Hurray, the USA opened for us just before we flew. Thanks must go to Rob, one of our group, who sent an e mail to the American government. That will have done it!
Another enjoyable trip with Tatra Photography. Thanks to Matt, Adam and Mark for all their help and advice. I learnt lots. With me on the holiday were Marie (from Skye - met on Tatra holiday in Croatia, Trevor (a Tatra virgin), Peter and Geraldine, Jennifer, Ann, Trevor (from Wales), Rob (from Australia - taken about 6/7 trips with Tatra in 2013), John, Steven and Keith (met on Iceland trip).
After a long trip to Los Angeles, it was a short hop to Fresno where all the group met up. Then a long five hours to Mammoth Lodge at Mammoth Mountain for our first 3 nights. We arrived at 1.30 am so Matt decided to miss out the first sunrise shoot. We went out about 11 am to a pretty lake then on to Mono Lake for the sunset.
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| Sign in the car park |
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| Cars parked near the lunch stop |
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| Details from cars |
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| Snapped the eared grebes, of which there were thousands, while waiting for the sunset |
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| Salt deposits, tufa, created these shapes |
Off to another couple of lakes on Monday and then to the ancient Bristlecone forest for the sunset.
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| Colours on Silver Lake |
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| Original photo in the middle with flip, rotate images on either side |
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| Our afternoon stop |
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| Trevor (from Wales) contemplating |
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| Adam set me a project to catch the sun between the hole in the Bristlecone tree. This was the best I could do! |
On Tuesday we went to Convict Lake for sunrise. After breakfast, we set off for the long drive to our next stop which was about 30 miles outside Yosemite National Park at Westgate Motel. We had a few photographic stops on the way with sunset at Olmsted Point.
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| Convict Lake |
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| Cricket who kindly posed for me |
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| At Tuolumne Meadows |
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| Matt climbing the granite at Olmsted Point |
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| Half Dome at sunset |
We settled into another comfortable accommodation but up early for our sunrise shot. Adam had hoped for mist but we were disappointed. However, the colours at Merced River made up for it as did the sunset at Glacier Point. The view from the Tunnel is an iconic shot for photographers - even without the mist. The valley was saved from flooding by the famous conservationist John Muir and hides a village and lodge as well as camping sites.
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| Three Brothers at Merced River |
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| Colour at Merced River |
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| Detail of Half Dome from Glacier Point at sunset |
A long day on Thursday, we had breakfast in the valley and stayed in the park until after sunset.
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| Three Brothers just after sunrise |
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| Iconic Yosemite church |
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| Colours in Yosemite Valley |
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| Taken from one side of Sentinal bridge |
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| Tunnel View at sunset |
Our last full day with a lot of driving. After a wonderful time photographing backlit colour, we went back past Olmsted Point to photograph Tenaya Lake. Unfortunately, some of us missed the colours we had been used to so instead of staying there for sunset, we returned to Merced River to see the colour on El Capitan.
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| The other side of the Sentinal Bridge |
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| Mark removing one of the fishing lines hanging from the tree. |
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| Jennifer posing for me. |
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| Finally found the Acorn woodpeckers but we had to pack up to go so no time for a better photo |
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| Three Brothers reflection turned upside down |
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| Tenaya Lake |
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| Adam |
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| El Capitan at sunset |
We drove to Mariposa Grove to photograph the giant Sequoia trees then on to Fresno for our flights home.
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| The Mule deer were a little more interesting then the trees for a moment! |
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| Matt being photographed by John and Geraldine |
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| Rob taking a photograph |
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| John and Trevor approaching |
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| Rings from a fallen Sequoia |
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| Base of a Sequoia tree |
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| Four Sequoias |
Thank you Tatra for another great trip. Looking forward to the next one.
