Well….I’ve looked at some of the other posts of Yosemite on here and I’m reluctant to post this but what the heck. Tioga Pass last November and Headed back out there in 3 weeks to hopefully capture some Fall Colors.
Canon EOS R6m2RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM lens92mmf/7.11/400s100 ISO0.0 EV
Olmsted Point is always a beautiful place, and this particular view is a classic one of the Tioga Road area a half hour or so from the pass. (OK, longer with the new 25MPH speed limits in places along the road… ;-)
May I made one compositional observation?
That bit of the rock at the road’s edge in the lower left corner is the brightest thing in the frame, so it attracts attention away from the real show — the forest, the valley holding Tenaya Lake, and the nomes and mountains beyond leading to the high point at Mount Conness. (To see this effect, just hold your hand over that bright area to cover it and see the difference.)
If you agree — and I accept that not every one will — there are several things you could do to reduce the presence of the bright rocks. You could try diminishing their brightness in any of several ways: burning the area a bit, selecting/masking it an d lowering brightness and/or highlights, applying a curve to it, etc.
A more radical approach could be to use a different crop, one that is more panoramic and which removes some of the material along the entire bottom of the scene.
I’m up there a lot (was there last week in fact) and even after decades I still often stop at this location and take out the camera. :-)
gdanmitchell wrote:
Olmsted Point is always a beautiful place, and this particular view is a classic one of the Tioga Road area a half hour or so from the pass. (OK, longer with the new 25MPH speed limits in places along the road… ;-)
May I made one compositional observation?
That bit of the rock at the road’s edge in the lower left corner is the brightest thing in the frame, so it attracts attention away from the real show — the forest, the valley holding Tenaya Lake, and the nomes and mountains beyond leading to the high point at Mount Conness. (To see this effect, just hold your hand over that bright area to cover it and see the difference.)
If you agree — and I accept that not every one will — there are several things you could do to reduce the presence of the bright rocks. You could try diminishing their brightness in any of several ways: burning the area a bit, selecting/masking it an d lowering brightness and/or highlights, applying a curve to it, etc.
A more radical approach could be to use a different crop, one that is more panoramic and which removes some of the material along the entire bottom of the scene.
I’m up there a lot (was there last week in fact) and even after decades I still often stop at this location and take out the camera. :-)...Show more →
Thanks for that observation and I agree. I had noticed that "overly bright" spot and was wondering about it as well. Still refining my editing skills but I'll play around some more and see what I can come with to eliminate that one area. Thanks.
I'm glad you were OK with me making those observations. It is hard to know sometimes If people are or are not interested in that kind of feedback.
If you are ever back and that spot, a couple of locations suggestions from my visits over the decade. As you stand looking toward that view, my recollection is that you can look for the furthest right place to set up your tripod and avoid some of the foreground stuff. (Also, if you photograph it very late in the day, the foreground rocks are in shadow while much of the main view is still in the light.)
Also, there's a little trail that goes down from the parking lot to a low dome that is sort of off to the left a bit as you stand facing toward Half Dome. There are some interesting options from that little dome.
There are other options there, too... but I don't want to give everything away! :-)
Good luck!
Dan
Bogino wrote:
Thanks for that observation and I agree. I had noticed that "overly bright" spot and was wondering about it as well. Still refining my editing skills but I'll play around some more and see what I can come with to eliminate that one area. Thanks.
gdanmitchell wrote:
I'm glad you were OK with me making those observations. It is hard to know sometimes If people are or are not interested in that kind of feedback.
If you are ever back and that spot, a couple of locations suggestions from my visits over the decade. As you stand looking toward that view, my recollection is that you can look for the furthest right place to set up your tripod and avoid some of the foreground stuff. (Also, if you photograph it very late in the day, the foreground rocks are in shadow while much of the main view is still in the light.)
Also, there's a little trail that goes down from the parking lot to a low dome that is sort of off to the left a bit as you stand facing toward Half Dome. There are some interesting options from that little dome.
There are other options there, too... but I don't want to give everything away! :-)
Actually I'll be back there in 3 weeks. I'll be parked in June Lake and spend 3 full days in that area taking pictures and hoping to catch the Fall Colors.
Bogino wrote:
Actually I'll be back there in 3 weeks. I'll be parked in June Lake and spend 3 full days in that area taking pictures and hoping to catch the Fall Colors.
Well, three weeks from now the color should be getting started at June Lake. It comes a bit later there than at some of the higher locations, so it is a good location in the second week of October in a typical year.
I’ll be out and about over there too during the first couple of weeks of October.
I’m kind of easy to find if you know what to look for.
If June Lake area isn't too colored up yet, you're still close to Mono Lake and Bodie, too. The views from Conway Summit back over the lake and then to the west as you go north on 395 to the Bodie road or Bridgeport can be worth the drive, maybe exploring some of those roads and lakes to the west of 395, too.
Craig Gillette wrote:
If June Lake area isn't too colored up yet, you're still close to Mono Lake and Bodie, too. The views from Conway Summit back over the lake and then to the west as you go north on 395 to the Bodie road or Bridgeport can be worth the drive, maybe exploring some of those roads and lakes to the west of 395, too.
Thank You: I plan to use my 3 or 4 full days there to explore not only June Lake but other nearby areas i.e. Tioga Pass...Mono...etc. I've not yet seen Bridgeport or Bodie Rd so I'll add those in my notes. Thank You.
