Prismata's photostream

Introducing Sagan Renee.

Woke to some unexpectedly nice weather on my birthday. Spent the afternoon enjoying it at Fort Ord Dunes.

Weather's been fantastic the past few weeks with many great sunsets. Finally made it out Saturday night to capture one of those spectacular Autumn sunsets over Santa Cruz, CA.

The first picture with my new Nikkor 35mm f1.8.

Spent a few days earlier this month camping in Yosemite. Made it out for a night shoot on the only night we didn't get weather and grabbed this shot while the temperature hovered around 20 degrees F. The moon was up but wasn't yet visible from the valley when I took this. As bright as the image looks, it was nearly pitch black to my naked eye due to large banks of clouds to the east blocking much of the moon's light.

To me, Yosemite is sacred ground. And this valley in winter or early spring before the crowds arrive is for me the inner sanctum of this sanctuary. Everywhere you look in this park, you see evidence of the most dramatic geological changes. I find it humbling and comforting to try to locate my small self in this truly monumental place, where the age of the Earth and the power of the natural forces that have shaped the world we inherited are revealed. And somehow I never knew until this week that it was President Abraham Lincoln, who, in the midst of the Civil War, signed legislation to preserve Yosemite Valley! In addition to being the best US President in my opinion, I guess I'll have to consider him as a conservationist ahead of his times, too!

This is a single 10-minute exposure at ISO 100. I don't have much experience with night photography. I'm happy with this, overall, except I wish I'd have noticed the placement of the tall tree that is partially obscuring the waterfall and poorly framed against the cliff's face.

Comments or suggestions - especially from people with more experience than I in night photography would be much appreciated!