Yosemite Chronicles #2

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 27, 2011468 views22 comments

Untitled for now - suggestions appreciated.

Shortly after my previous post I made my way up the steep approaches to Yosemite Valley along the Merced river canyon. I knew a storm had passed overnight and I was wondering where the snowline was going to be. To my delight I hit snow well before entering the valley and I knew it would be a "winter wonderland" morning in the valley. I met former NPN'er Paul Breitkreuz near the Swinging Bridge and we photographed in Sentinel meadow for a while. As the sun began to rise over the steep valley walls I knew the snow would start melting off the trees in a hurry. Our only chance now to keep shooting with snow on the trees was to make our way to El Capitan meadow, where the far, north-facing wall would remain in shade all day.

What was so wonderful about this trip was how the conditions allowed for combining 3 different seasons all in one setting. I was attracted to the hints of fall color combined with the first big snow in the valley this season. Paul and I hurried across the meadow covered in just about 6" inches of snow so I could get close enough for my longest lens in order to reach the composition that I was drawn to.

Turns out the fall color doesn't come through as much as I remember, but I still really like the color combination of the sheer granite walls and that winter wonderland look of the snow covered pines growing on the steep slope below the valley walls.

I was really excited at the time of capturing this, but less enamored about it now. Would love to hear your thoughts and critiques.

4x5, 450mm, V100f, f/45 @ 1/4s.

Thanks!

Lon

ps. larger helps.

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on November 28, 2011 at 12:27 AM

This is gorgeous Lon. There's so much detail in the large version, and the patches of autumn color mixed with the snow are a wonderful addition, nicely done!

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Jean Day on November 28, 2011 at 1:26 AM

The mottling colors of the granite wall are a perfect backdrop for the snow dusted trees. I also like the juxtaposition of the hard granite to the softer look of the trees. Wonderful elements and comp.

Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on November 28, 2011 at 1:36 AM

This scene, and the others like it, are actually one of my favorite things about Yosemite. It's hard to believe that such an amount of growth can find it's way on these talus slopes. I assume that is what they are, piles of rock rubble fallen off the cliffs over the millenia. Anyway, the color along with the dusting of white is beautiful against the granite backdrop. You pulled a lot of great color out of the granite as well. I remember you telling me about what a great time you had shooting these scenes the day before I arrived. Now, I see why!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 28, 2011 at 1:58 AM

Spectacular combo of elements here, Lon! I like this even more as a square crop, which gives fg/bg a 50/50 split.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Joe Abounader on November 28, 2011 at 2:11 AM

Lon, nice colours on the granite like others said. As a variation on the composition, I would suggest a crop from the left by about 1/3 and maybe 1/10 from the top to leave only the band of trees from the right, and a vertical composition. It's only a matter of personal preference though (what do I know about cropping

)

Registered on June 15, 2011, 14 Posts, 58 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on November 28, 2011 at 3:25 AM

Oh, there was some snow - let's spontaneously head for Yosemite and make some shot. You know, that I hate you for this convenience ;) ... on top of that meeting up with another fellow photographer by chance. Come on.
Anyway - great shot as usual with all the ingredients you know to handle so well. The tree base works great and that little triangular rock pattern mimicking the shape of the trees is a nice little extra. Great shot overall and that on the nice crispy film.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on November 28, 2011 at 6:18 AM

Lon, the interplay of the texture of the rocks and the pattern of the trees is very appealing to me. The composition is aptly anchored by the foreground elements in to my eye. The larger version reveals amazing details. Great work in my opinion.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 28, 2011 at 8:48 AM

This is beautiful, and I love the feeling it has. Excellent work, Lon.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on November 28, 2011 at 10:06 AM

Another beauty Lon. The wall color blends so nicely with the snowy trees. This really makes me want to be there.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 28, 2011 at 11:55 AM

Pretty nice photograph, Mr. L.! The trees in contrast with the wall are the thing, here, in my opinion. So, I'll suggest a crop from the top that gives the trees more prominence. The color and tonal values are spot-on.

Nicely done!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on November 28, 2011 at 1:40 PM

Not much more I can say Lon, but I do like it. The colors and patterns in the rocks do it for me.

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on November 28, 2011 at 2:47 PM

Those frosted conifers set against that textured rock background works just beautifully Lon! And of course, the large version is even better!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 28, 2011 at 3:21 PM

Lon,
I love the contrast of the massive textured rocks with the softness of the frosted trees. Beautiful natural colors and excellent detail. Very well done.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on November 28, 2011 at 3:33 PM

Subtle and sweet, a regular mark of your photography that I enjoy, Lon. I often have that experience where the thrill of locating a great scene and applying your camera to it exceed the results later on. That's OK sometimes, and a very important part of the thrill even if that's all the scene provided.

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on November 28, 2011 at 5:59 PM

This is really an interesting scene, Lon. I have to say that the amount of texture almost overwhelms me. So, I favor the suggestion of making this into a vertical composition. Then, it appeals to me more as the grand upward sweep of granite wall that makes huge, snow-dusted pine trees look like tiny crystal fairy candles! ( Or another version of magical landscape that suits your imagination! ) Hope that helps...
P.S. The color and processing is spot on excellent in putting this over the top, too, Lon, IMHO.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on November 28, 2011 at 8:07 PM

Lon,

We seem to have the same sensibilities. while this is a nice photograph it is not keeping my attention as much as I would like. Was here something in particular that attracted you tot he composition? Perhaps cropping down to just that might help.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 28, 2011 at 8:37 PM

Thanks folks!

I like the idea of the square crop and it works btw, but I didn't re-work for posting.

Andreas, yeah, it must be so terrible living near the Alps!

And nothing was by chance you know. all planned out ahead of time meeting up with Paul and Chris (others too, but they bailed!) I even called in a few favors and ordered up the snow in the valley just for my visit.

Youssef:
"Was here something in particular that attracted you to the composition?" Probably the color combo and as many times as I've gazed up at these immense walls, I'm still amazed at them and so it really was the combination of including the walls with the dusting of snow and fall color, as it was anything else. I was really excited at the time and so glad I was able to reach the composition with the 450mm; which actually meant I had to walk across most of the meadow just to be able to compose it. By that time things were a bit different compositionally than before I started walking. I guess you could classify this one in the "drive by shooting" category.

Thanks again everyone. Next up, a familiar icon.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 28, 2011 at 9:53 PM

The sugar-coated trees are very interesting. Background wall feels like it could use a bit more saturation to balance it visually with the trees.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on November 28, 2011 at 10:43 PM

I like this Lon, even though it would have been nice to have a little more separation of trees from rock wall. I love the grandness of the scene and the fine details you captured.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on November 29, 2011 at 2:18 AM

looking at it again, especially the larger version, I think a square comp Tony's comment on increasing wall saturation might help out as well

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on November 29, 2011 at 12:03 PM

Yosemite is probably the only thing I miss from CA, with the exception of hanging out with you, Preston and Harley. I think a little crop from the bottom and top makes this much stronger. I think with the crop then the saturation will be enough.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on November 29, 2011 at 1:11 PM

I think its is elegant as ususal. Certainly not below your high standard and by any objective means. And on a subjective level I really like it. I think the fresh snow and the ganite go very well together. The color is subtle, but that only adds to the elegance. I like the understated character of this image.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments