Yosemite National Park

I frequently travel all along the Pacific, ranging from Southern California all the way up to interior Alaska in search of beauties that often go unseen. Finally I have arrived at Yosemite National Park, the photographers "Stairway to Heaven".
While the park is smaller than I imagined, it quickly became clear why Ansel Adams described Yosemite as "...an austere and blazing poetry of the real". My weekend here was well spent, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is in the area... or any California resident who has been telling themselves "I'll go see it soon" for the past umpteen years.

The images below are a short compilation of my first day.

Sentinel Rock illuminated by the morning sun viewed through the trees.


A small creek fed by Bridal Veil Falls. This effect results from a long exposure in low light conditions.


Interesting cloud formations viewed from Mirror Lake suggesting crooked sun beams.


Just after sunset, everything is darkened in twilight for a short moment. This however, is not the end of the show. The sun returns between the mountains for a spectacular encore. Half Dome becomes intensely illuminated in shades of red and orange for just a few moments.