Part II ... Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park ... On Clear Days with Frontal or Sidelighting ... Photography is About Form ... NOT Color.
1) Every now and then I fall in love with a picture I've taken ... this would be one of them. There's something about the raking light and the forms that just make me ... BELIEVE ... if you know what I mean. 
2) This is one of my favorites from the three hour shoot; I wish I'd had days rather than hours to photograph this place.
3) I couldn't resist ... I confess, I added the cumulus clouds behind Halfdome ... well, it's my picture and I can do what I want, right? (Can you ever forgive me?)
4) The silhouettes in the foreground frame El Capitan in the distant valley.
5) An example of a landscape photographed in "raking" light. By definition ... (in art or photography) "bright light, usually beamed obliquely, used to reveal such things as texture and detail."
6) Yosemite Valley ... tree silhouettes in a shaded grove give depth (as an overlapping plane) and drama/interest as contrasted with the illuminated rock.
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Thank you, Mike. Had I more time on this trip, I'd have called you in the hope of getting over your way to say "Happy New Year" in person.
Where's everyone?
Early yet Mac! On the other hand, you have already got 23 page views!
Now about these pictures....
They are just spectacular! Each one is just perfect. You really captured thegrandeurof the park!
Bully for you!
Hope you're correct about "early." The article's been up for the third day ...
But thank you for the generous compliment.
This one? You had a previous one up and I have that on the front page and I only put this one up there today. Humm... OK, I'll feature it.
Thank you!
Randy,
I have many, many snow scenes; I will make my next article black & white snow scenes, and I agree ... there is something about black and white snow scenes, that like other black and white imagery, somehow take a viewer to a different place than do the same scenes shown in full color. I've discussed this phenomenon with artists (painters, engravers, etc.) and non-artist art-lovers. Possibly I'll write about it in the article.
Thanks or the kind words.
Thanks Kori,
I will check it.
I don't know if I'll ever get back to Yosemite ... I'd like three days to shoot as opposed to the three hours I had.
More so Yellowstone; I only had a day there. I'm trying to hook up with a friend to do at least a three-four day shoot ... but Yellowstone's a long way from Philly.
Magnificent.
A. Mac, Your photos continue to be stunning. I am partial to black and white. Being color blind, colors sometimes distort the image and distract my attention to the objects which have colors which I can see.
In B/W, I am able to discern the beauty of shapes and textures much easier.Maybe that is why I continue to enjoy old movies.
Thanks for sharing.
That what I thought as well-- phenomenal!
They are really reminiscent of Ansel Adams.
(So I Googled his pictures to compare-- I'm no art expert, but I like your as much as his!!!
Wow!
I am flattered ... I'm sure most serious nature/landscape photographers have studied the work of Ansel Adams ... those of us who learned from him and applied the knowledge his prototypes provide, stand on the shoulders of a giant and consequently, appear taller.
Thank you for your generous words.
I have also always liked B&W better than colour (weii, with a few exceptions). When I googled El Capitan, many were in black & white-- but there were also those in colour-- pictures like this:
I do think this is a really good photo. It reminds me of some of the better picture post-cards. It makes me want to take a trek into the wilderness. But having said that, it really does lack the power of the B & W.
As I mentioned in another comment here, I feel the same way. And you've raised a fascinating question-- Why? Why is it that B&W is, in most cases, so much more powerful than colour?
Very intriguing-- it would be quite interesting if you did write an article about what the people you discussed this said.
Krisna,
I will write an article regarding my ideas as to why black and white images often have greater impact than the same images represented in full color. I actually started to put together a book on the idea ... "image Ego~Image Alter-Ego ... Color Viewed in Black and White" ... I think I still have the page layouts ... never completed it and got sidetracked.
Let me find the file and work from that.
Thank you again.
Thank you for all the wonderful photos!
I imagine if you did do that book it would be a tremendous success. Not only amongst people in the visual arts, but also with people who enjoy looking at various forms of art.