Horsetail Falls Across the Merced at Sunset

Since this is the week when the sun is at the right angle to potentially illuminate Horsetail Falls like it is lit up with lava, I thought I would post this. This is "Horsetail Falls Across the Merced River" This is another vantage point for capturing Horsetail Falls off of El Captian from across the Merced River. Most folks use a long lens, but I like this setting. There are NOT many places to capture from this locale as it is packed with photographers and there aren't as many unobstructed spots along the bank of the river. I like this tranquil setting with the snow on the banks and the lush green trees off in the distant. The one red tree stands out on the bank. The bonus is the glow from Horsetail Falls off in the background! Ahh....just another fine day in Yosemite National Park! You can see more images of Horsetail Falls, including my award-winning image "Nature's Firefalls" over here on my website.

"Bridaveil Trickles" Bridalveil Falls Yosemite National Park

"Bridalveil Trickles" This is a close-up below Bridalveil Falls. This is part of my "Water, Light and Textures" series of images from Yosemite National Park. The full series can been seen on my website here:

"Reflections of El Capitan at Sunset" in Presigious Yosemite Gallery!

I am excited to announce that my "Reflections of El Capitan at Sunset" has been accepted into a prestigious gallery exhibit in Yosemite! No, not the Ansel Adams gallery (not yet!), but an exhibit called the "Yosemite Renaissance" This was one of my major goals this past year and I got in!

The sunlit El Capitan at sunset is reflected on the Merced. I shot this during my national contest winning trip last year (I won the Aperture Nature Photography contest) where I got to shoot with 4 professionals including Scott Bourne, Jennifer Wu, Steve Simon and Gary Hamburgh.

If you are in Yosemite in the next few months, stop in and visit the exhibit at the Yosemite Museum Gallery through May 2nd. There is also a reception this Friday, Feb 26th that I will be attending if you are close by!

If you would like one of these limited edition images, they are for sale.
(tax in CA and shipping additional) Send me a message or email to arrange to purchase. Framed images are also available. Reserve your early editions now!

The Yosemite Renaissance is in its 25th year and showcases different views capturing the spirit of Yosemite in different art mediums. This competition and juried exhibit is open to professional and amateur artists and they had a record number of entries this year. Only a few photographers were accepted. Some other famous Yosemite photographers that have exhibited there include Charlie Cramer, Michael Frye (both of whom I have studied under), William Neill and Elizabeth Carmel.

About the image:
Blue skies are normally not too interesting, so I looked around to find a smaller, more interesting composition. The reflected orange glow from El Cap just lit up the Merced and I found this soothing image (this is one of my favorite images!) The gold and blue are a natural combination that go together with the swirls and flows like an abstract painting. I print this large on canvas and most people can't tell if this is a painting or a photograph. This is part of my "Water, Light and Textures series" of images that can be seen via the link.

The Yosemite Museum Gallery is next to the main Yosemite Visitors center and is also close to the Ansel Adams Gallery.

I want to thank everyone for their support including my very supportive wife and children, my mentors, Scott Bourne for running the Aperture Nature Photography contest, Jennifer Wu who has coached me, and Michael Frye and Charlie Cramer who I also have studied under.

Back out to shooting and getting ready for the Yosemite this weekend!
thx
John

The Photographer Risking his life at Glacier Point in Yosemite

This was a portrait of John surveying a shot over Washburn Point in Yosemite near Glacier Point. Dangerously dangling over the edge ready to drop down 5000 feet, John survived to tell about this image.

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.

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.

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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Gearing up for my Photography Open House this weekend - Silicon Valley Open Studios 2009

I am gearing up for my photography open house this weekend, May 2nd and 3rd! It is at our house in Sunnyvale and we should have more than 30-40 images up. Many from my latest trip to Yosemite. Printing many of my new images from Yosemite on canvas. The colors are really vivid and seeing large prints is nice! I finalized on a few sizes. 16x24, 20x30, 28x42 and 38x58. Seeing a waterfall at 38x58 is amazing!! We now have a life size mural on the wall!

Please email me if you want directions or if you are able to join us! This is a kid-friendly event. Cheers, John

Back from Yosemite and the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop Contest!!

I made it back finally on Monday night from the Aperture Nature Photography Contest. 4 days, 4 pros, 4 amateurs including me! I stayed around for a few extra days to shoot in Yosemite.

How was it?!! It was a fantastic experience. Great people, Great place, Great instruction, Fun times!! Was it all good!?! The food wasn't the best - but that didn't matter one bit! The blue lackluster skies just meant hunting for incredible photo ops elsewhere. That makes shooting even that much more challenging! I came away with some good images - but I will let you be the judge of that. I can't wait to finish some images and then start firing up that Epson 9800 and making some big canvas prints! (If you would like to place a pre-order for Canvas Gallery Wrap images, please drop me a note!)

It was really a great experience to shoot with Steve Simon, Jennifer Wu, Scott Bourne and Gary Hamburgh. Each really brought a different element and gave me different ideas to explore. Steve helped bring ideas around telling a story and focusing on a theme. Jennifer really has a fantastic eye and way that she is able to convey and teach ideas worked very well for me. "Fill the Frame!" "Work a spot" If you see something just keep moving around until it comes together. I also learned how to use that Nikon 24mm PC-E Tilt Shift from Jennifer - even though she is one of those 'Canon People' she was able to figure it out :-)

More details later as I am back to my day job working tons at Symantec. Lots of interesting stuff around Drive-by downloads and over scary web threats going on.

If you have any questions in the meantime, drop me a note. I can't wait to get back to Yosemite!
John