HALF DOME POWDER

I have decided to write this Blog in order give people a place to learn more about the photograph they are thinking about purchasing, have already purchased or have enjoyed viewing on my website larrypannellphotography.com.

My thoughts are to post a Photograph of the Week and include the location, photographic data and insight on what I was trying to convey with the image. Essentially the story behind the photograph.

I specialize in Landscape, Travel and Fine Art Photography. If you are viewing my blog before you have seen my website please take the time to browse the photographs there as well. I have been fortunate to have traveled many places and you will find photographs of Alaska, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, French Polynesia, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Vietnam. You may also enjoy my photography of the Western United States and my recent photographs of Yosemite National Park where I currently reside.

Thank you for your interest and all comments would be greatly appreciated

Larry

larrypannellphotography.com

Enjoy.....

HALF DOME POWDER

 Location: Yosemite National Park

                    California, US

                    Ahwahnee Meadow

When:       October 29, 2013

                    10:45am

Camera:    Canon 60d

                    EF 18-55mm

Shutter      1/30 sec

Aperture   F 29

ISO             100

I have decided to start this series with one of my personal favorites...Half Dome Powder. This photograph as taken just after the first snow of the season in October 2013.

It had snowed most of the night and a few hours during the morning. Just after it stopped around 11 am I walked over to the Ahwahnee Meadow about 100 yards from where I live.

I had been praying all summer long to have the day off during the first snow of the year and as luck would have it my prayers were answered. There is something special about Yosemite anytime of year but to be able to witness the first snow is awe-inspiring. The way the clouds hang along the granite walls and dance in and out of the canyons, the shifting of the light and the appearing and disappearing of Half Dome, El Capitan and the other monoliths that make up Yosemite Valley.

I carefully set up my camera on my tripod and framed the photograph to include the meadow and trees to give scale to the rock walls and surroundings. I checked exposure setting making sure I was at ISO 100 and the maximum depth of field as shutter speed was not a concern when using a tripod. I also double checked my focus and that I had the self timer set at 2 seconds to be sure there was  no camera movement.

I stayed in the meadow and watched as the clouds moved in and out of the frame. I took my time and shot the scene for about forty five minutes. After moving to different areas of the meadow and taking several photographs I decided this specific photograph was what I was looking to accomplish. The meadow was slightly covered by snow and trees had enough snow on them to have definition and contrast. The clouds seemed to hover just above the trees and hug the sheer granite cliffs giving movement to the photograph. Half Dome itself was visible and framed by the low lying clouds and give the picture a central theme.

I love this photograph and hope you enjoy it and the story of how it came about…

I returned to the Ahwahnee Meadow after shooting photographs at different locations throughout Yosemite Valley that morning. Here is Half Dome four hours later on the same day. What a difference a few hours can make…

HALF DOME FALL COLORS