Topic: Greetings from Yosemite! (Read 5702 times)

kaelaria · « **on:** November 19, 2007, 12:36:43 am »

I've been out here (Sequoia and Yosemite) going on 3 days now with 2 full days left. WOW there is a LOT of hiking to do!! I have been to countless National Parks, and this is quite unique so far to me - they REALLY don't like roads here. I'm getting some great shots though. Unfortunately so far all the weather has been perfectly clear, or just flat haze. I'm about to crash and head back out at 5:30am to try for some nice sunrise shots, and HOPE for a bit of cloudwork.

I did make one big blunder so far...I made some good exposures on full manual, and forgot to totally reset for the next location. I didn't realize until I was all the way back to the car from the next location, that the lens was still on manual focus from the last location. I won't know until I get home how good or bad it came out. DERRRR!!

To anyone coming out here for the first time - bring VERY comfy hiking gear, pack LIGHT, and bring a flashlight if you are going to shoot anywhere near sunset. I just did an hour hike in darkness. The only thing I had was the dim light from my camera phone's LED, and it switched off every 30 seconds untill I selected it again in the phone.

Every day I have been dumping equipment from my Expedition 7 backpack (awesome BTW). I'm up to about 1 1/2 hours before I start feeling the weight. Tomorow it's just going to be memory/batteries, 2 lenses, one body and filters.

Off to bed, alarm will be going off way too soon.

wolfnowl · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2007, 12:41:43 am »

Looking forward to the images!

Mike.

Paul Kay · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2007, 03:44:23 am »

I visited in Sepember/October for the first time (to the US) and was very, very impressed. But weather was blue sky slight haze making photography tricky. My blunder was taking a 1DS (which I'd been using underwater in Monterey) and just two lenses (24 and 100) plus an M6 and 35mm. I'd take a simpler, lighter system next time!

Don Libby · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2007, 11:46:09 am »

Very glad you found the Sequoias. We went there for the first time just this past September and loved it so much we returned in October. Both times we were able to get splendid images of the giant trees and fall colors. Hiked 10 miles the first day we were there.

Haven’t got to Yosemite yet and still planning a trip further North to the red woods.

Enjoy yourself!

don

Lisa Nikodym · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2007, 12:10:12 pm »

I'm glad you're enjoying Yosemite, and getting away from the tourist hordes by hiking some - it makes a huge difference! (By the way - if you want the view from Tunnel View without the tour buses and milling hordes, just go a few switchbacks up the trail that leaves from across the street, until you hit an open rocky patch. Same view, no distracting hordes.)

I've been getting there every year or two for most of my adult life, and still love the place. I'm sorry you're not seeing it with the waterfalls going full blast, though. May is the best time to visit the valley.

If you're looking for any additional hiking suggestions, let me know. I've been on most of the trails around the valley and many in the high country. Are Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road still open?

Lisa

Paul Sumi · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2007, 03:18:58 pm »

Quote

I'm glad you're enjoying Yosemite, and getting away from the tourist hordes by Are Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road still open?

Lisa
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

According to NSP.gov, Tioga Pass road and Glacier Point road are still open.

[a href=\"http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm]http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm[/url]

But for the most up to date info:

"Road Status - Call 209/372-0200 (press 1 then 1) for the most up-to-date conditions"

Here's historical data on the opening and closing dates of Tioga Pass Road:

http://www.monobasinresearch.org/data/tiogapass.htm

Paul

kaelaria · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2007, 09:14:42 pm »

PHEW what a day! Started at 4am (1 1/2 hours from the Valley here in Oakhurst), got some great sunrise shots in Cathedral Beach! Spend the rest of the morning and mid afternoon in the high country and the Tioga Pass. REALLY awesome vistas up there! I have at least 10 great panoramas to get framed now

Yes all the roads are great and still open. It was barely below freezing, just a smidge of snow on the roads, and a light covering above 8000 ft. in spots. Most lakes at altitude were still liquid.

I was hoping for another great sunset tonight, but fortunately and unfortunately, it turned out to be 30 seconds of light in between clouds, then blah. I say fortunately because at the last minute I had reservations about another hike at the end of the day (2.4 miles to Sentinel Dome), and instead did the easy drive/short hike to Glacier Point. Still nice shots of Half Dome, but the light sucked anyway - so I'm really glad I skipped the long hike.

I'm back at the hotel starting download/backups to the laptop. Crashing early again...sunrise comes too soon

If I get time tonight after these last two cards dump I'll throw something up.

wolfnowl · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2007, 01:57:07 am »

Quote

If I get time tonight after these last two cards dump I'll throw something up.

Okay, but if it's dinner, turn away from the keyboard...

Mike.

kaelaria · « **Reply #8 on:** November 25, 2007, 03:35:42 pm »

PHEW! What a trip! Just starting to go through them - my laptop is 100% useless for any actual work, other than providing a backup target for cards. Now that I can actually see things, I'm very happy! I have at least 50 printables, a dozen I REALLY like so far...100 I would be proud to show. Shot around 800 total over the week.

One goal I had was to get a couple really nice Panos, as I've never attempted anything with them specifically before. So far so good, I have at least 1 of them coming along nicely.

It'll be some time before I'm done with this batch...lot of work ahead!

Now that I'm full time photographer too, I have to squeeze in play images during 'free time'. Yeah, that's getting short...I guess that's a good problem though...

Anyway, here's an unprocessed image of a pano I'm contemplating.

Oh yeah, I'm now running into the lightroom limits..BLAH.

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #9 on:** November 25, 2007, 05:06:11 pm »

Quote

PHEW! What a trip! Just starting to go through them - my laptop is 100% useless for any actual work, other than providing a backup target for cards. Now that I can actually see things, I'm very happy! I have at least 50 printables, a dozen I REALLY like so far...100 I would be proud to show. Shot around 800 total over the week.

One goal I had was to get a couple really nice Panos, as I've never attempted anything with them specifically before. So far so good, I have at least 1 of them coming along nicely.

It'll be some time before I'm done with this batch...lot of work ahead!

Now that I'm full time photographer too, I have to squeeze in play images during 'free time'. Yeah, that's getting short...I guess that's a good problem though...

Anyway, here's an unprocessed image of a pano I'm contemplating.

Oh yeah, I'm now running into the lightroom limits..BLAH.

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=155873\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Nice start. I look forward to some of the selected and processed ones.

kaelaria · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2007, 10:15:03 pm »

First few:

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #11 on:** November 26, 2007, 12:23:02 am »

Nice! Keep them coming!

kaelaria · « **Reply #12 on:** November 26, 2007, 11:13:48 pm »

Couple more tonight...

kaelaria · « **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2007, 09:04:42 pm »

Couple more...

Author Topic: Greetings from Yosemite! (Read 5702 times)