Nevada & Vernal Falls with Big Cap off to the Left as seen from Glacier Point
In preparation for visiting a national park for the first time, it is very hard to visualize the relationship of the major points of interest. Looking at a map is abstract. Of course it provides a “sense of place,” but it can not prepare one for the actual physical experience (IMHO).
Let’s take the photograph above for example. The map can pinpoint Nevada Falls (upper) and Vernal Fall (lower), but it cannot adequately convey the juxtaposition to each other and the overall physical relationship to their wider surroundings. (Half Dome is not in the picture, but is off to the left.)
See the partial map below with noted points outlined by ovals and rectangles:
I particularly like the zig-zaged relationship of the falls that flow in the Half Dome neighborhood, but this cannot be truly appreciated from looking at a map. The other half of the problem is that when looking at photographs, it is hard to get a sense of the total layout of the area because pictures are narrow in scope. Plan we must, but we also need to be prepared for “surprises” and to be flexible in our goals.
***** BTW *****
I didn’t see one person arrive at Glacier Point and leave within a few minutes. Everyone I watched lingered and walked around as though they couldn’t soak in enough of the views. I admit, I was one who lingered for a length of time.
I wish these photographs and my skills could depict the grandeur of the panorama that was cast before me, but they are only a lesser reproduction.
For another part of the panorama seen from Glacier Point incuding Half Dome, located just to the North (left) of the above photo check the link below:
Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 63 (Glacier Point-Half Dome)
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.
*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 109 YOY – Year of Yosemite
File Name: 0279.CR2
Capture time: 3:01:40 PM
Capture date: June 6, 2016
Exposure: 1/400 sec @ f/6.3
Focal Length: 20mm
ISO 100
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS