Here Be Dragons
By Houston Vandergriff

“Beware…for here be dragons...”

In medieval times mapmakers put illustrations of dragons and sea monsters in uncharted areas where potential dangers were believed to exist. Should Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park be marked as such?

Here powerful skeins of steam dot the area, shifting across reflective hot pools. Are these steaming geothermal vents? Or dragons’ breath? The smell near hot springs hints of something strong. Is it sulfur? Or is it, perhaps, the scent of dragons?
Unbelievable colors are formed as over 2 tons of calcium carbonate flow into this area daily. It is the largest carbonate-depositing spring in the world. The never-ending flow causes the landscape to be constantly changing. Scientists believe the Yellowstone volcano, located deep underground, provides the heat for the thermal waters. But, maybe the heat comes from a dragon’s fire?
I took this image in June 2022, just four days prior to the devastating floods that ripped through this area of the park. The landscape has undoubtedly been drastically and forever changed. So, this image captures a moment in the history of the park that will never be seen again.
In this image, look carefully. What you see behind the travertine falls might be limestone carved by thermal waters.
Or, perhaps, it’s the curved back of a sleeping dragon.

THE ARTIST
Advocate. Artist. Traveler. Dreamer.
Houston Vandergriff is a globe-trotting travel photographer based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Houston has a simple vision with his photography: Make the world a better place. By the age of 24, he has traveled to all 95 counties in his home state, to 49 of the 50 United States, to 5 Canadian provinces, and to 26 countries.
Houston has Down syndrome and inspires others, both inside and outside of the disability community. He is a strong self-advocate who uses the universal language of the arts to push for inclusion. He is a social media influencer - using Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to share his story. His clients include Amazon, Tiktok for Good, and multiple brands of photography-related equipment. He has appeared in live events, podcasts, and broadcasts on four continents. He has been called “The Champion of Life” by one of the broadcasters from India. By sharing his gift of photography he is also sharing the gift of hope. Houston earned his Certificate of Photography in 2019 and his Advanced Photography Certificate in 2020 after completing more than 200 hours of study through the University of Tennessee Professional Programs. He is a member of the Southern Appalachia Nature Photographers (SANP), Professional Photographers of America (PPA), and the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance (ITWPA). His photography journey has been shared in Newsweek, It’s Gone Viral, Spectrum News, and MSN. He and his mom were featured speakers at the 2021 World Down Syndrome Conference in Dubai. His award-winning photography has been displayed in solo and group curated shows, online galleries, and the Inspiration Gallery in Perth, Scotland, He was awarded the 2020 International Photographer in “My Perspective” photo competition in the UK.

LICENSE
Extended Editorial: Can be used to display privately, or in commercial and non-commercial settings, or in groups with an unlimited number of participants. The license includes unlimited use and display in virtual or physical galleries, documentaries, and essays by the NFT holder. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works. This image will only be minted once as a limited-edition artwork on the Ethereum blockchain and no other editions of this image will be made on this blockchain or any others. Except for the 1/1 Booklet that will be gifted to one of the collectors of the bundle.