did. I created this simple Koi Fish Painting (I was so relaxed I painted it in my bed). I painted a dark green background, added lily pads, flowers, and some Koi fish. This is how it turned out! It was one of my least stressful, easiest paintings ever.

    So how is this painting my most difficult painting? It is not, but this little painting was the first step to creating the most difficult painting I ever had to make.

    Little did I know that this was not the last time I would be painting tiny little koi fish; I was going to do it on a GIANT Canvas Panel. My brother’s friend wanted a giant canvas of this and detailed it exactly the same.

    Let me tell you, I was nervous. I did not want to mess up and fail. He wanted no updates; he wanted to be fully surprised.

    So I got to it! I purchased more paints and tiny brushes. Then I realized… How do I even find a giant canvas panel?! So I did my research… and THEY WERE SO EXPENSIVE. I had no idea. Thankfully, there was a sale on Blick and it was $15 shipped (that rhymed). Great deal! So I began painting.

    I tried to paint it exactly how I did the first time, except I was not anticipating making another one, so I forgot what I did. So I looked in the depths of my memory and started painting the canvas dark green, hoping I was right. I then penciled in all the lily pads, fish, swirls, flowers, dots, and all. That alone took so long, but I did not want to cut corners. I have learned that if I do not draw in what I envision, I am going to fail.

    The Unknown of What it Will Look Like

    After I did all the sketches, I added white to the fish and flowers and green to the lily pads.

    I was already getting excited because it was coming together as planned! However, I was dreading painting all the fish white and then adding their colors, but I powered through and….

    We Are Getting There!

    Woo! I painted all the fish and lilypads. I was even liking the product without all the blue coloring. But because I was making this painting for someone else, I, of course, still decided to add the blue swirls and more color.

    I was already at about 10 hours with this painting. Maybe even more because I lost count!

    Losing hope…

    Then, I started adding the blues and realized I do not like this painting!

    I mean, what was I doing wrong? Was it the way that I was doing the swirls? Did I make the fish too big? Why is the blue a different color than the original?

    I had so many questions, and I was sort of (dramatically) devastated that I could not replicate it.

    So what did I do? I repainted some of the larger fish and redid some of the blue swirls. I had to restart to continue.

    Sometimes, in Life You Need to Restart.

    So that is what I did, I redid a lot of the fish and…

    We were really starting to get somewhere!

    The fish were more detailed; I was more precise with the coloring. I was looking at everything, so I did not make the mistake of rushing through.

    I was finally feeling accomplished again and excited to get it done!

    Are We Done Yet?

    YES! I was finally finished; after months of sitting on the carpet floor watching 2 seasons of Desperate Housewives, I was finally done. Every swirl, flower, and fish has its own uniqueness, and I was so excited to be finished.

    It was like a weight of this burden was off my shoulders!

    The Theme of this Story is:

    Was this painting the most difficult painting I have ever created? Yes

    Would I do it again? Maybe

    Would I give up and have this painting be unfinished and sitting in the corner of my room? NO

    Always persevere through adversity, big or small! You will not regret it. Start over, find what is stopping you, and make something beautiful out of it.

    Thank You For Reading!

    (I’m smiling in this)