Posted by Lon Overacker on February 24, 2009 at 3:09 PM
.... would anyone stand in the freezing rain for over two hours? Well, I guess as photographers we could say because we can, and we don't mind. This was me at Tunnel View on Sunday. The pics were taken by my friend Kyle who stayed warm, cozy and dry in the car.
Had a great and hopefully productive trip despite the Sunday rain-out. Friday and Saturday were mostly beautiful conditions although the heavy snow (at least 2 feet) from earlier in the week had melted from the trees. But there's more to Yosemite than snow covered trees and I hope I came back with some good stuff - won't know til next week.
Anyway, just wanted to share a couple of snaps and tell a quick story about "meeting" Derek in the followup comment.
Lon
Posted by Lon Overacker on February 24, 2009 at 3:19 PM
So I'm all set up at Tunnel View, watching the clouds and fog roll in and out of the valley. The classic "clearing storm" scenario. I've got a second tripod setup just for an umbrella and I'm waiting, and waiting. I did capture about 5 or 6 images over the course of a couple hours.
So all during this time, numerous folks came and went. Some fumbled with a camera in one hand, an umbrella in the other... some used garbage bags, and others still simply let there cameras get wet for a brief moment. I began to joke around and tell people that they could stand under the umbrella - 20 bucks for 5 minutes!
This picture here shows someone using my umbrella for a few quick ones. And guess who's under that umbrella? Derek Sedillo. At the time, I didn't know who he was and vice versa. He asked politely and I was glad to let him get under the umbrella for some pictures. And NO, I didn't ask him for any money! It wasn't until yesterday when Derek emailed me wondering if that was me at Tunnel View. And out of pure coincidence, my friend had snapped this picture while Derek and I "met."
Anyway, we think it's pretty funny now.
Derek, you should post your image from there in the thread here.
Lon
Posted by Lon Overacker on February 24, 2009 at 3:23 PM
And lastly, I thought I would post this one as well. My friend Kyle was getting creative and I liked the drops on the car window showing the rain and dreary conditions. The guy in the orange sells large prints for a living and was shooting with a 5x7.
The series of photos and the story around all this is great, Lon. Although, I did get a sneak peek yesterday at the wonderful first scene here. I'm sure the thought of using "wooden" cameras out in this much water could conger up thoughts of "men and wooden ships" or worse yet, "the sounds of warping wood". !
I truly have to admit, my feet started getting cold seeing you out there in hiking boots. It brought thoughts of me being out for 12 hours at JTNP in the snow not too long ago.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on February 24, 2009 at 5:00 PM
LOL...
This is great Lon! I was hoping you would post that picture. Sometimes life is funny. When I first saw you standing there in the rain all I could think of was "this is great, a LF shooter who is more gung ho out here than me." And so I struck up a conversation not even thinking that you were someone from CANP.
Anyway thanks again for the umbrella assist! Here is the image you can see me taking there 'handheld' with a trashbag around my new 5DII.
"Geesh, I have got to get an umbrella system of some kind like that crazy LF shooter" was all I can think of afterwards.
BTW, I can't wait to see your LF stuff. The fog was moving fast and really cool looking from Tunnel View that day. And I was only out there in the rain watching it for maybe 5 minutes.
Derek
Posted by Reno DiTullio on February 24, 2009 at 8:14 PM
haha, looks like a great time! I love the last shot, really tells a good story. Looking forward to the results, hope you got something good outta that gray
Posted by David Senesac on February 24, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Nice setup Lon. Reminds me of where I stayed at for hours atop the Lower Yosemite Falls bridge one snowy day:
http://davidsenesac.com/_a-z_evad/dave_bridge.jpg
And took this pic:
http://www.davidsenesac.com/Gallery_B/06-E2-1.jpg
On a foul weather day the continual train of arriving tourists always engages someone with a large format setup into conversations that help pass the dead time.
Oh and someone try and tell me that view isn't far more functional now that they removed those pines.
Posted by Steve Sieren on February 25, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Great!! Hope you used the good tripod for the camera.
Priceless words - "What's your name?"
Great session Lon.
Posted by Lon Overacker on February 25, 2009 at 1:04 AM
Thanks guys!
Not sure how any of the images will turn out - they certainly won't be "epic," and I'm sure a b&w conversion will be the choice of the day. And honestly, LF wasn't going to get me any more detail or have a real advantage other than perhaps blowing it up to 40x50... which I can guarentee you won't happen.... :-)
David - beautiful image of the lower falls. Although waiting and waiting for the right things to happen is almost always a crap shoot... one thing is for certain, if you're not there waiting, it will never happen. :-)
Steve, "Priceless words - "What's your name?" That's too funny. Are you saying we should have introduced ourselves? Actually, I was thinking that Derek had just got off one of the tour buses, so I didn't ask. Just kidding Derek!
Lon
Posted by Steve Sieren on February 25, 2009 at 1:26 AM
That's horrible. How did you rig the umbrella is what I want ot know.
Posted by Benjamin Glatt on February 25, 2009 at 2:05 AM
Hehe. That is too funny! Great shot Derek, looking forward to see your shots Lon.
Posted by Dan Baumbach on February 25, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Great photo of you, Lon. Glad you had a nice time in Yosemite. I don't think I can ever go to Tunnel View and not be inspired.
- Dan.
Posted by Harley Goldman on February 25, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Damn crazy photographers.
Posted by Eric Good on February 28, 2009 at 2:34 AM
Great story and accompanied images. I particularly like the last one. For me personally, much of my favorite stuff was captured after weathering the storm. I can't wait to see your other stuff in future posts.
By the way, I'm having a hard time believing Derek didn't recognize you... isn't your mug posted on the entrance sign or park brochure after as much time as you spend there?
Update - I finally got my film back and for the most part, standing at Tunnel View in the rain for 2 hours, was a bust! But I had fun anyway. I'll scan and post one of the image anyway.
Eric - That's too funny - I'm at least on a first name basis with Ranger Bill at the Arch Rock entrance station anyway.... :-)
Youssef - I had partners in crime.... whenever I left the tripod to go back to the car or something, I had someone watch over the setup. Fortunately the wind was minimal, so I wasn't too worried.
For Steve and Rodney... the umbrella setup is a complete hack job. I had acquired some ancient studio lighting equipment years ago (barn doors, stands, etc.) Part of that setup included a clamp gadget that included an arm about 3' long. I simply cut off the handle of a regular umbrella and rigged it so it could attatch to the top of the arm. But you guys are on to something... I know you can get a cheap umbrella clamp setup from places like Target or Walmart, but they're not very hefty and don't provide the height you need to get above your camera. Maybe I could invent something.... hmmmmm....
Anyway, I got my film back so now I can post some images. Stay tuned...
Discussion
19 repliesHad a great and hopefully productive trip despite the Sunday rain-out. Friday and Saturday were mostly beautiful conditions although the heavy snow (at least 2 feet) from earlier in the week had melted from the trees. But there's more to Yosemite than snow covered trees and I hope I came back with some good stuff - won't know til next week.
Anyway, just wanted to share a couple of snaps and tell a quick story about "meeting" Derek in the followup comment.
Lon
So all during this time, numerous folks came and went. Some fumbled with a camera in one hand, an umbrella in the other... some used garbage bags, and others still simply let there cameras get wet for a brief moment. I began to joke around and tell people that they could stand under the umbrella - 20 bucks for 5 minutes!
This picture here shows someone using my umbrella for a few quick ones. And guess who's under that umbrella? Derek Sedillo. At the time, I didn't know who he was and vice versa. He asked politely and I was glad to let him get under the umbrella for some pictures. And NO, I didn't ask him for any money! It wasn't until yesterday when Derek emailed me wondering if that was me at Tunnel View. And out of pure coincidence, my friend had snapped this picture while Derek and I "met."
Anyway, we think it's pretty funny now.
Derek, you should post your image from there in the thread here.
Lon
I truly have to admit, my feet started getting cold seeing you out there in hiking boots. It brought thoughts of me being out for 12 hours at JTNP in the snow not too long ago.
This is great Lon! I was hoping you would post that picture. Sometimes life is funny. When I first saw you standing there in the rain all I could think of was "this is great, a LF shooter who is more gung ho out here than me." And so I struck up a conversation not even thinking that you were someone from CANP.
Anyway thanks again for the umbrella assist!
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/7006312_tzV5E#479157899_ihude-A-LB
"Geesh, I have got to get an umbrella system of some kind like that crazy LF shooter" was all I can think of afterwards.
BTW, I can't wait to see your LF stuff. The fog was moving fast and really cool looking from Tunnel View that day. And I was only out there in the rain watching it for maybe 5 minutes.
Derek
http://davidsenesac.com/_a-z_evad/dave_bridge.jpg
And took this pic:
http://www.davidsenesac.com/Gallery_B/06-E2-1.jpg
On a foul weather day the continual train of arriving tourists always engages someone with a large format setup into conversations that help pass the dead time.
Oh and someone try and tell me that view isn't far more functional now that they removed those pines.
Priceless words - "What's your name?"
Great session Lon.
Not sure how any of the images will turn out - they certainly won't be "epic," and I'm sure a b&w conversion will be the choice of the day. And honestly, LF wasn't going to get me any more detail or have a real advantage other than perhaps blowing it up to 40x50... which I can guarentee you won't happen.... :-)
David - beautiful image of the lower falls. Although waiting and waiting for the right things to happen is almost always a crap shoot... one thing is for certain, if you're not there waiting, it will never happen. :-)
Steve, "Priceless words - "What's your name?" That's too funny. Are you saying we should have introduced ourselves? Actually, I was thinking that Derek had just got off one of the tour buses, so I didn't ask.
Lon
- Dan.
By the way, I'm having a hard time believing Derek didn't recognize you... isn't your mug posted on the entrance sign or park brochure after as much time as you spend there?
How do you keep that umbrella-tripod setup from blowing over and knocking into your camera?
Update - I finally got my film back and for the most part, standing at Tunnel View in the rain for 2 hours, was a bust! But I had fun anyway. I'll scan and post one of the image anyway.
Eric - That's too funny - I'm at least on a first name basis with Ranger Bill at the Arch Rock entrance station anyway.... :-)
Youssef - I had partners in crime.... whenever I left the tripod to go back to the car or something, I had someone watch over the setup. Fortunately the wind was minimal, so I wasn't too worried.
For Steve and Rodney... the umbrella setup is a complete hack job. I had acquired some ancient studio lighting equipment years ago (barn doors, stands, etc.) Part of that setup included a clamp gadget that included an arm about 3' long. I simply cut off the handle of a regular umbrella and rigged it so it could attatch to the top of the arm. But you guys are on to something... I know you can get a cheap umbrella clamp setup from places like Target or Walmart, but they're not very hefty and don't provide the height you need to get above your camera. Maybe I could invent something.... hmmmmm....
Anyway, I got my film back so now I can post some images. Stay tuned...
Lon