Afternoon Storm Clouds Over Yosemite Valley

Posted by Don Smith (California, United States) on 5 May 2008 in Landscape & Rural.

I took this image yesterday afternoon while co-teaching a workshop with Gary Hart in Yosemite. Afternoon storm clouds were building (eventually leading to a heavy downpour) over the Valley and amazing shafts of light from the lowering sun were painting the landscape. I found this dead snag near a cliff and used it as a foreground element to frame Bridalveil Falls. Luckily, a shaft of sun hit the falls and I had my image. The final version you see here is a combination of four bracketed frames blended with the help of Photomatix Pro HDR software. To see more of my landscape imagery, please visit my website at http://www.donsmithphotography.com

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Comments (5)

Kevin from Frederick, Colorado, United States

Fantastic shot! That pine tree is partially blocking the falls, but so what! Very cool. Hope you didn't get wet.

5 May 2008 9:08pm

Don Smith from Central California, United States

Hi Kevin, Another foot to the left to shift perspective and I would have dropped about 1200 feet! I had to accept the composition as it was. Thanks for the comments.

5 May 2008 10:58pm

Rick Godwin from South San Francisco, United States

Hey Don - this is one incredible image!

Love how you caught the distant patches of snow on top of Half Dome and Clouds Rest. And the green forestry against the granite and the grey skies - love the way you work with all of Yosemite's color.

I spent three summers during college working in Yosemite Valley for the Curry Company. Best summers of my life! With a little Kodak Brownie! Just bought a Nikon D80 - can't wait to get back to Yosemite. Maybe some day I'll be good enough so I can take one of your classes without embarassing myself!

And too bad about the Sharks last nite... tough series... Rick Godwin....

6 May 2008 5:51am

Don Smith from Central California, United States

Hi Rick, Yosemite is special to me on so many levels. I've been shooting there since I was a teenager and it has not lost its appeal one bit. Our workshops are designed for photographers of all ability levels. We have had beginners and part-time professionals working side-by-side. We limit our enrollment to 12 participants; so with two instructors, you will get as much attention as you need. Our emphasis is on shooting, but we also have image review and Photoshop sessions. We also have a lot of fun. Gary and I like to keep it light and we have developed great friendships with people from all over the world. Our workshops generally fill-up fast so don't hesitiate, we'd love to have you join us. As for the Sharks, what can you say? I left Yosemite Sunday night when the game was in the third period, and was a mile from my house when it ended. Thanks to XM, I got to listen to every minute of the classic. I was really looking forward to a game 7 tonight at the Tank. One of these years (hopefully not in the too distant future) it will be our turn. I've been with the team since before we drafted our first player - I'm more than ready.

6 May 2008 2:01pm