Making a Postcard Image Different - The Light

When you are working with the beauty of Yosemite it can be easy to take nice images anywhere. You are in an incredible place and everywhere you turn can be spectacular. There are a few things that makes each and every photograph different. When you take the image, the things that makes your image unique from Ansel Adams, or even Galen Rowell's, is the light. Everyday and every time you shoot the light is different.

I captured this image from a perfect postcard place - on top of Glacier Point. The one thing that captured me about this moment that I wanted to preserve was the way the light is captured in the clouds with the color coming alive! I had been watching the clouds form and change all day. A spectacular sunset appeared from under the clouds at the last moment bringing out a breathtaking sunset. You can see Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls off in the distance. The light on the trees in the foreground standing out. Half Dome looking majestic basked in a nice sunset. The snow on the mountain caps in the background. This is my unique post card moment - a place I want to be (and was!) on a Friday afternoon.

Other images from my Yosemite Summer trip can be seen here.

Another great HD video source of Yosemite Vernal Falls Mist trail

This is from Beautiful Places. HD Video. Great to check out.

Back from another trip to Yosemite - Fern Springs Photo of the Day

I just got back from Yosemite last weekend (escaped before it REALLY got hot). I managed to escape from the crowds by staying out on the trails along Glacier Point. I spent one sunset on Sentinel Dome with only a handful of people up there.

One of the highlights of my trip was going to Fern Springs. This is one of Yosemite's smallest waterfalls. I, like many people, have passed by it one the way into Yosemite Valley. It is just over the Pohono Bridge on the right hand side. Just a little pool and spring fed waterfall. I used a wide-angle lens for this image of the falls. Just one of Yosemite's amazing waterfalls.

Yosemite - Past and Present. Don't feed the bears!

This Yosemite video from the 40's has been circulating and I wanted to share. It is incredible how similar things are, yet how different. Guests feeding the bears doesn't happen much unless you are not smart and leave your cooler in your car. Every time I visit I think how magical a place Yosemite is... I forget that it has been enjoyed for years.

Another great video from Yosemite

This video is from twitter user @cinespeed. Really nice music and images. He shot it with a Red 4K commercial HD camera. Just makes you want to be there! Enjoy. John

Yosemite Mix RED 4K from CineSpeed on Vimeo.

Father's Day and Customer Appreciation Sale on Canvas Images!

I have finished my two big shows for the year and wanted to have a special Customer Appreciation and Father's Day sale to folks like you who have been following my work.

The sale is on the Museum Quality Canvas Gallery Wrap Images and will be in effect through July 1st.
16" x 24" were $275, now $225
20" x 30" were $350, now $295
28" x 42" were $650, now $495
38" x 58" were $1400, now $900

This sale includes my "Nature's Firefall" image as well - The smallest size that the Nature's Firefall is available for is 20" x 30" Just let me know which image and sizes you want and I will get one to you.

Don't forget referrals! If a friend of yours purchases a print, you will get 25% your next purchase.

Thanks for your continued support and look forward to some other exciting announcements coming up.

Camera ideas for Father's Day - Eye Fi Wifi Wireless SD Memory cards

Father's Day is coming up. June 21 if you weren't sure. I just started looking around for ideas and thought I would share one. A friend had recommended these so I thought I would give it a try. The Eye-Fi Explore Wi-Fi Wireless 2 GB SD Flash Memory Card. They also come in 4Gb models - my Dads camera (My old Nikon D50 that I gave him) won't support 4Gb SDHC unfortunately. No problem - with wireless connecting and downloading, 2Gb should be fine.

Some of the interesting features I liked about this model is the Geo Tagging capability and access to hotspots around the country (a 1 year subscription). The model with Geotagging included is the Explore. I believe it uses the wifi hotspots to get an approximate location for you which is good enough for most instances.

I will try it out and let you know! If anyone else has experience or feedback using these, drop me a line and let me know.

Humorous craigslist post... Trade wife for Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 ED IF

I take NO responsibility for this humorous craigslist post (my wife is 5'4") - this was posted today in the camera section on craigslist. What crazy Nikon shooters will do for a good lens! Too funny.
John

==================================
Trade wife for Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 ED IF (atherton)

Date: 2009-06-08, 10:03PM PDT


Thats it! I am offering my wife as an even swap for a like-new Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 ED IF ZR LB PB ES Pro.

She is 5'9", abs of steel, 34 C, brown hair, one green - one blue eye, like David Bowie. She hates shopping and prefers to sit home and cook while you watch the game. If you are not hungry, she'll massage your feet and refill your drink.

Since these lenses are on backorder, I think this is really worth it.

* note: health insurance not included in deal

Please email with no less than 50 high-res photos of your lens. No photochoping! I prefer strange emails from broken english authors, in ALL CAPS. I prefer to ship my wife as far as possible!


Good luck.

Bill
Photographer
Altherton, CA

Best place to eat on the other side of Yosemite - the Mobil Gas Station (aka the Whoa Nellie Deli)

Last fall, I was taking a photography workshop out in the Mono Lake area with Michael Frye. That was a great workshop but I will save that for another blog post. In Lee Vining there are only a few places to eat - especially in the Fall when places are starting to close.

The few places include the MonoShake, a roadside hamburger and shake stand, Nicelys, a simple but nice restaurant, and the Mobil Gas station... otherwise known as the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Tioga Gas Mart.

Well, the awards and honors go to Whoa Nellie Deli!! It is located right at the corner of Hiway 395 and 120 - the Tioga Pass road to Yosemite. It has picnic tables outside and good parking. The magic happens inside - tucked inside the gift shop is an amazing deli and restaurant! We ate there every lunch and dinner (we eat once at the other establishments).

My favorites included the fish tacos with mango salsa, the Lobster Taquitos!! The rack of lamb was nice as well after a long day of shooting. A couple other nice dishes include the Wild Buffalo Meatloaf and the Rajin’ Cajun Chicken Jambalaya.

Ok, so what is the biggest problem with this place?! -- what to eat NEXT!!! Ok, it isn't cheap either, but if you want cheap go to McDonalds somewhere else (there are lower cost items like burgers, soups and sandwiches). Talk about Gourmet Cuisine out in the middle of Yosemite National Park (ok, just on the north eastern side of the valley) The web site has a listing of some of the other menu items and list of music that is there in the summer.

This is one of those places where I want to be on a Friday afternoon! Enjoy John

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Panorama dry run of the artfair booth

Just getting things setup as this is my first time doing an outdoor artfair. A photographer friend of mine loaned me his booth/tent setup - I really like it! Lightweight and supercool. It is a trimline in case anyone wants to know. I also borrowed a van to transport stuff. Just been stretching canvas right and left!! Ok, back to it!

This is a panorama stitched in CS4. Handheld, shooting from multiple angles. I had my daughter, Laura, moving around and it didn't have any problems! Fun with Photoshop CS4.

Cheers
John