A Photographer's Dream

If you like to take pictures like I do and you are in a spectacular place like Yosemite National Park and there is a free two hour photography class, you would probably get as excited as I did when I learned of the opportunity.


On Saturday at 7 am, we made the trip into the park and to the Ansel Adams Gallery where the group was to meet. In case you didn't know, much of Adams work was done in Yosemite. His black and white photographs pull emotions from even the most cynical viewer. Mike had decided he would "just hang out" while I enjoyed the class. This didn't prove to be a problem since the park was celebrating Earth Day and there were all kinds of activities and booths set up for the occasion. I digress, back to pictures.



There were about 15 of us in the group and the instructor was a young fellow who was employed as a full time photographer working with the park and the gallery. He lives in Yosemite Village right in the park and knows the place intimately having seen it in all "seasons and moods" as he put it.



We first talked about composition: the rule of thirds, framing, use of light and shadows, repeated patterns, form, texture and all the elements that go into making a truly good photograph. He encouraged us to look around and find each of the elements of which he spoke.


This was an attempt at repeated pattern but I don't like the result. the trees and falls are all parallel but it just doesn't seem to work.

I do like this one - the branch has the same shape as the mountain and works as a frame... in my opinion. But, I need to work on the coloring.

I was more satisfied with some of my efforts than with others. Since it was early morning, Yosemite Falls had frosted ice along the falling water - that and the shadows were fun to shoot.

Our instructor then spent a bit of time talking about cameras - he wanted all of us to understand that cheap ones and even cell phones can take good pics. He said, "I've seen remarkable work from a $100 camera and terrible shots from a $1000 one." That made me feel good as neither of my cameras cost over $300.

He spent some time talking about "photoshopping". He feels that it has become a dirty word and that some "would be professionals" claim only "original" or "untouched" photos are true art. This fellow spoke of Ansel Adams and told us that none of his work was "untouched"; he actually teaches a class on the many methods of photo development that Adams used to create his finished products. He encouraged all of us to retouch as much as we wanted as that is where a photographers' creativity can surface. This was like a blessing to me as I seldom leave a picture "raw". This certainly wasn't the light on Saturday morning, but I like the product.

He talked about seeing things "through your own lens" as a way of expressing yourself. Somebody could probably analyze me cuz I am always seeking reflections... This one of The Big Falls I find particularly pleasing. This pond will not exist in a few weeks when the area begins to dry up. And just a few moments after I took the shot, ducks landed and the ripples erased the image.

It was an inspiring two hours. When I sat down with my pictures, I was obviously influenced by the black and white master, Ansel Adams.

I like both of these much better in B & W than in the colors.

I was trying to copy a photo by Adams with this one of the big and little Yosemite Falls. It could have been taken 100 years ago, don't you think... That is until you spot the jet stream in the sky which I just couldn't get rid of...

I loved the experience!

On our final morning in the area, Mike and Barry and I left our motor homes at 4 am and headed to the park in hopes of catching a glimpse of a bear. Bonnie decided she would pass on this experience... she was probably the smartest of us. We had been told that bear had been spotted in the meadows early each day. We didn't see one. In fact, we didn't see much wildlife at all, but I had fun playing with light... or lack thereof.

Last night I went through all my photos from Yosemite and saved them on my backup drive. I shot over 500 pictures... this might be an obsession!


Oh, one last thing. If you know Mike well, you know he loves steak. Well, as a part of Earth Day, they were serving organic vegetarian meals in the park. I had to include this pic; it may be the only time he ever eats some of this stuff!

Oh, and a couple more pictures I really like. The clouds just make this one.

The Big Falls through the window of the church, which is the oldest building in Yosemite National Park.