Yosemite National Park

[theMD]

My dad and I recently took a trip to Yosemite (California). If you know anything at all about photography then you know about Ansel Adams. If you don't know who he is hop over to www.anseladams.com (http://www.anseladams.com) to learn a little about my inspiration. Ansel's favorite place was the Sierra Nevada, in particular Yosemite National Park. He took many of his most famous photographs there. Ever since I learned about him in high school photography I have wanted to visit and see the subjects of his work in person.

Here are just a few pics I took with a digi cam. My real passion is black & white photography, which was 99.9% of Ansel's work, but it's going to take me a little while before I can access a darkroom and make my own prints. For now you can enjoy these Photoshop'd snapshots.

[theMD]

The first two show Half Dome, made famous by Ansel's photo "Moon and Half Dome"

The next two are of Bridalveil Falls, one also showing Cathedral Rocks behind the waterfall.

The last one is Upper Yosemite Falls and Lost Arrow (the narrow piece of rock immediately to the right of the falls). Rock climbers can make their way to Lost Arrow and then take a ride on a cable to get over to the top of Yosemite Point. Sorry, I didn't get any pics of climbers up there, but there is a great shot of climbers on El Capitan coming up........

[theMD]

El Capitan is the largest single piece of granite in the park. It rises more than 3,000ft (915m) above the valley floor, and it has dozens of climbing routes to the top. While on a tour I was lucky enough to catch these two guys (just barely) with a pretty good zoom feature on this digi cam.

Yosemite Chapel is either the oldest or 2nd oldest building in the park that is still in operation. I don't remember when it was built, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's well over 100 years old.

The last pic is just a cool one I thought most of you growers could appreciate. It also reminded me of a pic that Indigo (from GK) posted a while back. The damn thing is thriving with its root structure jammed in the crack of a big boulder.....and we have trouble growing MJ in virtually ideal indoor environments! LOL

[theMD]

The first shot isn't all the special. It's part of Mirror Lake that has incredibly bright green water. The digi cam made it look very pale yellow, but I think I did a pretty good job adjusting it in Photoshop to match the picture I still have in my head.

The Monarch is a giant sequoia tree that fell over 300 years ago. Giant sequoias are the world's largest living things, growing over 300ft (92m) tall with a diameter of about 30ft (9m) and bark up to 3ft thick (1m). They are virtually fireproof, which is why they are able to live over 3,000 years. As the Monarch has shown, these trees are also very resistant to rot, and this one is expected to remain almost intact for thousands of years.

The original Tunnel Tree was carved in the 1860s I think, but it fell in a harsh snowstorm in the 1960s. This one was carved a decade or two after the original, and it is still living and growing today.

As I mentioned sequoias are fireproof and resistant to rot, and they are also very adept at preventing or fighting off diseases. So why aren't these giants everywhere? Well, this shows what it takes to grow a giant sequoia. These cones hold the seeds in a tiny little package. It takes 2-3 years for a sequoia to grow and drop new cones. In its lifetime one will drop tons of these things, containing millions of seeds. The problem is that the seeds are very delicate so unless they land directly on fertile soil there is virtually no chance it will even sprout a seedling. Still, it's amazing how these mammoths begin life.

On our way home we missed a flight and had to be rescheduled and re-routed through 4 different cities. It was a very hectic day, but I got to see my first FULL rainbow in the midst of an otherwise unpleasant day in Salt Lake City airport. The thing was so big and so close that I had to take 2 pictures and splice them together in Photoshop. If you look close you can tell.

[theMD]

I hope you enjoyed the show. One day I'll get some of my B&W prints digitized so I can share them with you on the site.

[Heath_Bogenreif]

Cool stuff. Amazing landscape when your natural surroundings are the great plains. I havent been there since 99. Time for a vacation.

[DazeChain]

MD...By the looks of the pixs :pics: ...you were in some beautiful places...the rainbow shot very cool too...I couldn't see the seam...and that tree growin' in the rock...freaky stuff...one thing is fo' sure....you would never ever ever catch me on the side of a slab o' granite like that ...that far off the ground...I just got too much to live for...and I's figure they would tell me I haven't lived til' I have tried something like that...but no sirree...not for me...not for me...hope your trip was fun!...Stay mellow, dood... :cool2: DChain

[theMD]

Thanks, guys.

Daze, one of the best "natural highs" I've had was from rock climbing, and I barely got 200ft off the ground. I wish I could get in shape to take on a challenge like El Capitan one day, but at the moment I can't get a lot of practice in Florida. The highest point in FL is something like 420ft :smokin3: above sea level, and it's just a damn hill. LOL My other great high was skydiving. It's not quite as athletic (you work with gravity not against it!), but DAMN the adrenaline rush is unmatched. If you're not a thrill-seeker it's always awe-inspiring just watching these guys work their way up a vertical rock......moreso with a spliff in your mouth. :smoke2:

[Sparky]

Right on Dood. Glad you enjoyed my backyard. :thumbsup: Got a buddy who's climbed El Cap 7 times now....once he was stuck in a storm on the cliff face for 11 days straight. Imagine that one! :eek: I just took a trip to the park on Mother's day with the family. Was a real sucky day for pics as it was raining it's ass off, but I snapped a few good ones. Good thing was there was water coming off the rocks EVERYWHERE that day.There is just no other place like Yosemite...the place WILL put you in awe each time you see it. :smoke2:

[Sparky]

BTW.....LOVE the rainbow shot Dood. :thumbsup:

Folks...THOSE are my mountains. :animbong:

[marymaryquitecntrary]

beautiful shots, dood! and sparky! i've never seen a pic of anyone climbing like that before ... excellent. and i love the little red(ish) church! thanks for sharing them with us ... i feel like i've been there. :D

[Tiberon]

Excellent photos dood. When I was little we went there. Its an awe inspiring place.
Thx for the pics dood!!!