Yosemite: "Mammoth Peak"

[Hikin Mike]

Friday afternoon, me and a friend took a trip up to the high country of Yosemite. This was my first visit to the park after my knee surgery, so it was good to get out again. There were nice clouds in the sky all afternoon, but unfortunately when the "Golden Hour" came, the clouds had disappeared.

I have to thank my friend for scoping out this spot. It was only 50' from the parking lot, but in my condition I would have never decided to walk that far into "the unknown".

This is Mammoth Peak and in the foreground is a small seasonal creek left over from the snowmelt. I'm posting two versions. I like the first one overall, but I like the second because the colors are a bit more vibrant. Both images were a blending of two exposures in CS2.

Comments/critiques welcome and please let me know which version (if any) you prefer. Thanks!


Canon 300D, 17-40 f/4L @ 24mm, Tripod
ISO 100, 1/100 sec, f/8



Canon 300D, 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm, Tripod
ISO 100, 1/160 sec, f/8

[doug395]

Both really nice images Mike, I like the horizontal best, the lighting has that late afternoon feel of shadows and light and a really nice balance following the river into the picture.

[Shawn]

Mike,

I like the first one the best too. I know very little about photography, so my gauge for a good image is how the photo inspires me to want to be in the picture - and I'd really want to be in that picture!

Thanks for the inspiration.

Shawn

[Hikin Mike]

Thanks for looking. I wish I were back up there...

[copeg]

Gorgeous photos Mike. And its great to see hear getting back out into the high country. Both photos are wonderful, I prefer the first one - it just seems like that ridge on the right, which is cut off in the second photo, adds so much to accentuate the rest of the photo. And you did a remarkable job blending 2 exposures in CS2!