Morning in Yosemite Valley

In continuation of my series on Yosemite, here are a few photos from Yosemite Valley.

I took the following photo in the morning from Sentinel Bridge. In the foreground is the Merced River and in the background is Half Dome.

One of the biggest attractions in Yosemite Valley is Cook's Meadow. During the late spring, the meadow is filled with wildflowers, but even in August, the meadow is beautiful. I think the beautify of the meadow lies in the juxtaposition of the flat wetlands with the giant peaks and tall trees that surround the meadow.

I've been trying for some time to create a photo with trees in the foreground and met with varying degrees of success. I think the following photo works. Behind the trees is the Merced River and then Cook's Meadow. The bright background behind the trees pulls you into the photo. When I see this photo, it makes me feel like I'm there and that I can just walk through the trees and into the meadow. It gives me a sense of place.

Yosemite Valley is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It's clear from the crowds and the traffic that I'm not the only one who knows this. Fortunately, most people aren't willing to get up at 4:20 a.m. while on vacation. So, if you're willing to get up early enough, you can have the valley all to yourself.

The following photo is of the Merced River with Upper Yosemite Falls in the background. I took the photo from Swinging Bridge, a very popular place for picnicking and swimming. When I was there at 7:30 a.m., I found only one other person. I like the photo. To me, it looks very calm and peaceful. I really like the reflection of the mountains in the water.

Here's one last photo. In this one, the moon hovers over the rim of Yosemite Valley. I took the photo because I always find it a bit strange to see the moon out during the daytime—in this case, late morning.