Ten-Years Ago (05-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 1: Yosemite National Park.

Sunset Panorama of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. There were many photographers (in addition to the Nikonian group) lined up at the Tunnel View parking lot to photograph sunset. Many left thinking nothing was going to happen, then all of a sudden sunlight came in from the west under the clouds  to light up both sides of the valley with this incredible orange color.

Sunset Panorama from the Tunnel View Observation Point. Composite of 5 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens. Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and the composite created using AutoPano Giga. (David J Mathre)
Sunset Panorama from the Tunnel View Observation Point. Composite of 5 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens. Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and the composite created using AutoPano Giga. (David J Mathre)

Best viewed in full screen mode — double-click on the image.

Ten-Years Ago (04-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Yosemite National Park.

I arrived in Yosemite National Park a day before the beginning of ANPAT-8 and spent the afternoon driving around Yosemite Valley. A storm had just gone through and there were a lot of low clouds in the valley. The 3000 foot tall granite rocks surrounding the valley are impressive. Then realizing the small specks going up El Capitan are rock climbers.

El Capitan in Yosemite Valley on a stormy autumn day with low clouds. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/11, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
El Capitan in Yosemite Valley on a stormy autumn day with low clouds. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/11, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)


Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.

Six-Years Ago (04-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonians Photography Adventure Trip. Day 1: Yosemite National Park.

Red-Headed Woodpecker stashing acorns and pine nuts in a dead tree. Yosemite Valley, Fall 2008. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec).

Red-Headed Woodpecker Stashing Acorns and Pine Nuts in a Dead Tree. Yosemite Valley, Fall 2008. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Red-Headed Woodpecker Stashing Acorns and Pine Nuts in a Dead Tree. Yosemite Valley, Fall 2008. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (07-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 3: Yosemite National Park.

Rock Slide at Curry Village.  After our morning session, we ate lunch at Curry Village. Michael Mariant was going to do an IR photography workshop in the afternoon. On the way to the workshop, we stopped by our cabins. As we were leaving the cabins there was this loud noise. At first it sounded like thunder — but the sky was blue with no clouds. The noise got louder, and Michael yelled “run for your lives — rock slide” We all ran from our cabins to the parking lot. Since I drove, I was one of the few  that had cameras and lenses available. Most of the folks left their gear in the cabin for the IR workshop. I took the  following images  during and just after the rock slide. Luckily, there were no injuries since most everyone was out of Curry Village visiting other parts of Yosemite  when the rock slide occurred. Later in the afternoon, a Park Service helicopter with a USGS geologist surveyed the rock slide site and declared things safe. Only then were we permitted to return to our cabins. A school group was also staying at Curry village. That evening the Elementary school age children moved to a different campsite. The Middle and High school students remained at Curry Village. The crisis counselors told the students that a large rock falls in Yosemite Valley on average every 9-10 days, so they would be safe for the rest of the trip. Little did they know that Murphy was listening!!!!


Three-Years Ago (10-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 6: Yosemite National Park.

Time-Lapsed Video: Morning at Taft Point. 

On the last day of ANPAT 8, we got up before sunrise to get to Taft Point for a different view of Yosemite Valley.  After a short drive to the parking area, then a hike to Taft Point I set up a camera with a wide-angle (24 mm) lens to record the photographer working Taft Point as the sun lit up the other side of Yosemite Valley. Later, I put on the tripod head-cam with a fisheye (16 mm) lens to record the hike from Taft Point back to the van. This was the same tripod head-cam set up that I used during Winston Hall’s  workshop in Arches National Park record a time-lapse video of that hike 19-September-2008.