Author: Art Serabian

Yosemite Falls No. 3 – This is a view of Yosemite Falls that reveals both the upper and lower falls. It’s taken from one of my favorite vantage points in the park and is easy to access. If you are in the area, start by visiting the Yosemite Chapel, then cross the street and walk along the sidewalk (south, against traffic). As you walk, pause once and awhile, and look to your right, the view should appear if the water has a good flow (early afternoon sun helps). If you reach the row of cars parked off the road, you’ve walked to far.

Merced River “Slo Mo” – Thought I’d share a couple of black and white images for a change of pace. The fist image was taken from one of the turnouts along the El Portal Road just past the Arch Rock Entrance to Yosemite (Highway 140). It was early spring and the rivers and falls were coming alive. I wanted to show more of the river (less white caps) as it passed over the rocks so I used a very slow shutter speed to give me the look I wanted.

“Yosemite Chapel in the Fall” – I try to make a point of stopping by the Chapel at Yosemite when I visit the park. The chapel is an inviting landmark that rarely disappoints for a “photo op.” While this image may look rather simple and a straight forward “click and go” … not so … it took a lot of work and planning on my part. I wanted a picture that was peaceful and inviting (light on above the door was a nice touch) and acknowledged the time of year. The challenges were: capture an image without visitors coming in and out of the chapel, dodging an occasional bike rider, and waiting for folks to get their fill of “selfies” –- all during a “No Entry Fee” weekend … I think I did pretty good 😊

“Autumn Around the Bend” – So Fall is in the air and I’d like to share a couple of my Fall color images from Yosemite. This day was “wet” with intermittent light rain that added to the experience and potential for some “keeper” images. To deal with the weather I always carry two raincoats, one for me and one for my camera 😊.  I took a variety of images from this vantage point and this one felt the best to me. The big rock to the left in the background is El Capitan, and the brightly colored tree to the right in the foreground is a dogwood in all its Fall color splendor – add a light drizzle and those dogwood leaves really pop with color.

Honestly, I was not sure what to post today. I had some ideas, but the tragic event in Las Vegas has given me pause to reflect on the fragile and uncertain nature of life. Since I have a strong tendency to overthink ideas, I thought it best to keep things simple and share just one image that I think symbolizes my thoughts and feelings at the moment… no more words necessary.

 

“Cloud Nine” – I love to look around after a rain storm and see what other images may be hidden in plain sight. I spotted this image just off the road, and could not believe the view – it was like a stream of clouds in the middle of this pasture.

I have decided to go vertical with my posts, so the next series of images follow this post. The images are related by proximity, they were taken within 100 yards of each other, and yet for me are totally different in meaning and impact. The weather played a active role in these images – sometimes as a supporting actor, or more often the lead role. Location: Along Rd 209 just north of HWY 41 and HWY 145 intersections (Fresno County)

“Natures Tears” – As I was leaving the area, the rain started up again when I spotted this very simple road side memorial. The small bouquet of flowers, apparently made from a fabric, gave the scene a sense of purpose that held my interest. The clump of rain soaked grasses on the cross appeared to be a nest long vacated by its maker –  if I was to hazard a guess, probably a dove made the nest. The metaphor of rain (tears for a loss), flowers made by man, and nature’s gift of nesting doves work in harmony to remember a loved one long gone.

“In the Beginning” – This imaged scared the heck out of me when it started taking form. A thunder storm had just past, the wind was gusting, and sounds made me wonder if I were in Kansas. I even think the legs on my tripod were trembling. As a brief calm settle in, the sun peak through the clouds to give the scene a dramatic feel.