Beamer

Really a good example of making the best of a bad situation. By taking the blue out of the smoke, it just looks like mist or fog. Nice effects. It seems like Yosemite is impossible to photograph these days without smoke, so this is an inspiration.

I love the rays and their diagonal flow across the image, Harley. I thought it was fog until reading your description.

Ed

I think you did well to get an image during these burns. You could go more artsy on this by cropping a bit off right and a bit off the bottom to get a composition of vertical and diagonal lines. But I like this as is.
 

Is that what your driving these days?  Beautiful image, Harley.  Love the fog (smoke).  Could be the new normal if this year was any indication.  I love the bits of sunlight lighting up the foreground.  There is one area about a third of the way up on the left side that I would clone or crop.  Really minor.  Sweet image.  

Sweet image tells a good story about the smoky times in Yosemite Valley. Agree with the left border attracting too much attention, darken a bit, I like the blue smoke at that level, I would not crop the right side but might consider a look without the water at the bottom, more emphasis placed on the smoke.  

Harley!

Awesome! You nailed the beams.  And even though I was right there, I didn't get anything this good with such great definition in the rays.  I like this just as presented - including the brighter areas bottom left - as one could view that as where there might actually be fire burning - which there was of course.  No nits, terrific image.

Great job isolating just the trees and rays.  Well done! And thanks for prompting us to pull over!

I may post one which also shows the river and opposite shore, so totally different than this.

Lon

Outstanding, Harley. Probably one of the stronger "smoke" images I can recall. Framing and processing look good to me. This would probably work great as a BW image as well. 

One of the best "God beams" (as Galen Rowell would call them}, shots I've seen. Although technically, I guess they're not crepuscular rays, but still the same effect.

This is a terrific photo Harley. So much mystery, mood and drama. I am sure a print would be awesome.

Harley, This is just wonderful!!. I'm really enjoying it as is and love how you captured those rays of light. Very nice work! 

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Beautiful Harley.  I love shooting during controlled burns, but haven't ever captured anything this nice.  Well done.

Incredible light Harley and an outstanding painterly image.