With the goal of capturing Yosemite in a blanket of fresh snow, I was closely monitoring the weather forecast. When I saw the prediction of a big storm starting on Sunday, I packed my gear and drove up to the park. I arrived in Yosemite on Sunday evening in the rain. It quickly changed to snow which then became a full-fledged blizzard. There was no let up on Monday, and it continued to snow all day. By Monday afternoon, the rangers closed the Park - no one was allowed in and no one was allowed out and I was one of the few photographers there! With the blizzard still underway and poor visibility, I spent Tuesday morning capturing intimate detail shots. To protect myself and my camera from the huge snow bombs falling from the tree limbs overhead, I had to shoot under my large golf umbrella. Later I found out that no one was meant to be outside due to the danger of the snow build up in the trees.
After taking a break to warm up, I headed back out in the elements in the early afternoon. The quiet in the pristine snow was magical. The storm started to clear, and I knew there was going to be a special scene in Cooks Meadow, so I headed there. On a normal day, this stretch of road would be packed with cars, today for the half mile walk from Yosemite falls to the meadow, there was not a car in sight.
I can’t describe my excitement as I stood there with clouds swirling around Half Dome, with the oak tree in perfect alignment underneath, and the evergreens flocked with snow along the edges. I knew this was going to be a truly unique and special photograph. As the sun broke through, illuminating the oak tree and creating a shadow in the foreground, the clouds and fog perfectly framed Half Dome. As a photographer, I’ve only had a handful of experiences that can compare to this – the image that I captured is a culmination of many years of studying Yosemite Valley, the weather and my craft.
To pay homage to Ansel Adams, I have chosen to print the image in B&W and to show off the quality and detail of the PhaseOne IQ3, 100 megapixel camera I use, I’ve gone big: creating a 70 by 40 inch print. When you view this print, you feel like you are there, immersed in a winter wonderland in the presence of the majestical spirit of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome.
Jeannine Henebry