Monday, May 2, 2005

Springtime! All my Yosemite experience so far has been in winter, February to be specific. Today, I set out to learn what early May is all about up here. I got some good clues from my photographer friends, like Brad Perks, who told me to expect dogwood blossoms (he was right), full waterfalls (he was right) and sweet light (right again).

I rolled down the hill on Highway 41, and pulled off at the first scenic turnout before entering the tunnel that would place me in the valley. Looking across the lower valley toward Highway 120's climb up toward Crane Flat, I saw that the stream formed where Tamarack and Cascade Creeks join was roaring full blast, so I set up a few shots there before entering the valley. The waterfall picture at the right is one of the compositions I found there.

Brad had mentioned a dogwood grove near the Ahwahnee Lodge (right again...I'm going to have to send this guy a consulting fee), and that's where I found the blossoms you see at the right, along with a million (more or less) others.

In the afternoon, I headed down Highway 140 into the lower valley in search of wildflowers and gasoline (it's not sold in the park). I wasn't disappointed. The lupines pictured here were joined by California Poppies (although not in the hillside-covering quantity found in the Southern California desert) and others.

The colorful rock/lichen/bush composition I found on the south bank of the Merced River, also located on the lower section of Highway 140.

It seemed that in February I developed a Yosemite Falls fixation; this time it's Half Dome, I guess. With the spring sun in a more northerly arc, the late afternoon/early evening beams spotlight Yosemite's logo monolith, and I can't resist good light. I'll try to show you some of the other landmarks tomorrow, promise.

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