Weekend snow and storm in Yosemite (big pics)

Mjollnir · 28-02-2011 7:11pm #1

Went to Yosemite this weekend because my g/f was a finalist at an annual photographic contest they have there, and was pretty excited about the potential massive snow dump that was supposed to start the day before we left and continued on until Sunday, when we'd depart.

It snowed before we got there and intermittently while we were there, but nothing huge. The existing snow cover was enough, and there was a LOT of clearing/occluding light play all over the valley to make things very interesting. I took a LOT of duplicates in B&W w/a red 29 filter and then in color, and can't decide which ones I prefer. Almost everything was shot w/a circular polarizer, PP in Photoscape in .jpg, and no color mods anywhere.

It was likely under 30 degrees the whole time until Sunday, and chains were required.

Two of the three Cathedral Rocks w/the Cathedral Spires, early Sat morning.

El Cap, Sat morning. Should have moved out of the way of the branches, but I've shot this place so often I'm afraid to say now that I didn't care.

Another warhorse, Tunnel View, but this time in B&W. Quite pleased w/the results, and the weather got MUCH worse when we returned later that day.

Sun playing off of the west side of the Cathedral Rocks, Bridalveil Falls at the lower left.

El Cap from the road, just after the Wawona/Bridalveil Falls turnoff.

Famous rock climbing spire, "The Rostrum", as the afternoon storm approaches.

Cascade Creek

Royal Arches as afternoon fog hides North Dome.

One of the slopes that ascend to Glacier Point, near the 4 Mile Trail

Light playing off North Wall, juuuuuust west of Royal Arches.

El Cap, peaking through the late afternoon mist, taken from South Side Road a short ways past the entrance to Cathedral Beach.

FoxT · 28-02-2011 7:32pm

Beautiful...#1 & #5 stand out for me.... Well done!

Prenderb · 28-02-2011 7:41pm

Wow, Thanks! I'm heading here myself shortly for a few days....drooling already! (don't know if I'll fit my tripod into the luggage, but I'm sorely tempted.)

magicbastarder · 28-02-2011 7:43pm

#1 is let down slightly by some haloing in the top right - might be an idea for a smoother gradient?

daycent · 28-02-2011 7:49pm

Cool shots.....

I visited there just as I was getting into photography. Wish I could go back!

Mjollnir · 28-02-2011 7:51pm

Prenderb wrote: »

Wow, Thanks! I'm heading here myself shortly for a few days....drooling already! (don't know if I'll fit my tripod into the luggage, but I'm sorely tempted.)

You NEED a tripod there. Perhaps buy a cheap one here on the way up, in Merced?

It's a very common site to see tourists there with really high dollar cameras and lenses, shooting near sunset/rise, w/no tripod and I can't help but wonder how their shots must turn out.

TelePaul · 28-02-2011 8:04pm

I often get jealous of other users shots in this forum, but never as much as now. Any time I see shots of Yosemite, it makes me want to go back.

Amazing shots, well done.

Mjollnir · 28-02-2011 8:18pm

TelePaul wrote: »

I often get jealous of other users shots in this forum, but never as much as now. Any time I see shots of Yosemite, it makes me want to go back.

Amazing shots, well done.

Thanks! I took a whopping (for me) 66 pics and was afraid I'd posted too many.

The g/f took almost 500. I don't envy her when we get home, having to sort through all that.

Morrisseeee · 01-03-2011 1:13pm

The pics are really fab, but I can only imagine that they don't even come close to the real-life experience, even if you blowed them up to the size of your living room wall !!