In the Moment:
Michael Frye's Landscape Photography Blog

Misty Morning in Yosemite Valley

Misty sunrise, Half Dome and the Merced River, Yosemite NP, CA, USA

Misty sunrise, Half Dome and the Merced River, Yosemite. This was a very contrasty scene, so I bracketed five exposures, each two stops apart, and blended them with Lightroom’s HDR Merge. The settings, for what they’re worth: 16mm, various shutter speeds at f/11, ISO 100.

I don’t like getting up early. I’m really more of a night owl, and it’s always an unpleasant shock when the alarm jars me out of a deep sleep at oh-dark-thirty. But I force myself to rise early any time there’s a chance for an interesting sunrise, because if I don’t I might miss something special, and then I would kick myself.

After a very dry autumn we finally got two storms last week. The second storm moved through on Friday and Friday night. All signs indicated that it would clear sometime around sunrise yesterday (Saturday), which could be great timing. So I set my alarm for 4:30 a.m., pried myself out of bed, made some breakfast, and drove to Yosemite Valley.

(more…)

Coping Strategies

Coping Strategies, not just pretty pictures: Cottonwood leaves swirling in the Merced River, Yosemite NP, CA, USA

Cottonwood leaves swirling in the Merced River, Yosemite NP, CA, USA



Our country has endured so many disasters lately. The recent fires in California have been devastating – especially the Camp Fire that destroyed the town of Paradise. My mom lived in Paradise for eight years, and although I haven’t been there in decades, I remember the area well. I wonder whether any of her friends were still there. I’m sure her old house was destroyed; I just hope whoever was living there got out safely.

At least two members of our landscape-photography community lived in Paradise and lost nearly everything in the fire: Cindy Hoover and Erin Babnick. Please consider helping them out by contributing to the GoFundMe campaigns that have been set up for them: Cindy’s here, and Erin’s here.

(more…)

Holiday Print Sale Ends Tomorrow!

Holiday Sale Ends:Half Dome and clouds at sunset from Glacier Point, Yosemite NP, CA, USA

Glacier Point Sunset, Yosemite

Just a quick reminder that the holiday print sale ends tomorrow (Friday, November 16th) at midnight Pacific time, so you still have time to get 25% off on three images: Glacier Point Sunset, Yosemite; Milky Way over Sand Dunes, Death Valley; and Aspens and Ferns, Kebler Pass, Colorado.

In case you missed the earlier post, you can see the available sizes and sale prices underneath the descriptions of each image below.

(more…)

A Brief Detour through the Canyon Country

Storm clouds at sunset, Capitol Reef NP, UT, USA

Storm clouds at sunset, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

On our way back from Colorado last month, Claudia and I spent a couple of nights in southern Utah. We had dinner with one of Utah’s most talented and thoughtful photographers, Guy Tal, along with his wife Sarah. (If you’re not familiar with Guy’s photography and writing you should be!) And we enjoyed the change in scenery, going from the forested, snowy mountains of Colorado to the red-rock canyons.

(more…)

Holiday Print Sale

Milky Way over sand dunes, Death Valley NP, CA, USA - holiday sale image

Milky Way over Sand Dunes, Death Valley

The print sale has ended, but you can still order prints at the regular price below.

I’m pleased to announce that we’re having a holiday sale on three prints never offered before, at 25% off the normal price. For this sale we’ve selected three popular images: Milky Way over Sand Dunes, Death Valley; Glacier Point Sunset, Yosemite; and Aspens and Ferns, Kebler Pass, Colorado.

The discounted pricing will last until Friday, November 16th. You can see the available sizes and sale prices underneath the descriptions of each image below.
 

(more…)