SFO, Yosemite, etc.

We drove through Death Valley in August a few years ago. Didn't seem so bad.
The hotels there claim that summer is the favorite time for Europeans to
visit Death Valley. It definitely is hot, but a lot to see.

Yosemite is our favorite park (we live about two hours from there). It will
be crowded and unless you already have a reservation you will probably not
be able to stay inside the park. You will likely wear out your camera taking
pictures in Yosemite. As the previous poster said, you will be able to use
all of your equipment. Sometimes the falls (except for Bridal Veil) are dry
by the end of July, so you may have some disappointments there. May/June
would be better for the waterfalls and Merced River pictures.

Sequoia is nice, but Yosemite is the best of them all.

Tom
"Alan Browne" <alan.browne DeleteThis @videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:fpsi51$dvs$1@inews.gazeta.pl...
>
>
> Just turned in a pile of points for a trip to CA via San Francisco this
> summer (2 weeks, Last half of July). Nature destinations are Yosemite,
> Sequoia, Death Valley.
>
> Not sure if we'll spend much time in San Francisco.
>
> Any and all ideas, pointers gratefully received.
>
> Gear:
> Digital: 6 Mpix DSLR
> Film: 35mm and 120 (slide film [V50/100; E100G...]).
>
> Lenses: 35mm: 20mm, 50mm, 100mm, 135mm, 28-70, 80-200 (all f/2.8 or
> faster)
> 120: 80, 120 and 150mm (may rent a 40mm too).
>
> Tripod/geared head.
>
> Cheers,
> Alan
>
> --
> -- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
> -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm
> -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin
> -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

Alan Browne <alan.browne RemoveThis @videotron.ca> wrote:
>Just turned in a pile of points for a trip to CA via San Francisco this
>summer (2 weeks, Last half of July). Nature destinations are Yosemite,
>Sequoia, Death Valley.

Nice, but a lot of driving. It's also prime season for Yosemite and
Sequoia (but off season for Death Valley) so expect crowds.

>Not sure if we'll spend much time in San Francisco.
>
>Any and all ideas, pointers gratefully received.

Just got back from a trip to Sequoia. Much less crowded in the winter
but snowshoes or cross-country skis are a must for the trails. We saw
a foot of snow overnight.

>Gear:
>Digital: 6 Mpix DSLR
>Film: 35mm and 120 (slide film [V50/100; E100G...]).
>
>Lenses: 35mm: 20mm, 50mm, 100mm, 135mm, 28-70, 80-200 (all f/2.8 or faster)
> 120: 80, 120 and 150mm (may rent a 40mm too).
>
> Tripod/geared head.

Yosemite is tough to photograph. It's easy to get lost in the majesty
and not be able to find the good shot. Plan ahead and have some idea
of what you want to shoot - even the valley has a lot to see. But it
also has lots of visitors, so make you travel plans early. As in: now.
No, I'm not kidding.

Sequoia is tough. You want to shoot the trees but it's so hard to
capture just how massive they are. Put people in front of one and
they turn into specks in the photo. Again, plan ahead. You can hit
the Congress trail for the trees in a day, catch a sunset at Beetle rock,
and not drive more than 20 miles. Or you can spend months in the park
and go as far as the peak of Mt. Whitney while shooting the high
Sierras.

Death Valley is great - I was there this past July. Awesome views from
almost anywhere, but daytime temperatures are 105 to 120 in July. Wear
a hat, take lots of water, and don't try any long hikes. The heat
_will_ kill you if you're not careful. Digital cameras get noticably
nosier in the heat so nighttime shots will need a little more work,
but the skies are the clearest in the country. No pollution, little
humidity, and no cities for a hundred miles.

--
Ray Fischer
rfischer RemoveThis @sonic.net
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

"The Augur" <spam.TakeThisOut@augurvisions.com> wrote in
news:rdWdnUCB1MXYZlzanZ2dnUVZ_sGvnZ2d@speakeasy.net:

>> Just turned in a pile of points for a trip to CA via San Francisco
>> this summer (2 weeks, Last half of July). Nature destinations are
>> Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley.
>>
>> Not sure if we'll spend much time in San Francisco.
>>
>> Any and all ideas, pointers gratefully received.
>>
> Death Valley will definitely not be fun at the end of July. Average
> high temperature in July is115F. 120F is common.
>
> Yosemite and Sequoia are big, beautiful and unique. You can use wide
> angle, telephoto and everything in between. Temperature should be
> good. Warmer at low elevations and cooler at higher elevations. Air
> is clear in the summer unless there are fires nearby. Yosemite can be
> a little crowded, but a short hike will get you away from everybody.
>
> Yosemite is about a 3.5 hour drive from SF.
>
>
>

Another destination worth the excursion is the Muir Woods just north of SF.
Try for very early morning. Normal to ultra-wide angle, or even fisheye,
will give you the most dramatic views. Enjoy the trip!

http://www.nps.gov/muwo/planyourvisit/index.htm
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

Alan Browne wrote:
>
>
> Just turned in a pile of points for a trip to CA via San Francisco this
> summer (2 weeks, Last half of July). Nature destinations are Yosemite,
> Sequoia, Death Valley.
>
> Not sure if we'll spend much time in San Francisco.
>
> Any and all ideas, pointers gratefully received.

From San Francisco to Tracy to Yosemite go via Jamestown, Sonora and
Columbia then to Yosemite via route 120. These are interesting gold
rush era towns with historic old buildings. Along country roads outside
of Jamestown you can find some old non-creosoted fence posts that
woodpeckers have used for acorn storage -- some still with acorns, some
looking like wood lace with the holes where acorns were.

If you have time in Sequoia consider a drive down into Kings Canyon.
The Kings River and surrounds can be quite senic, even in July if we've
had a good wet spring season; and there are lots of side canyon falls
not far off the main road.

To get to the eastern side of the Sierras and Death Valley you'll
likelyt traverse Yosemite's Tioga Pass. Not far from Lee Vining the end
of route 120 at 395 is Mono Lake -- scenic, particularly early or late
in the day. From Lee Vining to Death Valley take a side trip to the
ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains. These are among
the world's oldest living trees -- very photogenic.

Bob Shomler
www.shomler.com
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

"Alan Browne" <alan.browne.TakeThisOut@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:fpsi51$dvs$1@inews.gazeta.pl...
>
>
> Just turned in a pile of points for a trip to CA via San Francisco this
> summer (2 weeks, Last half of July). Nature destinations are Yosemite,
> Sequoia, Death Valley.
>
> Not sure if we'll spend much time in San Francisco.
>
> Any and all ideas, pointers gratefully received.

MotoGP at Laguna Seca July 18-20.
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

<no_spam_from_scumbags.DeleteThis@die_scumbags.com> wrote in message
news:47c30ad3$0$36399$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> Cross the golden gate bridge to the Marin County side and visit the Marin
> Headlands. The turn off is just after the bridge. Besides some great or
> World War II structures and gun mounts there is a fort, nice beach and a
> lighthouse. Well, worth a visit, not to mention some great shots of the
> bridge and city.

My kids and I went up there to screw around and let me take some shots of
the bridge but when it got dark we were totally lost and it took a while to
find our way out. Had a great time and the kids always tell me they want to
go back and play around the old gun sites again.
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

On Feb 24, 11:56 am, Alan Browne <alan.bro... DeleteThis @videotron.ca> wrote:
> Nature destinations are Yosemite,
> Sequoia, Death Valley.

I wouldn't go to Death Valley in July. It is fantastic in early
spring. But if you must, make sure you have a good broad brimmed hat
and sun screen. Do not leave film or equipment in a closed car. I
have seen camera seals fried in 90 min left in a closed sedan. No
Joke, I have also seen a few second degree burns from slipping onto
vinyl or leather seats in shorts or bathing suits.
>
> Not sure if we'll spend much time in San Francisco.
Too Bad! Greatest City in the World and very Photogenic. If you get
a chance go to the Palace of Legion Of Honor for great views of the
ocean, lands end, point lobos and the Golden Gate. Every Wedding
photgrapher in the Bay Area take their subjects there for portraits.

>
> Any and all ideas, pointers gratefully received.

I do not agree that air will be clear in Yosemite. In the summer
there are often inversions over Yosemite Valley. When this occurs air
pollution in the valley can be significant. Water vapor also is often
trapped by the inversion reducing visibility dramatically.

I recommend a drive up to Tuolumne Meadows in the north eastern area
of Yosemite Park This will provide you with dramatic overlooks of the
Valley from El Capitan. If you are fit (don't need to be too fit) and
like hiking you can hike down the Tuolumne River and shoot 8 Gb in a
few hours. Continuing out Hwy 120 will take you over Tioga pass to
Mono Lake. All of this is a photographer's heaven.

At short drive to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and a little more hiking
will also provide dramatic sights that will delight any Photographer.
Very few visitors from outside CA get up to Hetch Hetchy. But it is a
favorite trailhead for backpackers and one John Muir's favorite
subjects. If you haven't already done so look at Muir's images. They
will give you some good ideas. The Road out to Hetch Hetchy will take
you through Tuolumne Grove for some shots of Sequoia giganticus.

You don't need to be warned about Bears do you? . They make great
subjects. They are not aggressive, but use that 200mm lens and stay
aware of your surroundings.

Night shots of Half Dome and El Capitan are fun and beautiful and will
wow your friends. These monoliths stay pretty hot during the blue
hours so I sometimes take two exposures. One for the rock and one for
the stars. Then I put them together in PhotoShop.

A night shot from up in the Tuolumne Meadows area will reveal more
stars than you knew could exist.

>
> Gear:
> Digital: 6 Mpix DSLR
> Film: 35mm and 120 (slide film [V50/100; E100G...]).
>
> Lenses: 35mm: 20mm, 50mm, 100mm, 135mm, 28-70, 80-200 (all f/2.8 or faster)
> 120: 80, 120 and 150mm (may rent a 40mm too).
>
> Tripod/geared head.

You must have a good Circular Polarizer Filter and a good UV filter.
If you can afford it I would get a good quality Ball Head like a
Markins M10 instead of your gear head.

Is your Tripod good for low angle shots. I find myself shooting a lot
of low angle detail shots in the Sierras. Bring lots of memory. You
can burn CDs at the store in Yosemite village or Curry Camp if you
don't have a lap top or other mass storage device.

Have fun Alan
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

Thanks to _all_ who replied. Much appreciated.
Cheers,
Alan
<rare top post>

Bob Shomler wrote:
> Alan Browne wrote:
>>
>>
>> Just turned in a pile of points for a trip to CA via San Francisco
>> this summer (2 weeks, Last half of July). Nature destinations are
>> Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley.
>>
>> Not sure if we'll spend much time in San Francisco.
>>
>> Any and all ideas, pointers gratefully received.
>
> From San Francisco to Tracy to Yosemite go via Jamestown, Sonora and
> Columbia then to Yosemite via route 120. These are interesting gold
> rush era towns with historic old buildings. Along country roads outside
> of Jamestown you can find some old non-creosoted fence posts that
> woodpeckers have used for acorn storage -- some still with acorns, some
> looking like wood lace with the holes where acorns were.
>
> If you have time in Sequoia consider a drive down into Kings Canyon. The
> Kings River and surrounds can be quite senic, even in July if we've had
> a good wet spring season; and there are lots of side canyon falls not
> far off the main road.
>
> To get to the eastern side of the Sierras and Death Valley you'll
> likelyt traverse Yosemite's Tioga Pass. Not far from Lee Vining the end
> of route 120 at 395 is Mono Lake -- scenic, particularly early or late
> in the day. From Lee Vining to Death Valley take a side trip to the
> ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains. These are among
> the world's oldest living trees -- very photogenic.
>
> Bob Shomler
> www.shomler.com
>



--
-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm
-- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin
-- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

Sorry to have been tardy in remembering the name of this place:
http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/htme/bodie.htm which won't prove
your toughness like Death Valley, but has become an equally icon-ized
photographic subject.

Any road, it'll be fun and edifying, your trip.

--
Frank ess


Alan Browne wrote:
> Thanks to _all_ who replied. Much appreciated.
> Cheers,
> Alan
> <rare top post>
>
> Bob Shomler wrote:
>> Alan Browne wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> Just turned in a pile of points for a trip to CA via San Francisco
>>> this summer (2 weeks, Last half of July). Nature destinations are
>>> Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley.
>>>
>>> Not sure if we'll spend much time in San Francisco.
>>>
>>> Any and all ideas, pointers gratefully received.
>>
>> From San Francisco to Tracy to Yosemite go via Jamestown, Sonora
>> and Columbia then to Yosemite via route 120. These are
>> interesting gold rush era towns with historic old buildings. Along
>> country roads outside of Jamestown you can find some old
>> non-creosoted fence posts that woodpeckers have used for acorn
>> storage -- some still with acorns, some looking like wood lace
>> with the holes where acorns were. If you have time in Sequoia
>> consider a drive down into Kings
>> Canyon. The Kings River and surrounds can be quite senic, even in
>> July if we've had a good wet spring season; and there are lots of
>> side canyon falls not far off the main road.
>>
>> To get to the eastern side of the Sierras and Death Valley you'll
>> likelyt traverse Yosemite's Tioga Pass. Not far from Lee Vining
>> the end of route 120 at 395 is Mono Lake -- scenic, particularly
>> early or late in the day. From Lee Vining to Death Valley take a
>> side trip to the ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White
>> Mountains. These are among the world's oldest living trees --
>> very photogenic. Bob Shomler
>> www.shomler.com
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

just bob wrote:
> <no_spam_from_scumbags.DeleteThis@die_scumbags.com> wrote in message
> news:47c30ad3$0$36399$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>> Cross the golden gate bridge to the Marin County side and visit the Marin
>> Headlands. The turn off is just after the bridge. Besides some great or
>> World War II structures and gun mounts there is a fort, nice beach and a
>> lighthouse. Well, worth a visit, not to mention some great shots of the
>> bridge and city.
>
> My kids and I went up there to screw around and let me take some shots of
> the bridge but when it got dark we were totally lost and it took a while to
> find our way out. Had a great time and the kids always tell me they want to
> go back and play around the old gun sites again.

I was up there last night:
http://edgehill.net/California/Bay-Area/Marin/2-25-08-gg-bridge/pg1pc2
and a couple weeks ago:
http://edgehill.net/California/Bay-Area/Marin/2-16-08-pt-diablo/pg1pc1
They close part of it at night & you might have to go around & through a
one-way tunnel to get back but it's not far.
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

marc4ucb <marc4ucb.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Alan Browne <alan.bro....DeleteThis@videotron.ca> wrote:

>> Nature destinations are Yosemite,
>> Sequoia, Death Valley.
>
>I wouldn't go to Death Valley in July. It is fantastic in early
>spring. But if you must, make sure you have a good broad brimmed hat
>and sun screen. Do not leave film or equipment in a closed car. I
>have seen camera seals fried in 90 min left in a closed sedan. No
>Joke, I have also seen a few second degree burns from slipping onto
>vinyl or leather seats in shorts or bathing suits.

When I was there last July I had to carry my black SLR because if I'd
left it hanging around my neck it would have gotton too hot to handle.

--
Ray Fischer
rfischer.DeleteThis@sonic.net
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

Cool tight shots!

"Paul Furman" <paul-.RemoveThis@-edgehill.net> wrote in message
news:Cm6xj.3062$pl4.1719@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...
> just bob wrote:
>> <no_spam_from_scumbags.RemoveThis@die_scumbags.com> wrote in message
>> news:47c30ad3$0$36399$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>>> Cross the golden gate bridge to the Marin County side and visit the
>>> Marin Headlands. The turn off is just after the bridge. Besides some
>>> great or World War II structures and gun mounts there is a fort, nice
>>> beach and a lighthouse. Well, worth a visit, not to mention some great
>>> shots of the bridge and city.
>>
>> My kids and I went up there to screw around and let me take some shots of
>> the bridge but when it got dark we were totally lost and it took a while
>> to find our way out. Had a great time and the kids always tell me they
>> want to go back and play around the old gun sites again.
>
> I was up there last night:
> http://edgehill.net/California/Bay-Area/Marin/2-25-08-gg-bridge/pg1pc2
> and a couple weeks ago:
> http://edgehill.net/California/Bay-Area/Marin/2-16-08-pt-diablo/pg1pc1
> They close part of it at night & you might have to go around & through a
> one-way tunnel to get back but it's not far.
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc. 

Frank ess wrote:
> Sorry to have been tardy in remembering the name of this place:
> http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/htme/bodie.htm which won't prove
> your toughness like Death Valley, but has become an equally icon-ized
> photographic subject.
>
> Any road, it'll be fun and edifying, your trip.

Great reference, site, and thanks for that, Frank. I have been thinking
about such a place, but closer by than Death Valley. Bodie could be it!

--
John McWilliams
 >> Stay informed about: SFO, Yosemite, etc.