Photographic meanderings

Scotty’s Castle tower entrance floor is made up of terra cotta tiles, none the same shape as any other.

An empty white robe,
A bike with neither sprockets
nor chain nor pedals.

I’ve returned home to Yosemite, road weary and sore. Lots of pics to share, but too damn tired to sort through them all.

This image was captured at the ghost town of Rhyolite, just outside of Death Valley and about 8 miles from Beatty, NV. There’s an art installation out there, with whimsical sculptures scattered around the “Museum and Gift Shop”.

Once more, we’re getting a truly gaudy, tacky sunrise. *grin*

Enjoy the day!

Steve Berardi of Photonaturalist has a great post up on why you should memorize the ƒ number series. For those of us who are pulling our knowledge together, it’s a gentle introduction into some of the basic maths of photography. Ever wonder how ƒ stops get numbered? What is the difference between ƒ/1 and ƒ/1.4?

Thanks to Steve for this wonderful post! Go read it, and be sure to tell him you came from The Little Red Tent.

As my good friend David reported, the Cooks Meadow Elm tree has survived with limbs intact through the series of storms that snapped branches and toppled entire trees here in the park.

First evening shooting out at the El Capitan picnic area tonight. Light is definitely getting interesting on the eastern end of the El Capita wall. Be aware, the picnic area is not plowed, and I was doing a bit of post-holing up to mid-calf. Definitely worth it to have the whole place to myself.

Bathrooms are open, stocked, clean, and recently emptied. Bring a folding chair and a thermos of your favorite hot beverage. Hand and toe warmers are a good idea, too.

Highways 120 from Groveland, 41, and 140 are all open into the park. Highway 120 westbound from Lee Vining remains closed. (Like, duh…)

Taken on the Stoneman Meadow road, Jan 22, 2010. For the first time in the five (almost) years I’ve been here, Yosemite was closed to incoming traffic due to tree hazards in Yosemite Valley.

Unconfirmed reports that Highway 140 is open to incoming traffic as of now. Best source of information on road closures and conditions is 1-209-372-0200. Be prepared–bring food, water, warm clothing and blankets, and snow chains.

Currently, NOAA is predicting a 10% chance of snow today–but a quick glance out my window makes me think it’s going to snow shortly. That can change.

It’s a deadly beauty, folks. Be careful out there.

Wish I could have gotten to the west end of the valley, but at this time Northside Drive is closed to all traffic due to downed trees. NPS is discouraging people from walking about the valley due to falling tree hazards. Still, it’s gorgeous if you can get to it.

Bands of color march toward a pinnacle-capped ridge.