The Winter ahead is certain to turn out far more eventful than last season. By snowfall and storms that come and go, we’re going to have a replenished wilderness of rivers, streams, lakes, and foliage. All to make the most of new seasons ahead.
Tag Archives | sierra
Misty Mountain
Illuminate
The affect light has on color varies by its intensity. The surfaces and shapes of natural objects can give out shades of beauty that illuminate the soul. It often has much to do with being in the right place at the right time. Or by bearing the cost and risk to put oneself in a position of the moment. To capture what the experience has to say.
Road Less Travelled
More mobile photography set up is coming together for on-the-go image captures, storage, and processing. Largely to involve Adobe Creative Cloud, this new 4K laptop, my mobile Android, and a spare drive with the large collection of photos on it. Many of them have not been published or processed. This is posted by a laptop and a more remote connection.
So as an experiment, I’ve brought over images that were uploaded from this laptop to see how the process works, to check results, and to learn how to do this in the best way possible. To see how feasible this is as a viable alternative to desktop publishing that normally happens.
Perspective
“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
― John Muir, John of the Mountains.
The Unpublished Journals of John Muir
Point of Balance
Today we set out to the backside of Tenaya Lake just a bit above it. From the Eastside trailhead through to the Westside. Clear day and plenty of energy with more to spare. Over a decade of Yosemite exploration year over year and it is still largely a mystery to us.
Pixel Forge
The release of Adobe’s Creative Cloud had me signing up without any thought or regret. So went straight from CS3 to CC. Several leaps ahead among versions, but the results are absolutely impressive. Such a difference to support the work of inspiration and creativity. I really love the change.
Photoshop and Lightroom integration with my Nikon is far better than my prior set up with Bridge. I’ve learned a lot about my new Nikon full-frame set up with FX lenses. To compliment that with these tools gives so much more editing control over images captured. Where there is much more ahead for far better quality.
Here’s an example with a photo that I took not long ago. Notice the difference? A sort of deceptive way of compensating for a small over-saturated segment of the scene.
River of Change
From our time on the River Trail in Kings Canyon yesterday, we set out to see what the day would bring. We spent this time together in an effort to learn and explore. A time to develop our relationship together and live within the best of wilderness beauty.
Very few people on the trail beyond about half a mile. The farther we got from the road and suspension bridge the more it cleared out of visitors. Along the trail for but just a couple of miles we were lost to ourselves, inspired and alive together. Hoping to remember these times together we are in full acceptance of one another and deeply moved by what was before us. In all honesty, it is all too much. We are merely drinking the river that gives its life. By its reflection, its spray, and waves crashing onto the shore, we only able to grasp so much of what it is and what it meant. For me a spiritual place, for Ryan an incredibly challenging area of mystery and wonder.
Still River
Were it not for the river in the wilderness, the wild places we visit just would not have any meaning or life. Rivers give life and they carve vast mountains and rock over a long range of time. The cascades, falls, streams, creeks, lakes, rivers or tributaries have all their own character and beauty. They give their host energy and renewal. They inspire and speak of a force unstoppable. They move swiftly and steadily at times. Highly perilous and terrifying while unmatched in beauty and attraction.
Unmoved and calm, the river still washes, cleanses, and reminds anyone of its haunting presence.
Yosemite Impression
Quite some while ago, I remember being impressed by a woman who boarded a shuttle I was on to Tuolumne. She was ratted out from being in the wilderness for too long. Her gear and condition showed it. She was small but had to be in her 60’s or so. She was on the shuttle getting from point a to point b and it was entirely pleasing to be in such great company.
It appeared that she was getting the best of her time to live in a way to make up for what was lost. She seemed at peace, she was talkative and she made an impression. I didn’t get her name and I regret that.
Today my family and I trekked the 5-mile Tenaya Canyon loop in Yosemite. We are still in Yosemite and we will be here for a few days. Good time to be out and about among the rushing waters, the lakes, and birds of the air.
Yucca Point
Yesterday I reset everything right upon getting back from the wilderness. Shower, charge batteries, transfer images to storage, get gas, pack food, wash clothes, then read up on possibilities for tomorrow.
I also left my SPOT unit on a mountain near Hume Lake. So, it was necessary to stop and pick that up. Good thing my GPS was loaded with the coordinates where SPOT was transmitting its location. A sort of search mission for my little $150 SPOT unit. I had no idea where it was exactly, but it spent the night on the mountain and I have it back.
On this Independence Day, I set out to Kings Canyon again to see what might happen. I went as far as the first trailhead past the Winter closure gate, Yucca Point. It is a trail that leads to the bottom of the canyon. There wouldn’t be time to go the whole way, so I spent just enough effort to hit the steep switchbacks for a mile or so below. The descent was far, long, hot, and exposed, but there were enough wind and cloud cover to keep things cool.
For the most part, I wanted to get more photos of flowers and tree life that dwell in this harsh area. It was a treat to have a full view of Deer Ridge and Tombstone Ridge the whole way. Time well spent.
Hume Lake Morning
It was a very peaceful day today at Hume lake. Where I spent time exploring the entire perimeter around the lake to get more familiar with the area. There’s a trail that goes the full length around the lake for about a few miles. There are a large number of paths from the trail to the shore throughout the area. Sandy Cove tucked away toward the back of the lake was a nice surprise.
Aside from the amazing beauty and peace that came from being there, there were all walks of life out and about. Not high-density crowds, but families and people of all ages interspersed as hikers, fishing folks, bikers, kayaking, bible students, joggers, dog walkers, on and on. It was just as rewarding watching people as it was seeing the remote lake up-close and first hand.
Trail of the Sequoias
Today I saw more beauty in one day than ever before. But it came with a price. Completed 7-miles of trekking through the Trail of the Sequoias. I made it a goal to get through the heart of Giant Forest. And I accomplished that goal, but it was a rough 7 miles for some reason. I now have blisters, back pain, a headache, and overall soreness.
It was a lot of work getting this done, but the whole experience included views of Sawtooth Pass, Black Rock Pass, an encounter with a mother bear and two cubs at Circle Meadow, cross-country exploration jumping from one high meadow to another, coming upon a new all-time favorite meadow, and gathering hundreds of photos just like these.
