Yosemite National Park – Part I (the Classics)
This is Part One of what I believe will be a three Part posting of my time in Yosemite.
After two days in the Big Sur area along the California coast we checked out of our Monterey hotel and headed to Yosemite National Park. I had two photographic goals for my time in Yosemite. One, since this was my first visit, I wanted to photograph the classics such as El Capitan and Half Dome. Two, I wanted to shoot landscapes where water (e.g. waterfalls, cascades, and reflections) was the primary subject matter of the photo. In addition, I wanted to pay homage to Ansel Adams and make some black and white conversions.
I was of course able to accomplish both goals. Yosemite has classic vistas and majestic waterfalls around every turn. By July in most years, the waterfalls have dried up to a mere trickle. This year however, the waterfalls were still flowing strong because of extraordinary snow pack from last winter. Summer is probably the least photogenic season in Yosemite. However inspiring scenery and photo ops were second to none and around every corner.
I’ll start here with a two classics; Half Dome and El Capitan. My first sunrise shoot took place in Yosemite Valley along the Merced River. As the sun rose higher in the sky and the light got hot, we moved to various points along the valley road. For the afternoon shoot, we headed to Glacier Point and the 4-mile trail. Below are my favorites of Day-One. You’ve seen them all before, as have I (but not in person). Please indulge me these are my attempts to capture the “classics” of Yosemite.
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El Capitan from Tahiti Beach along the Merced River: K7 w/ DA12-24mm 1/13s f/10.0 at 12.0mm iso100
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Half Dome and Glacier Point from 4-Mile Trail: K7 w/ FA31mm Ltd 1/13s f/11.0 at 31.0mm iso100
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Date: July 31, 2010
Categories: Landscapes
