Final Light, Sentinel Dome, Yosemite

Posted by Gary Hart (California, United States) on 22 May 2009 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

This afternoon I'm off to Yosemite with a small group--tonight it'll be sunset atop Sentinel Dome, then we'll hang out and shoot star trails before hiking back in the dark. Tomorrow morning it's up at four (!) to photograph a crescent moon rising above Half Dome in the pre-dawn sky.

Today's image I took a couple of years ago from Sentinel Dome. Sentinel Dome may just be my favorite place to photograph in Yosemite. It's a short (one mile), fairly easy hike that I can do in my sleep (and probably have). From the top of Sentinel Dome you get a 360 degree view that includes El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome (among many others).

At 8,000 feet, Sentinel Dome's elevation above the surrounding terrain and relatively easy access make it one of Yosemite's best sunrise locations. Unlike Yosemite Valley, which doesn't get direct morning light until well after sunrise, Sentinel Dome gets rich, warm extremely low angle light. Of course it's also a great place for sunset, for all the same reasons.

Another feature I love about Sentinel Dome is the small pools that form after a rain. In today's image an afternoon thunderstorm had filled the pools and departed shortly before my arrival. I positioned myself behind the pools and found this tree to line up with the setting sun. Must to my good fortune, a thick haze in the San Joaquin valley to the west gave the sun and surrounding sky an orange hue.

* My book of images, "The Undiscovered Country," is now available at Barnes & Noble

* Become a fan of my Facebook page

Thank you for visiting. This is an educational blog--even if I don't respond, your comments are always read and appreciated, and I try to answer every question and address specific comments.
- Upcoming workshops: Death Valley Winter and Yosemite Horsetail Fall and Winter Scenes
- To learn about my workshops, visit my Photograph California page
- To view more of my images, visit my Eloquent Images site

Listed on Photoblogs.org