It was late afternoon when I reached Yosemite. There was a brief stunning view from Highway 120 as the sun disappeared behind ominous storm clouds. Then the skies rapidly darkened.
Walls of plowed snow lined the slippery road. Chains were mandatory but the road cleared as I dropped from 6,000 ft to the valley floor and passed Gates of the Valley and the Merced River.
Following Ansel Adams hallowed Yosemite trail…
I was in Yosemite to join a class with photographer Michael Frye, and excited to hone photographic skills. I imagined fairy-tale snow scenes and close ups of snowflakes. Instead we had rain, but along with that came swirls of mist and clouds in graceful ever-changing formations which made images of favorite places unique.
First Afternoon
…we headed for the Tunnel View Overlook. There El Capitan was on our left, Half Dome on the right with Bridalveil Fall mostly obscured. I edged my tripod in between an excited group of Chinese visitors and staked my claim. The Yosemite Valley floor was covered by a puffy layer of white clouds. Above this a much lighter mist swirled like a gauzy scrim in Swan Lake Ballet. This was the story. A magical new aspect for a much photographed site.
Second Afternoon…
…Michael Frye led us to a spot on the Merced River below Half Dome. We clambered down the snowy bank, ice cleats strapped to our boots, and set up our gear. It was almost full moon and the idea was to capture it as it appeared above the valley. The moon was there, but even more captivating to me was golden sunset over the frosty granite of Half Dome.
Next Yosemite Morning…
…we headed for a beach known locally known as Tahiti Beach. The temperature was polar opposite of the South Seas, but the scene by the river breathtaking. Mist was swirling around El Capitan and Three Brothers. Reflections in the river mirrored the granite in the still morning.
The Week went fast
Seeing the Yosemite Valley and its iconic vistas made famous by Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Hill, Carlton Watkins and Ansel Adams is always awe-inspiring. It was Ansel Adams who famously used clouds and weather formations as an added artistic component.
Hopefully in the cloudy, rainy, misty week our class was able to incorporate a little of this inspiration. Photographer, Michael Frye followed the weather avidly. I only missed one afternoon. As we looked from the window at a downpour he enthused this might bring ground mist over the meadow. As I headed for a hot chocolate I saw some intredpids covering tripods and cameras with umbrellas. It was a beautiful scene, so were their images. I am happy they shared them with the rest of the class.
