nature

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 182 (Sentinel Rock from the Meadow Area)

Jeff

Sentinel Rock

Sentinel Rock as seen from the meadow area

One of the amazing features of Yosemite National Park is that it offers so many perspectives of the wonderful natural formations. As we have been discussing, perspective and context tend to influence how we perceive something. This picture (above) of Sentinel Rock taken from the meadow area presents a much different view of the spire than the views from above the valley where it tends to get lost among the other mountain tops.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 181 (Half Dome as Waldo is Found)

Jeff

Half Dome a closer context

Showing Half Dome with more context

In yesterday’s post, I tried to demonstrate how the context or environment in which the main subject or focal point of the picture is placed has much to do with defining that main subject. If it is too small, or without other elements to lend perspective, the photograph is likely to be less successful.

Context, i.e. the surroundings of the object, helps to stress the main interest when the composition is well done. In addition, making sure that the main subject is large enough and distinguishable enough increases the overall effectiveness.

In the picture above, there is a leading line going from the bottom left angled upward to the right to Half Dome. This leads the viewer’s eye toward the main subject.

You can see yesterday’s picture of Half Dome and how insignificant it appears in the composition and context. Click HERE

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 181 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 180 (Half Dome Plays Where’s Waldo)

Jeff

Half Dome hides among other features

Half Dome is Lost among the myriad of structures seen from Olmsted Point

In the picture above it is difficult to pick out Half Dome from among all of the other features sticking up against the skyline at Olmsted Point. It is nature’s version of “Where’s Waldo.”

A casual onlooker who had no prior knowledge and no guides, but just pulled off of the road because of the scenic overlook, they would probably be hard pressed to tell what it was they were seeing. Half Dome is just another distant mountain.

Our iconization of certain natural wonders is all about context. We need to see the overwhelming beauty of a feature set in an appropriate environment. I suppose that is why we have picture frames for even the most beautiful paintings.

Half Dome hides among other features

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 179 (Half Dome with Accessories)

Jeff

Half Dome with some Accessories

Closer to the “customary” views of Half Dome

Yesterday I proffered the idea that we often relate to our paragons, whether they are people, historic places, natural wonders, etc. in very specific contexts and when observed in different settings they often do not evoke the same emotions.

Yesterday’s picture of Half Dome trying to poke out above other mountains around Mirror Lake did not render it the majestic mountain we have come to admire. Click HERE to see that post.

The picture of Half Dome above, adds a bit more punch and it comes closer to that majestic look we have come to associate with it. The meadow, trees and other mountains appear to accessorize Half Dome itself and help to increase the splendor of the mountain and overall scene.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 178 (An Icon with no Makeup – Half Dome)

Jeff

Half Dome from the Mirror Lake Trail

Half Dome is just another mountain when viewed from the Mirror Lake Trail

It is a strange feeling to have read much about something over a long period time and to compile a mental image of what that thing would actually look like “in person” and then to finally see it before you. It might be something akin to seeing a movie star while out-and-about doing chores and thinking how much different they look in the supermarket. That was part of the experience I had when visiting Yosemite and getting to view the major attractions from many different angles.

In the picture above, Half Dome works hard to make its presence felt among the other mountains surrounding Mirror Lake. If you knew no better, you would probably not be very impressed. Much of the awe these landmarks inspire is based on context, i.e. how they play off of the surrounding beauty in a particular area.

To be continued…

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 178 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 177 (Finding DaVinci at Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

Butterfly on wildflower

Butterfly on one of a number of yellow wildflowers (perhaps Arnica nevadensis) © Jeffrey B. Ross

The photograph above was taken during our hike at Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite National Park. The day was overcast and it had rained a bit prior to our arrival at the park and also a little more during our stay. With the rain and the cooler temperatures, the wildflowers were still abundant around the reservoir.

Being surrounded by the wildflowers and the overwhelming natural beauty of the area brings to mind the quotation above (repeated below for clarity):

“Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does nature because in her inventions nothing is lacking, and nothing is superfluous – Leonardo DaVinci

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 176 (Merced River Early Morning)

Jeff

Merced River Morning

Morning sun shining through on the Merced River

This is one of my favorite pictures of the Merced River. If you are hiking anywhere in Yosemite Valley, there is little chance you can escape crossing the Merced River at one point or another. My bet is that you will find it a constant companion as you hike the various valley trails as it meanders through most of the scenic areas of Yosemite Valley.

This photograph wasn’t too far from El Capitan and the light was a very pretty color. The reflections, the various hues of green and the water’s calm add to the beauty of the river.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 176 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 175 (Trees Just Want to Survive)

Jeff

Trees throw roots out to survive

Trees take hold among the rocky hills of Yosemite

It never ceases to AMAZE ME how trees (and other plants) find toe holds in the most unlikely places and manage to grow, if not thrive, at least for a while. Among the multitude of trees we walked past on our hikes, many of them managed to spread their roots out wherever they could make them fit.

In this photo you can see how there is a series of roots in the bottom, right-hand quadrant that wind through the pathways left by parting rocks and tumble over them to gain and maintain a foothold.

It is difficult to know which came first, the roots of this tree or the large rocks and boulders. The fact that the root appears to be growing on top of some of the rocks probably indicate that the stones must have preceded the growth of the root.

Surface roots often provide an obstacle course as it seems they try to “nip at” the toes of hikers as they walk by.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 174 (Lembert Dome Trail – Panorama 8/8)

Jeff

A panorama taken from the top of Lembert Dome

The panorama from the edge of Lembert Dome highlights several key features of the area

After arriving on the very top of the dome and taking in the 360 degree view, I couldn’t help, but try my hand at taking some panoramas. I like this one in particular because of the way the tip of the dome provides some perspective.

In the small view on your browser, the river in the background just beyond the tip of the dome is hard to see, but it meanders through the meadow at that point and was interesting to see as it pointed the way to the mountains off to the right.

(To see a larger view of the Panorama, click HERE)

Of course just to the left of the edge of the dome, in the distance, is Cathedral Peak which I have highlighted in several other posts. You can see a better picture of Cathedral Peak HERE.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 174 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture date: June 7, 2016
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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 173 (Lembert Dome (7/8) – Looking Northeast)

Jeff

Looking northeast from the side of Lembert Dome

Looking northeast from the side of Lembert Dome

It was somewhat of a scramble to get to the very top of Lembert Dome, but not too difficult for those who have an average sense of balance and dexterity (IMHO). Once nearing the top, I stepped to the sides of the dome to take in the views from those aspects. There were peaks and mountains everywhere.

**NOTE** If there are members of your hiking party that do not feel comfortable going to the very top of the dome, there are a couple of ledge areas where they can wait and have a snack and still enjoy much of the beautiful views.

One point I like to make, and you can feel free to disagree with me, is that people should not have to be coerced, cajoled or prodded to traipse to an area if they are not comfortable doing so. Everyone knows their personal comfort levels and I have witnessed some bad scenes in places like Zion National Park’s Angels Landing!

As you can see in the photo above, there were still some remaining patches of snow that were a light shade of gray. There was still ample room to navigate around those areas and if need be, the snow was soft and could be walked upon.

Two days ago, I showed a view of the other side of Lembert Dome (northwest) which I think was a prettier view. You can see that post HERE.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 173 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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