Parting Shot

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 17, 2011276 views16 comments

This has been a very special place for me over the course of the last 30 years. I've backpacked from Tahoe to Devil's Postpile and been on top of this mountain five times - even had the blessing of taking my two sons to the top. I had one day to return to Yosemite before moving to CO. As things would have it, my only available day had pretty terrible light - lots of haze coming up from the CA central valley and controlled burns just outside the park. But 30 minutes after the sun went down this was the view from Olmsted Point. Lots of great memories, even one of a hazy day in September 2011.

Oh yeah, the photo stuff - D300s, 70-200 f 2.8 with 1.4 TE. 14 bit raw file processed in Lightroom 3

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on September 17, 2011 at 12:56 AM

the tones rock!

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on September 17, 2011 at 1:03 AM

The orange hazy glow is really special - cool image! I might be tempted to see what a darker version with a bit more contrast would look like.

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on September 17, 2011 at 1:26 AM

Yup Rick, this needs both. It's actually maxed out in Lightroom 3 clarity and set at 95 in contrast. It was a very hazy day. When I reduced exposure or increased black point it just got muddy on my monitor. This situation maxed my processing skills. I have CS4, but not very good at using it, maybe a good retirement project.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on September 17, 2011 at 3:33 PM

I was going to suggest a bit more contrast till I read your reply to Rick. The haze actually gives it a look like paperback book jackets. A bit more arty than artistic but still an eye-catching and interesting composition. Beautiful place but I'm guessing you'll like Colorado just as well.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 17, 2011 at 4:28 PM

Looks more like an etching. I like the comp and the light is great. A very nice artistic image.

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on September 17, 2011 at 4:42 PM

Neat, Russell. I've never seen Half Dome in this type of light. I like the way
that you've composed including diagonal lines. All in all, well done, Russell.

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

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on September 17, 2011 at 4:55 PM

Love out prominent half dome is...almost 3d. Great work

aF

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

Comment posted by Ken Smith on September 17, 2011 at 7:35 PM

Russ, this is a fitting capture of the hazy smoke-filled air. I like the softer tones...and not interested in seeing the contrast bumped up...in fact, the bottom half tones and saturation could be lightened and narrowed for my tastes. Just been thumbing through a book on Yosemite filled with early photos that are dominated by haze when fires were not readily suppressed.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 18, 2011 at 12:03 AM

The shapes and layers and light here are really nice, Russ. What a great memory to have a hard copy of.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 18, 2011 at 8:28 AM

Beautiful peaceful image - I love the warm tone.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on September 18, 2011 at 12:33 PM

I love the soft orange glow you captured here Russ. It creates a wonderful mood...soft, but still powerful and majestic. Very nice!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Fischer on September 19, 2011 at 8:15 AM

Simply stunning. Nice commentary, too.
the fisch

Registered on July 28, 2008, 155 Posts, 874 Comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on September 19, 2011 at 1:02 PM

Nice moody shot of the Dome. Between the late 70's and early 80's, I spent at least five nights on top of Half Dome. Most were the last night of a much longer backpack trip and some were just overnighters out of the Valley. I'm not sure when they finally banned camping on the Dome, but it was obviously for good reason. I much as I would like to get back up there, I'm not sure it will ever happen. The amount of people that go up these days is a big deterrent to me. About 5 or 6 years ago we took an October backpack trip from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley, with the intension to go to the top of the Dome on the way out. When we got to the trail heading up to the Dome in Little Yosemite Valley, it was like going from the backcountry straight into Disneyland, so we just hiked down to Curry Village and had a beer.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on September 20, 2011 at 12:07 AM

Hey thanks to everyone for the comments, this one will look good over my fireplace in the new place. Rudy thanks for the great story. I had a similar experience on my last trip to the top, totally turned into wilderness Disneyland. I guess the permit system is an attempt to have a positive effect this phenomenon. But I'm glad I had the experience when it just seemed a little wilder.