Yosemite - flooded

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 3, 2011518 views21 comments

I spent 3 days in Yosemite earlier this week. Tremendous water flow over the 'falls and many ribbon falls I've never seen flowing before. Lots of flooding in meadows and rivers.
Useless boring blue sky the first day, but a very hard rain and great moody clouds and mist the last 2 days. Even got into a first-come, first-serve campground.

I would have preferred not to have the Falls so centered, but I was sandwiched betwwen 2 big trees and could not move either way. THis comp does give a good view of the lower fall, though.

D300s
18-200mm @ 24mm
Subject dist: 10.6m
1/80 sec, f/8
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: -2/3
ISO: 320
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on July 3, 2011 at 3:12 AM

Lovely reflection Sandy. It is such an amazing place, I miss it and need to go back.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on July 3, 2011 at 5:12 AM

Very cool and great to capture it in flood! BW candidate :)

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on July 3, 2011 at 7:42 AM

Sandy, a classical view and consistent composition, the reflection really brings it to life for me.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 3, 2011 at 8:34 AM

Gorgeous color and reflection Sandy! I've been to the place once long ago. Your image makes me want to revisit it.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on July 3, 2011 at 8:41 AM

Excellent, Sandy! When I was there last Tuesday, I set up for this same shot
but did not benefit from quality light shown here. I had a sunny morning with
contrasty light. The crowds were almost overwhelming, and I considered not
returning to the Park until this autumn; however, seeing this lovely image has
motivated me to reconsider. Hoping to see some more of your posting from
your visit to the Park.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on July 3, 2011 at 9:12 AM

Great reflection and truly spectacular light! I like the branches in the upper right and the great skies, too.
I could really care less about the centered falls with a scene this grand.

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on July 3, 2011 at 9:49 AM

Sandy,

Excellent know the trees and the spot well, swinging bridge would be just to the left. If anything I thought the water would have started to recede a little from the meadow but there is even more!!!This is a really well done image and agree with John the centering is immaterial. I hope you saw the Merganser and her ducklings, or better yet got some images of them. They were hanging out in the flooded meadow. Just a great image.

Thanks for sharing

Paul

Just a hint based on experience, if you want to enjoy Yosemite if you really don't want to hassle the crowds. Get in the park early,consider leaving the Valley for other spots like 120 Tioga Pass from 11:00 until 4:00. You should avoid the heaviest concentrations of people that way. You won't miss the best light either.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on July 3, 2011 at 12:10 PM

A good image is a good image, whether it is of an icon or not and this is a fine image. Good comp and great light.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on July 3, 2011 at 12:35 PM

Cool! This is a classic example of making an icon seem less boring (to other photographers, at least...) The branches up top are a minor distraction.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on July 3, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Gorgeous image Sandy... The comp works for me...

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on July 3, 2011 at 1:53 PM

Lovely Sandy. Great treatment of the icon, and the centering doesn't bug me at all. The urc branches would be my only nit, and they aren't a big deal either.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on July 3, 2011 at 3:37 PM

Even though the falls are centered, the weight of the monolith to the right creates just enough tension. I love the water capture, just enough slurring to create movement and energy. The reflection is perfect/magically shimmering. Well done.

Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on July 3, 2011 at 5:14 PM

Well done, Sandy, gorgeous reflection

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on July 3, 2011 at 5:33 PM

I really like this, Sandy. The detail and color througout are very nice. I agree with Stan that the branches in the URC are minor distraction.

When I was in The Valley in mid-May, I was hoping for skies like this one so that I could get some Yosemite icon shots with something other than bluebird sky, but, alas! it was not to be.

Nice work!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 3, 2011 at 9:08 PM

Lovely scene. I like the details in the cliff and the reflections. Now if only you could get the park service to chop down that dead tree on the right....but it's a very minor distraction.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 3, 2011 at 9:48 PM

Mark, the acorn woodpeckers love that tree - I just didn't have my kayak to get any closer on this trip!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 4, 2011 at 9:35 AM

This is a beautiful scene Sandy. The centered falls looks just fine to me. I love the looks of the reflection in this too. Really nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Hackett on July 4, 2011 at 10:22 AM

I love that reflection!

Registered on January 12, 2008, 71 Posts, 192 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on July 4, 2011 at 1:17 PM

Sandy, my wife and I had our honeymoon at Yosemite and we would love to go back. Beautiful image which I love because of the reflection and the falls really roaring. I do not think I have ever seen a reflection image of this view. Great capture.

Harry

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on July 4, 2011 at 9:27 PM

That's fairly excellent!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on July 5, 2011 at 12:12 AM

A classic location done very well.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments