Sometime in 2004, I submitted a portfolio for a juried competition in which seven winners would receive free lodging at Yosemite for one month. Imagine my surprise when I received an email from Yosemite Renaissance Executive Director Laura Phillips telling me that I'd been selected as one of their 2005 AiRs!

You're looking at the title page of my Yosemite Renaissance Artist-in-Residence Journal. While there for two weeks in February and another two in May, 2005, I entered daily updates with text describing my day and a few samples of the images I found.

Click here to join the journey at the beginning; my travel day from Los Angeles to Yosemite, or select February, May or any other links from the menu at the top of the page.

CREDITS & THANK-YOUs
I met and was helped by a few people who deserve acknowledgement here for their kindnesses. Kay and Don Pitts were my contacts at Yosemite West, the housing development where my temporary home, Charlie Cramer's cabin, was located. Don and Kay operate the Yosemite Peregrine Inn Bed & Breakfast and The Falcon's Nest Vacation Home. I enjoyed several dinners with them, including one after the opening reception for the Yosemite Renaissance XX show where I met fine art photographer John Sexton and painter Greg Kondos, the event judges.

I also met Glenn Crosby, who is Curator at the Ansel Adams Gallery, and Claudia Welsh, V.P. of Retail Sales and spouse of the fine art photographer Michael Frye, who authored The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite, a resource I used extensively during my stay.

Among the other photographers with whom I shared my awe of the location, photo chatter and various tall tales is Brad Perks (whom, although I've never met him in person, has been extremely kind in sharing his intimate knowledge of Yosemite via email). Two parties, Mike Neal and the husband/wife photography team of Richard and Nancy Munson

Bridalveil Rainbow © Charlie Morey/digitalphotography.tv

contacted me after our meeting in February to arrange lunches garnished with delightful, informative conversation in May. And other shooters with whom I tangled tripod legs at Tunnel View include freelancer Jacob Balwas from New Jersey, large-format photographer Paul Rice, Anthony Kent of LAT Photographic, a motorsports photographer, and fine artist/photographer Nelcha Cross. Thanks to all for your kindness and friendship!

Charlie Morey