It is a pleasure to share an image of Yosemite National Park. I have photographed many times over the years and it always refreshes my spirit. There are all those iconic images you have seen, but so many to be discovered that are hidden right in front of you. This particular image was taken in November of 2012, when we had sufficient water, even at the end of Fall. The color was still on many of the trees, Dogwoods were beautiful, and some Big Leaf Maples and Black Oaks were yellow and golden, while the conifers stood tall, green and majestic. I had tracked an incoming storm for over a week and timed it perfectly, which is not always the case. It was a day in which everything went perfectly and I will never forget my good fortune every minute of that day.
I visited Yosemite again mid-October of this year and it was quite a different story. The conifers were dying due to the drought and disease. The Dogwoods went from green to red to dead in just a very few days. The Big Leaf Maples had some insect destruction and holes in most leaves. This was the case from Yosemite Valley almost to Olmstead Point. The good news was that the young conifers I saw looked healthy and strong. Let’s hope.
For those of you who know Yosemite you know what a very special place it is. For those of you who have not experienced it, do visit at your earliest opportunity. Winter is magical in Yosemite and perhaps it needs that magic this winter. Let’s hope.
Bob Canepa
If you wish to see more of Yosemite please visit my website. (http://www.bobcanepaphotography.com/LANDSCAPES/YOSEMITE/)
