A Time of Change

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tunnel-view-yosemite-black-white

Taken in Yosemite Valley at Tunnel View on May 9th, 2013

Tunnel View, Yosemite National Park. In early May Yosemite was hit by a thunderstorm that involved, according to a local park photographer, the most intense downpour of the last 15 years. As I waited and watched the roads and parking lots turn to rivers, pea-sized hail crashed down on my car in a deafening cacophony. Then, as quickly as it began, the tempest abated. And I had one thought: get to Tunnel View to watch the clearing storm. I arrived to see some of the most beautiful and dynamic light I’ve ever seen at this vista, and I made a number of dramatic photos. As the rain clouds cleared I used a 10-stop ND filter to create this 120-second exposure of the incredible dynamics of the Valley.

Mythic

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Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite, Black and White

Taken at Tunnel View in Yosemite Valley on May 9th, 2013

Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite National Park. In early May Yosemite was hit by a thunderstorm that involved, according to a local park photographer, the most intense downpour of the last 15 years. As I waited and watched the roads and parking lots turn to rivers, pea-sized hail crashed down on my car in a deafening cacophony. Then, as quickly as it began, the tempest abated. And I had one thought: get to Tunnel View to watch the clearing storm. I arrived to see some of the most beautiful and dynamic light I’ve ever seen at this vista, and I made a number of dramatic photos. This intimate shot of Bridalveil is one of my favorites from the evening as for me this scene epitomizes Yosemite’s timeless and mythic beauty.

Dome Light

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Thunderstorm above Half Dome at sunset, Yosemite Valley

Taken in Yosemite National Park on April 24th, 2013

In late April 2013 warm temperatures brought afternoon thunderheads to Yosemite a few days in a row. On this day they continued to build up throughout the afternoon and even dropped some rain on the valley for a few brief minutes. Luckily for all the photographers in the park the clouds also managed to stick around through the evening, where they caught the warm light of sunset. This shot was taken from a bend in the Merced just off the Yosemite Village overflow parking area which provides an amazing view of Half Dome. A neat little spot most people don’t know is even there because it’s hiding behind a bunch of parked cars. 🙂

Gates of Winter

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Yosemite Valley View Winter Sunrise

Taken in Yosemite Valley at Valley View on December 29th, 2012

I was winter camping in Yosemite Valley. After a lovely snooze on a bed of snow, thermarests, and cozy blankets, I got up early on the morning of December 29th, 2012 to catch the sunrise. I drove to El Capitan meadow to assess the light and it looked like the most interesting display would be happening to the east. Knowing the layout of the park, I decided that Gates of the Valley would be a perfect place to watch the sunrise. Arriving at the Gates, I noticed a few other photographers already set up. Not wanting to stand right next to anyone and noticing these fantastic tufts of snow-covered grass in the Merced, I waded out into the river to shoot. The sunrise started off blandly and I thought it was going to be a bust, but after 30 minutes of patient waiting the clouds broke up enough to let these lovely salmon and lavender splashes of light in. What a way to start the day!

Stanislaus National Forest Residency Photos

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In September, 2012 I was awarded an artist residency through the Stanislaus National Forest and 3 Forests Interpretive Association Artist in the Woods Program. After applying for the program and beating out a number of other applicants, I was given the opportunity to live and photograph in the Sierra High Country for two weeks (unfortunately reduced to 10 days due to scheduling conflicts). I stayed in a sweet little cabin at Baker Station on Highway 108 near Sonora Pass and spent my days roaming far and wide through the forest, hiking, camping, backpacking, and of course, taking photos.

My usual style of photography involves photographing grand landscapes under dramatic light. Unfortunately the residency landed smack dab in a window of calm, clear weather between two sets of dramatic thunderstorms. For me that meant clear, boring skies for nearly the entire time I was there. Which was good in a way because it forced me to look outside my usual paradigm and interpret scenes in ways I normally wouldn’t. The result was a high number of  abstract and intimate landscape shots, and surprisingly few “big picture” type images. Enjoy!

If you’d like to read more about my adventures during this wonderful residency, as well as see lots of behind-the-scenes photos and videos, check out my day-by-day breakdowns (links will become active as the breakdowns are written):

  • Day 1: Welcome!
  • Day 2: Sonora Pass and St. Mary’s Pass
  • Days 3 & 4: Blue Canyon Backpacking trip and Trail of the Gargoyles
  • Days 5 & 6: Photography Workshops
  • Day 7: Fixing an exploding coolant system on my Eep!
  • Days 8 – 10: Emigrant Wilderness Backpacking trip to Granite Dome

And please share your thoughts and comments below. Cheers,

Josh

Steps and Streaks

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Thousand Island Lake sunset, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Long Exposure Photo

Taken at Thousand Island Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Eastern Sierras, on October 6th, 2012

A place of timeless beauty, Thousand Island Lake sits high up in the Sierra near Mammoth Lakes, California. In this shot I wanted to give a sense of the enduring wonder of the place so I included these ancient granite blocks. I also used a minute-long exposure to give an ephemeral feel to the clouds.

Sky Island

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Thousand Island Lake sunset, Ansel Adams Wilderness
Taken at Thousand Island Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California on October 6th, 2012

Thousand Island Lake has always struck me as a magical place. A place of great and stark beauty where mountains soar and waters reflect the sky. And in the lake itself are dozens of tiny granite islets harboring meadows, dwarf pine trees, and a chipmunk or two. The real magic of the place comes out during calm evenings and mornings when these little granite worlds sit in the still reflection of the lake, seemingly floating in the sky.

Morning at Mt. Rainier

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Wildflowers along a stream in Mt. Rainier National Park
Taken near Paradise, Mt. Rainier National Park, on September 5th, 2012

In early September 2012 I was in Seattle for a friend’s wedding. Since my birthday is also in early September and since the wildflower bloom was spectacular at Mt. Rainier in 2012, I decided to treat myself to a little birthday camping trip near Paradise. I spent three days hiking among the wildflowers, meadows, and streams of that gorgeous park, inhaling the rich aromas of the flowers and savoring amazing views like this one.

Southern Splendor

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Sealy Tarns, Mt. Sefton, and Mt. Cook, Aoraki National Park, South Island, New Zealand

Taken from the Sealy Tarns in Mt. Cook / Aoraki National Park, New Zealand on April 26th, 2012

The trail description didn’t make it sound bad at all: “Track starts out gently then ascends steeply to the Sealy Tarns.” A pretty unassuming description. Glib, even. But I learned my lesson the hard way: in New Zealand, when a trail guide says steep, it means steep. In truth it was a staircase from hell. To take my mind off my aching lungs and shaking legs I tried to count the number of individual stairs in the climb but I lost track somewhere in the two thousands. When I finally reached the top and saw this magnificent view at sunset, that endless trudge seemed like a small price to pay to witness the splendor of the Southern Alps.

After Hours

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Hooker Lake, Mt. Cook National Park

Taken in Mt. Cook / Aoraki National Park on April 25th, 2012

Even though my legs were as stiff as iron from standing in this glacial lake for the previous 40 minutes and I needed to warm up, I couldn’t resist this amazing view. As dusk grew deeper the pinkish tones of sunset faded to shades of blue and the lake calmed to provide wondrous reflections. This was my parting shot before I began the 3-mile hike back to my car.