Yosemite and More

 Went to Yosemite the other day because I read that the Dogwoods were in bloom.  YES they were. Bloom is actually the wrong word since what we see as petals are actually specialized leaves,  pretty none the less. And of course in Yosemite there's more beauty than just Dogwoods.  I was surprised at how many people there were, mostly couples and very few children.  As you may know the Merced River is very high. My guess is when I got there it was about a foot or more below it's recent peak. The 'Paparazzi' Bridge was closed off as were other areas near the river. This is the Swinging Bridge, you can see how high the river is. I was thinking about photoshopping the people on the bridge but I like their reflections in the water. I really liked the contrast of the Dogwood and the log and brush. Not sure the name of this bridge (duh), but the sign says "No Crossing Water on Bridge".  That gives you some idea of how high the river got. I would have taken a better ...

 This is a great place to visit if you're in the Redding, CA area. The bridge is beautiful, a great place for a hike, picnic, or to enjoy the wonderful Botanical Gardens The Sundial Bridge from below. It's hard to get a photo without a lot of people on the bridge, I  was lucky it was a slow day, at least when I first got there. The Botanical Gardens was a mixture of flowers that were past their prime,  in full bloom and not yet blooming, just what you expect. This on had the added benefit of a butterfly, I tried to find the name but couldn't match it up with any in my books. The Dogwoods were out !! Okay look closely, like me you might think the pillars on first bridge are longer than they really are. Reflections in the Sacramento River can fool you. Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Safe and Photograph, Dave

Went to Yosemite Valley a couple of weeks ago with some great people. I can actually say I haven't had that much fun in a very long time. Stories were told, s--t was given and laughing was heard. THE FOLLOWING IS USED WITHOUT PERMISSION. I don't care. There's a lot of water flowing right now, the dogwoods were in bloom and people were everywhere. The Merced River was a little angry with all the water flowing down it. As I said the Dogwoods were in full bloom. I took a lot of photos and had to restrain myself when deciding what to post. Here's a 'few' I decided on. Definitely one of my all time favorites. I've seen a lot of Dogwoods over the years. This particular tree really grabbed my attention. I don't remember seeing such a large display on a single tree before. I liked this one in black and white. Something about the single flower against the grey and black background. If yo...

Okay, so this post is way over due, I have a cold and finally did some editing. I took these on a trip to the Mt.Shasta/McCloud area of Northern California. Hope you enjoy. This is a budding Dogwood, taken near the Pacific Crest Trail south of McCloud. What we normally call the petals are actually specialized leaves. The flower is just the center part. And you know I like the sun shining thru leaves and such. This was taken in Castle Craigs State Park south of the town of Dunsmuir. Just can't get enough of those Dogwoods One of the reasons I was out photographing was to look for wildflowers and I found  quite a few. I decided to limit myself when posting. The leaf is about the size of a dime. Love my macro lens. I'm guessing this is some type of iceplant but couldn't find the name anywhere. If you know it please let me know. Love that macro lens, did I say that already. Spring is a ti...

The Dogwoods were near the end of full bloom in Yosemite Valley. But I still got some great photos. Which one to post, which one? This one ? Or...... This one? Go, See, Enjoy. PS: The Dogwoods at the higher elevations are just beginning to bloom. Dave

Yosemite is now in full bloom with Dogwoods.   I was lucky that there was still dew on them when I photographed these. They don't last long so get up there as soon as you can.  Go, See, Enjoy Dave