yosemite valley

,

Escaping Paranoia

,

The last few weeks have certainly not been peaceful: between the rapid onset of a contagious virus, hyperactive media coverage, and a lack of decisive action by multiple developed countries, paranoia has set it. And in paranoia, human beings have not been rational actors. Not a day goes by when you don't hear of people defying quarantine, or of hoarders stocking for the next decade, disrupting the finely tuned supply-chains. It makes you realize what a thin veneer of order human beings superficially present, and how quickly this can be subverted

In then end, I am eternally grateful for the people who keep civilization functioning: the medical personnel taking care of the sick and researchers finding the next cure, the expansive supply chain supplying essential goods, transit workers, safety services, and utility providers without whom nations would grind to a halt.

During these pressing times, what gives me solace are the little signs of upcoming spring: a poppy flower opening up its colorful petals, a budding field of color heralding warmer weather, bountiful waterfalls under fleeting light, and alpine meadows renewing under the growing warmth of the sun. I hope that by the time spring rolls around, things will become more peaceful again. And in the meantime, I am going to be hunkered down at home, admiring memories of these little signs of solace.

CA USA

An Ode to the National Parks

“This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere;
the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising.
Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming,
on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.”

- John Muir

It has been over 7 years since I visited this magnificent temple to the mountains, and every time I see this grand vista, I am forever reminded of the courageous spirits that worked hard to preserve this monument.

And so, on this day, I extend my thanks to the people whose tireless work created not just the National Park system, but also inculcated a sense of conservation in our society.

Yosemite National Park
CA USA

White and Black

I stumbled through the soft snow to the frosty riverbank of the Merced river. The cold waters meandered glacially, it's still surface reflecting the winter landscape of Yosemite valley. Skeletons of trees hugged the icy shores, frostbitten remnants of a lush green summer. Tall dark conifers punctuated the landscape beyond, stalwarts of the polar temperatures. A moody grey sky completed the mood, with a thick mist dropping down to the treeline lending a mysterious aura.

This was one of my winter sojourns many winters ago in Yosemite National Park. It saddens me that such a beautiful treasure has to stay closed due to the shutdown. My thoughts go to the Park employees and Rangers.

Yosemite National Park

CA USA

The White Frost

I remember first setting sights on the Ahwahnee hotel, ahem, the 'Majestic Yosemite Hotel' on my second visit to this beautiful park. I stood in awe at the huge vaulted ceilings in the main dining area, at the towering chandeliers lighting the lounge, and the large native stones that were crafted beautifully into the walls. I listened in peace to the crackling sounds of the warm fireplace and the soothing music emanating from the grand piano while I took a breather from the cold outdoors in the cozy interior. This was my first winter experience in Yosemite, a memory that would bring me back to the Ahwahnee every visit just to rekindle those old feelings.

On one such winter outing, I chanced upon the park just as it was experiencing a heavy snowfall. The crowds were away, leaving behind a very quite and serene surrounding. The normally bluebird skies with Yosemite falls in the background was replaced with a moody grey sky pouring down wet snow. This was the white Christmas I experienced once, at the heart of Yosemite National Park. I made a few attempts at capturing this snowfall before I got drowned in the snow, and this was one attempt at photographing the White Frost.

Thank you Yosemite, for etching such wonderful memories.

Yosemite National Park
CA USA

Winter Solitude in Yosemite

It has been 4 years since the magical winter weekend under the towering walls of the Yosemite Valley, yet I remember it as though it were yesterday. I remember wandering through the pine forest, the scrunching sounds of snow, ice and pine needles breaking from the solitude of winter in the valley. As I approached the riverbank, I ran into familiar faces from the California photography community, with the clicks from their camera shutters signaling their intent to capture the glorious scene that you see above.

Yosemite National Park holds a special place in my heart, partly because it opened my eyes to wilderness that most people see, but not observe. By spending more time in this National park over multiple seasons than any other, I was able to explore and re-explore some of the innumerable nooks and crannies in every valley, meadow, crag, gorge, and mountaintop that abound in one of the most photogenic sections of the Sierra Nevada. Over this long period of time, it exposed me to the true impact and learnings of life in the outdoors, and to understand and appreciate the rekindling of the spirit that comes about from just spending time outside normal creature comforts.

This image captures the quintessence of what makes that step outside into nature so powerful. I look forward to spending more time reconnecting with the outdoors in Yosemite, as well as the innumerable other National Parks of this land.

Yosemite National Park
CA
USA