more yosemite

10.10.09
Another clear sunny day in Yosemite Park -
morning

Bridalveil Falls at a trickle but still lovely-



A classic view of the Yosemite Valley - a flood of people at the vista point but the view is worth it. Amazing how the roads & river are hidden from view by the woods.

Phil, Dee & Sparky in a tourist shot.

Relief map utterly fascinates me: tracing our hike yesterday and our planned drive up to Glacier Point later.

Triptych of the Tunnel View:

A little later in the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias -

Roots of the Fallen Monarch-

Bachelor & Three Graces - I'm charmed by the names given to some of these trees.

The Grizzly Giant, estimated to be 1,800 years old - amazing how long some of these trees have been here - greatly humbled by their longevity & what changes have taken place while they slowly grew & persevered...



Carvings inside the California Tunnel Tree seem new by comparison, but still fascinate -

Under much direction Dee takes a shot of me with the California Tunnel Tree - I'm thinking it's not easy to be the child photographer of a photographer -

Little low wet spot with reeds growing & sunlight filtering down on young saplings.



Afternoon
Glacier Point
cooler at this higher elevation
still clear, just a slight breeze, more wind would be uncomfortable.

We came through patches of snow on the drive up - winter is coming and then they'll close the road. Until then people still flock from around the globe for this view. Little creatures scurry for food droppings not far from our feet -

Great shot Dee got of me while I hung out at the edge to catch the Valley Triptych - I just used my last pieces of Polaroid Type 55 that I have with me - more at home? I think so but I can't quite remember, I packed in a hurry - well, what better place to use the last of precious film?



Another directed shot: me with my faithful companion, Sparky before we head back to the motel for the evening.

yosmite hiking

Oct 9, 09
Yosemite
hiking to Vernal Falls with Scott & the kids this time, too -
morning
clear, cool, slight breeze

Water alot lower than in July - I'm lagging behind, stopping to take photos -

Dee stops to take some shots, too -

Dee at the bottom of the stairs, thinking they'll be fun...



The ground squirrels are just as bold as ever, one was eating from Phillip's hand and climbing on him as he ate!

Little tree with roots clinging to the granite along Silver Apron - much much less water coming down the river now compared to when we were here in July -

Standing on the footbridge just above Silver Apron - not heading up to Nevada Falls this time either. Had to leave Sparky crated at the motel so we don't want to be too late and Scott & Phil really aren't much for hiking either. Feel something tickling my wrist and I find a red ant about 1/4 inch long - AAH!

Heading back down from the footbridge - I'm still lagging behind, taking photos & gawking as I go -

Liberty Cap dominates the view from the Emerald Pool.

Amazing how trees can find just enough soil to hang on in crevices in the granite, this one just above Vernal Falls.

The falls are a relative trickle now -



Sun shining through the bigleaf maples.

On the hike down this view literally stopped me in my tracks - black oaks hugging the rocky canyon walls, still plenty of hikers in perfect 70ish degree weather.



Early evening
Deidre & I bring Sparky to the valley for a little outing before dinner - just in time to catch the low light. Lots of people in folding chairs with binoculars trained on El Capitan - watching climbers? Dee & I can't see anything with the naked eye, but it's the only thing that seems to make sense to us.

Triptych images came out crooked - later figured out my film back was askew!

arrived in yosemite again

Drove down to Yosemite with the kids & Sparky today - had to bring them all to see the beauty so close to home. We're staying at Yosemite View Motel, just outside the west entrance, right on the Merced River.



The panoramic view from our motel balcony, in three parts:

art pumpkins

So the theme for October at the Kennedy Gallery is the Great Pumpkin Exhibit - there were truly grand plans originally but they were scaled back to reality. ;) Oh well.

With getting ready for a trip to Yosemite & being so busy with the Sacramento Arts Festival, I hadn't really had time to do any canvas work, but I had this idea, based on what I had done on wine bottles - fairly quick & easy, I've done my own brand of collage work right onto pumpkins & I think they turned out pretty well.

They're all at my space at the Kennedy for 2nd Saturday, though I'll be in Yosemite...

goodday sacramento!

I got to be on a local tv show to promote the upcoming arts festival I'm in this weekend:

iconic sacramento

I got a request for iconic Sacramento images, which I have actually done but never put together as a collection, really - sometimes the obvious things most escape me -

So here they are, with the status/availability of each:

"California State Palms" ready to go as a hand embellished print.


"Sacramento, CA" similar coloring available for scanning, ready for printing in a few weeks.

"Catalpa Tree" (Capital Park) available for scanning, ready for printing & delivery within a few weeks.

"Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament" Great painted version currently hanging in Formoli's restaurant on J Street near 33rd - ready for reproduction, delivery within a few weeks.

"Memorial Elm" (which I've since figured is more likely an ash!) similar coloring available for scanning, ready for printing in a few weeks.

"Sacramento City Hall" Great painted version currently hanging in Formoli's restaurant on J Street near 33rd - ready for reproduction, delivery within a few weeks.

"Tower: A Mighty Heart" Horrible, but I'm pretty sure this one is at Formoli's as well - so that would make it ready for reproduction, delivery within a few weeks.


"Pony Express" available for scanning, ready for printing & delivery within a few weeks.


"Tower Bridge" another image that is sold, I have a print on hand that would need to be colored, scanned, with a medium-long lead time. (Like that?)

"Live at the Crest" Painted version might be at Formoli's too, which would make it ready to roll in a few weeks - this month has been a blur! - otherwise could be printed in darkroom, colored, then scanned for reproduction - which would make it a longer lead time.


"Capital Palms" Sold, but similar could be printed in darkroom, colored, then scanned for reproduction - longer lead time, of course.

"Tower Theater" sold but it could be printed in darkroom, colored, then scanned for reproduction - longer lead time, again.