Yosemite and More

 Recently went to the Moaning Caverns and then to Big Trees State Park. It was a very good day. At Big Trees I didn't focus on the trees as you'll see. But first the Moaning Caverns (the 4th cave/caverns I've  been to recently, not a complaint) There were lots of interesting formations in the Caverns, here are just a few. Can you see the shark rising from the water??!! Now for the Big Trees, Fall in the Sierras Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Safe and Photograph. Dave

 Went up to the Rogge Estate just outside of Marisposa in the Sierra Foothills  at the invitation from Wolfgang. I decided early on to shoot mostly in  Black and White, though there are a few color photos here. First thing you notice is the view. It's magnificent. This is, of course, darker to show the layers better I wondered why this branch grew the way it did. The woodpeckers used this dead branch to store a little food. This toad stool growing on the side of a tree caught my eye. This little guy might have to take a sharp turn if it plans on growing very big. Backlit wild oats against a dark background are always a good shot. Wolfgang is doing a lot of work around the place. The gears on this cement mixer at sunset caught my eye. Wolfgangs loyal companions Teddy and Wolfie, both 15 years old, were a  little shy about posing. Last but not least is just after the sun set. Thanks Wolfgang! Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Safe and Photograph Dave

Some friends and I took a trip in separate vehicles to the Sierra's outside Fresno above the Bass Lake Area, 6000+ feet. It was a great trip, not only for the wildflowers but especially for the company of some great photographers.  You'll have to forgive me if some of the names I've used are not exactly correct. If you find an error please let me know in the comments. Comments are always welcome. Lupine is pretty common in the Sierra's, I liked this one because of the colors and the granite background. There are 70 species of Lupine in the Sierra Nevada. You don't always have to have a pretty flower to have an interesting subject. This one is called Miners Lettuce, it doesn't look like lettuce to me but that's what the book said. In a week or so it will have some small flowers. There are seventeen butterflies listed in my Sierra Nevada guide book that are similar in color to this one. So I just named it ...

I decided to take a solo trip into the Sierra Foothills, namely to the small town of Raymond about 25 miles from my house on a two lane road. The road offered a wide variety of surfaces from smooth pavement to areas that are in dire need of some TLC. My goal was to see if the wildflowers were blooming. There wasn't a wide variety but in many areas the hills were covered. Nothing really happened until a little before Raymond. This next one was taken just little way down the road. Popcorn flowers are pretty small so you can see it takes a lot of them  to fill a hillside. Down the road were a couple of old trailers. One of the flowers I was looking for were Fiddlenecks. At the beginning there weren't very many, then they showed up. Popcorn flowers and Fiddlenecks, oh yeah, a tree branch along  Ben Hur Road Here the Fiddlenecks have a friend. Last but not least. Stay safe a...