While crossing Tioga pass in Yosemite National Park late one summer evening, I noticed the parting clouds after an afternoon thunderstorm meandering over the pass. I stopped the car and made a beeline for a group of vernal ponds right on the saddle, hoping for something magical to happen. And it did.
As the sun started slowly sinking behind the granite ranges around, the winds died down, and the nearest pond took on an eerie stillness. The dynamic shapes and patterns on the clouds were perfectly reflected in nature's mirror, while, in the distance, the lingering thunderstorm cell started to catch the warm rays of the setting sun and turned to a shade of burning yellow. I captured this scene with 3 exposures at F/11 and ISO 400, merged with HDRfx.
I had recently remarked to a friend that Yosemite National Park was perhaps one of my most favorite photography destinations. And looking back at the beauty of the high alpine landscape of Yosemite through photos I had captured in the park, I truly stand by that claim.
Yosemite National Park
CA USA