Merced River Rush

Merced River rush, Spring,
Yosemite National Park, California 2010

30 sec at f/22, focal length: 40mm, ISO 50, Aperture Priority, 0EV,
- 13 May 2010 7:21 pm PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 17-40mm f/4L, tripod mounted.


Just something to share for the sake of sharing...




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Ode to Green

Ferns and Dogwood, Summer,
Sierra National Forest, California 2010

10 sec at f/22, focal length: 23mm, ISO 50, Aperture Priority, 0EV,
- 14 June 2010 7:26 pm PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 17-40mm f/4L, tripod mounted.


At first, I didn't know what it was that attracted me to this photograph. I couldn't understand why I kept going back to it when editing through the session. The image is a departure from the work I've been creating lately; highly studied, carefully constructed compositions trying to avoid sentimentality.

Just tonight I realized that it's exactly because of the image's lack of those qualities that is drawing me in. This photograph is somewhat free-flowing in terms of composition and is completely about a deeply inviting mood. I'm finding it refreshing to know that my 'subconscious creative' is still alive and well (and willing to take over from time to time). It may help keep any contrived work at bay...maybe.

Any thoughts?
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Happy Father's Day!

John W. O'Connor, III
Yosemite National Park, California 2005

- December 2005. Photographed with Kodak Portra 160NC in a Yashica D or YashicaMAT, hand held.


Happy Father's Day to all of you that are lucky enough to be one, to all of my friend's and family that have taught me how to be one and an especially big Happy Father's Day to my best friend who happens to also be my Dad. Love you Pops!



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Waters as Waters

Sea Stack and surf,
San Simeon State Park, California 2010

20 sec at f/32, focal length: 94mm, ISO 100, Aperture Priority, 0EV,
- 24 April 2010 7:11 am PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f/4L, Singh-Ray Mor Slo 5 stop ND, tripod mounted.


Before I had studied Zen for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains,
and waters as waters.
When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point
where I saw that mountains are not mountains,
and waters are not waters.
But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest.
For it's just that I see mountains once again as mountains,
and waters once again as waters.

- Ching-yuan




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The Collective Hive-Mind

Corn Lilies and Lupine Leaves,
near California Meadow, Sierra National Forest, California 2010

2 sec at f/22, focal length: 40mm, ISO 100, Aperture Priority, +2/3EV,
- 1 June 2010 6:59 pm PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 17-40mm f/4L, tripod mounted.


My good friend, Bo Parker, and I share similar locations that we both like to return to to photograph. However, we don't usually go out photographing together. I'd say probably 2% of my time out with camera in tow is spent with other photographers. That 2% being pretty evenly split between my dad or Bo. The rest of the time I'm going solo.

So, what I found interesting is that Bo and I both came up with extremely similar images in similar locations, both completely independent of each other. Check it out, Bo posted his version Corn Lilies on his blog here. These images were made in different meadows so it wasn't like there was one obvious place to stand like at, say, Tunnel View in Yosemite.

Now there's no shortage of images that are similar to one another out there, but usually those are a result of one photographer seeing another photographer's efforts and wanting to then make their own version of the image. Since that was not the case here, how is it that we both came up with such similar images? Is it that obvious a composition that most other photographers that would've been there would've done the same thing? Or is it that since Bo and I have known each other for such a long time now that our mental process, subconscious or not, for visually organizing elements of nature have become similarly aligned, thus resulting in similar images from similar locations in similar lighting conditions?

We'd all like to pride ourselves on our own unique vision, but maybe as the world becomes so "connected" the powers of influence will become so strong and subversive that unique vision will be a thing of the past. Not a very fun thought to think that something so special could disappear, but a thought to share nonetheless. Please, share your thoughts in the comments below. (Don't worry, as far as we know, this "collective hive-mind is just a theory and sharing thoughts is still ok)

*UPDATE - I've added a couple more images below from the same session. Enjoy!

Corn Lilies, near California Meadow,
Sierra National Forest, California 2010

6 sec at f/22, focal length: 37mm, ISO 100, Aperture Priority, +2EV,
- 1 June 2010 7:04 pm PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 17-40mm f/4L, tripod mounted.

Corn Lily leaves, near California Meadow,
Sierra National Forest, California 2010

4 sec at f/22, focal length: 40mm, ISO 100, Aperture Priority, +1 1/3EV,
- 1 June 2010 7:06 pm PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 17-40mm f/4L, tripod mounted.




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More on Dogwood

Blooming Dogwood over the Merced River,
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2010

1 sec at f/16, focal length: 200mm, ISO 400, Aperture Priority, -1EV,
- 13 May 2010 8:00 pm PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f/4L, tripod mounted.


In my last post, I mentioned that I probably wouldn't get a chance to photograph the Dogwood blossoms this Spring. Well a small window of opportunity, very small, presented itself and so here are my attempts. These were taken from the Pohono bridge at the west end of Yosemite Valley. The area around here was lacking in terms of trees full with blossoms but my understanding was that near Curry Village was the best show. I never made it past this bridge.

There are still a few areas on HWY 41 south of Yosemite, in the Sierra National Forest, that should be really going off right about now. I'm hoping to check it out soon.

And here's another, much longer, exposure of the same tree. Let me know if you have a preference.

Blooming Dogwood, Merced River,
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2010

10 sec at f/22, focal length: 145mm, ISO 20, Aperture Priority, -2/3EV,
- 13 May 2010 7:54 pm PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f/4L, tripod mounted.
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Dogwoods are here

Dogwood trees along Merced River,
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2009

4 sec at f/16, focal length: 113mm, ISO 50, Aperture Priority, -2/3EV,
- 11 May 2009 7:24 pm PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f/4L, tripod mounted.


I haven't had a chance to make it out for the dogwoods yet this season, but word on the street is that the next few days are pretty much prime time in Yosemite Valley. Most of the trees should be in full bloom and hopefully just before they're leafed out so the blossoms aren't too hidden.

If you happen to photograph, or perhaps already have photographed, dogwoods this season please do share a link to your efforts in the comments below. It may not be in the cards for me to get out in time this year so I'll need to live vicariously through you all!

Dogwood over Merced River,
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2009

1/8 sec at f/11, focal length: 145mm, ISO 200, Aperture Priority, +2/3EV,
- 11 May 2009 6:21 pm PDT. Photographed with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f/4L, tripod mounted.
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