I made this photograph on Monday, December 7, during a beautiful winter storm in Yosemite Valley. Frankly, I haven’t worked in such poor conditions for some time! When I first spied this scene, it was windy and snowing heavily. I did not let this stop me from setting up the camera, yet for nearly an hour following the setup, I fought to expose a sheet of film. The snow was deep; my dark cloth was blowing around; my ground glass and lens kept fogging; snow kept landing on the front element of the lens; I was covered in snow; and ultimately, it was simply snowing too heavily to make the photograph I had hoped to make. But I couldn’t quit it, as the idea of this image gnawed at me. So I fought the conditions for an hour, using randomly placed expletives along the way, and finally got my negative exposed. And then the idea of the image once again bugged me and bugged me until I finally got the chance to develop film a couple of days ago.
And now I am at peace. When I have business to attend to and can’t get away, this photograph will serve as my magical portal to the Happiest Place on Earth.
This is really beautiful, Michael. I can appreciate the effort you made to get this--your efforts paid off handsomely!
Well done!
-P
Posted by Robert Dayton on December 22, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Ditto to Preston's compliments.
Posted by Reno DiTullio on December 22, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Fine image, Michael, I'm glad you persevered
Posted by Craig Myers on December 22, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Gorgeous work. Although you suffered for it, you had an hour's worth of more snow to add to the image's impact. Thanks for hanging in there and sharing this.
Posted by Steve Sieren on December 22, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Taking pictures in the snow and rain is fun but harder to get a good shot like this one. Nice work Michael.
SS
Posted by Harley Goldman on December 22, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Beautiful image, MG.
But quit your dang whining about how hard it was or switch to digital!
An excellent capture and processing here, Michael. The view leading into the BG is what really makes the scene IMO. The FG provides the perfect framing for the view.
Posted by Roland Burkert on December 23, 2009 at 8:00 PM
At first glance I wasn't that impressed with the composition. But I looked at the larger one and the more I looked at it the better I liked it. The composition is subtle but you definately get a sense of being there and looking out past the foreground trees. I am also very impressed with the exposure and contrast you achieved here. Whenever I have shot under similar conditions the outcome was very flat. Well done. You clearly have mastered your camera.
Posted by Eric Good on December 26, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Magical! Worth every bit of effort if you ask me. I love how my eye is pulled through the darker fringes of the scene into the high-key softer details of the bg. Excellent work!
P.S. By the way, I met some forest rangers doing trail maintenance at the beginning of my recent backpacking trip into the San Gorgonio Wilderness, and they said they knew you and to say hello. I take it you've helped them with a fund-raiser function in Riverside in the past.
Eric: I've long been associated with the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association (SGWA). I have been a volunteer member for 15+ years, and used to regularly patrol (and photograph!) the San Gorgonio Wilderness. I have many fond memories there. Do you know the names of the individuals you ran into?
I'll probably have my work again on display this year at the March 2010 SGWA screening of the Banff Film Festival in Redlands. Watch their website (sgwa.org) for details.
Posted by David Senesac on December 27, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Doesn't get much better than fresh snow on an intimate tree landscape between snow squalls. However each time one is out in such elements, one really ought to brainstorm ways to better deal with the difficult elements none of which one is likely to read about in magazine articles or books haha.
As an example for condensation on groundglass I have a custom snorkle mouthpiece as part of my dark cloth system and use swimmer's nose clips to prevent any breath from my nose. Still condensation will occur due to snow melting on one's face that then is absorbed into one's facial skin. That then can be enough to still cause ground glass condensation under the cloth as one's face is of course warm causing the wet skin to evaporate. Same things happens in warm weather when one's face is sweating like just after climbing up a steep slope. So when working during snow storms I try to keep my face out of the weather as much as is practical by having my NF parka hood zipped tightly while wearing a balaclava. Of course this is just one example of a photo gear in snow issue.
Posted by Eric Good on December 28, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Michael,
Sorry I can't remember their names (there was a handful of them and they all seemed to have very nondescript names, if I remember correctly). Nice guys, I stopped and chatted with them a bit and took a few pictures for them. They mentioned, I should get in touch with you about displaying work at the Festival. At the very least I'd like to show up and say hello in March... sounds like a good time. I'll keep an eye on the website.
Discussion
12 repliesI made this photograph on Monday, December 7, during a beautiful winter storm in Yosemite Valley. Frankly, I haven’t worked in such poor conditions for some time! When I first spied this scene, it was windy and snowing heavily. I did not let this stop me from setting up the camera, yet for nearly an hour following the setup, I fought to expose a sheet of film. The snow was deep; my dark cloth was blowing around; my ground glass and lens kept fogging; snow kept landing on the front element of the lens; I was covered in snow; and ultimately, it was simply snowing too heavily to make the photograph I had hoped to make. But I couldn’t quit it, as the idea of this image gnawed at me. So I fought the conditions for an hour, using randomly placed expletives along the way, and finally got my negative exposed. And then the idea of the image once again bugged me and bugged me until I finally got the chance to develop film a couple of days ago.
And now I am at peace. When I have business to attend to and can’t get away, this photograph will serve as my magical portal to the Happiest Place on Earth.
Well done!
-P
SS
But quit your dang whining about how hard it was or switch to digital!
Long live film!
P.S. By the way, I met some forest rangers doing trail maintenance at the beginning of my recent backpacking trip into the San Gorgonio Wilderness, and they said they knew you and to say hello. I take it you've helped them with a fund-raiser function in Riverside in the past.
Eric: I've long been associated with the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association (SGWA). I have been a volunteer member for 15+ years, and used to regularly patrol (and photograph!) the San Gorgonio Wilderness. I have many fond memories there. Do you know the names of the individuals you ran into?
I'll probably have my work again on display this year at the March 2010 SGWA screening of the Banff Film Festival in Redlands. Watch their website (sgwa.org) for details.
As an example for condensation on groundglass I have a custom snorkle mouthpiece as part of my dark cloth system and use swimmer's nose clips to prevent any breath from my nose. Still condensation will occur due to snow melting on one's face that then is absorbed into one's facial skin. That then can be enough to still cause ground glass condensation under the cloth as one's face is of course warm causing the wet skin to evaporate. Same things happens in warm weather when one's face is sweating like just after climbing up a steep slope. So when working during snow storms I try to keep my face out of the weather as much as is practical by having my NF parka hood zipped tightly while wearing a balaclava. Of course this is just one example of a photo gear in snow issue.
Sorry I can't remember their names (there was a handful of them and they all seemed to have very nondescript names, if I remember correctly). Nice guys, I stopped and chatted with them a bit and took a few pictures for them. They mentioned, I should get in touch with you about displaying work at the Festival. At the very least I'd like to show up and say hello in March... sounds like a good time. I'll keep an eye on the website.