Back from Yosemite

[ehughes]

Went up to Yosemite Yesterday, even with half of the Valley blocked off, it's still one of those places I never get tired of.

Hope everyone has a great Holiday!
Ed

http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/13119706-M.jpg

http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/13120172-M.jpg

http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/13120173-M.jpg

[davev]

Went up to Yosemite Yesterday, even with half of the Valley blocked off, it's still one of those places I never get tired of.

Hope everyone has a great Holiday!
Ed
Great pics Ed. I've never been to Yosemite, I see I need to one of these days.

dave.

[tmlphoto]

Fantastic set.

[dkapp]

Great pics. I've never been there, and plan on going soon. Did you need a 4x4 to get there? I just have a small Mazda & I've been told by others, that won't cut it this time of year.

Thanks for sharing.
Dave

[ehughes]

Great pics. I've never been there, and plan on going soon. Did you need a 4x4 to get there? I just have a small Mazda & I've been told by others, that won't cut it this time of year.

Thanks for sharing.
Dave
I took the family up in our mini-van :D

Roads are clear for the moment

[ehughes]

Great pics Ed. I've never been to Yosemite, I see I need to one of these days.

dave.
It's worth the trip, just take plenty of memory cards. And don't go in the middle of summer, the crowds are just too much to deal with sometimes.

[davev]

It's worth the trip, just take plenty of memory cards. And don't go in the middle of summer, the crowds are just too much to deal with sometimes.
Thanks for the tip. How are the crowds around late Apirl or early May?

dave.

[ehughes]

Thanks for the tip. How are the crowds around late Apirl or early May?

dave.
Not too bad, By the end of May or early June the crowds start packing in, depends a lot on the weather.

[fish]

I love that first shot of the coyote leaping. What's the story behind that shot? Where were you, what was he pouncing on, what equipt, etc? :ear

[pathfinder]

I love that first shot of the coyote leaping. What's the story behind that shot? Where were you, what was he pouncing on, what equipt, etc? :ear


The leaping coyote is great! Good lighting of an action shot - good capture. How long did you have to work for that shot?

[ehughes]

I love that first shot of the coyote leaping. What's the story behind that shot? Where were you, what was he pouncing on, what equipt, etc? :ear
We were in Yosemite Valley in the meadow near Yosemite Chapel, I saw him out in the field, jumped out of the car and got as close as I could get, sat down in the snow and mud and waited. I'm not sure what he was pouncing on, it dodn't look like he ever got anything. I only waited for about a half hour for him to move in and then he started hunting, and I got this shot. I tried to stay as close as possible for about the next hour or so, but didn't have as much luck with him later.

I was using a Canon 1D MKII with the 100-400L lens.

[dkapp]

I took the family up in our mini-van :D

Roads are clear for the moment

Thanks for the info. I'm looking at my schedule now :)

Dave

[ian408]

The pouncing coyote is a great shot! Nice exposure and composition.

The coyote is probably hunting mice.

Yosemite in winter is a great experience. If you x-c ski or snowshoe, you can
get to Glacier Point (very long day by ski). Or snowshoe out to Dewy Point.
The views of the valley are spectacular from Dewy. A little more effort and
you can get to the top of Sentinel Dome which provides some great views
as well.

The more adventerous can camp along Glacier Point Road. Almost
anywhere I believe (can't do that in summer).

As others have mentioned, it's pretty quiet in the winter. The crowds are
gone and getting on the bus is pretty easy--the valley has a shuttle bus that
takes you almost everywhere for free.

If you do go, you won't need 4wd but you should carry chains.

[cmr164]

We were in Yosemite Valley in the meadow near Yosemite Chapel, I saw him out in the field, jumped out of the car and got as close as I could get, sat down in the snow and mud and waited. I'm not sure what he was pouncing on, it dodn't look like he ever got anything. I only waited for about a half hour for him to move in and then he started hunting, and I got this shot. I tried to stay as close as possible for about the next hour or so, but didn't have as much luck with him later.

I was using a Canon 1D MKII with the 100-400L lens.
Dedication and hard work. When I first saw that shot, I was jealous. Not of the shot but because I recognised the drive and work that went into it. I have to teach myself patience.

[Harryb]

Love that first shot. :thumb

Harry

[Dee]

While visiting friends we went to Sequoia and saw a bear! But what a great shot of a coyote. Details?

[ehughes]

Love that first shot. :thumb

Harry
Thanks Harry

[ehughes]

While visiting friends we went to Sequoia and saw a bear! But what a great shot of a coyote. Details?
I have yet to get a picture of a Bear in the wild, where in Sequoia did you spot the bear?

[DavidTO]

http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/13120172-S.jpg

I, too, love the pouncing shot. Love your story of patience and waiting for the right moment.

But I want to mention this shot. I really like how it shows off the coloring of the coyote and the coloring of his environment. Very cool the way his feet are in the snow and his body almost blends into the background. I could see that shot in Ranger Rick.

[Dee]

I have yet to get a picture of a Bear in the wild, where in Sequoia did you spot the bear?

We were right on the main road heading up. Saw a bunch of deer near a pullout so stopped to photograph them. On the other side of the road the bear was traveling from the roadway up the switchback to the road. The bear was quicker than me, I didn't get a shot off.

[Nee7x7]

Ed, I also really enjoyed your coyote photos. I'm looking forward to meeting you this coming Spring in Yosemite at the dgrin group outting. Would be great if your coyote is still hanging around there when we arrive~ BTW, I think we might be *almost* neighbors, if you live only a couple hours away from Yosemite! My hubby and I live just east of Visalia off Hwy 198.

Here's a snap I took of the bear we saw when Dee and her family were visiting us! Not a great photo...he was only a few feet away and I was shooting through and open window. I got a little nervous, so the photo is a wee bit blurred, LOL! After Dee's visit, I saw bears every time I went up to Sequoia, which was surprising because I'd never seen any at all before this! We even saw a momma bear and her two cubs at Glacier Point on a day trip to Yosemite this past August! It was awesome, but a little scary because several people were getting far too close to the bears...as in only a matter of feet away (and this was with kids and toddlers beside them!).

Anyhow, Springtime is when they come out with their babies, so we might all get lucky this coming trip! But I'm still hoping for that coyote~ :)

[ehughes]

Ed, I also really enjoyed your coyote photos. I'm looking forward to meeting you this coming Spring in Yosemite at the dgrin group outting. Would be great if your coyote is still hanging around there when we arrive~ BTW, I think we might be *almost* neighbors, if you live only a couple hours away from Yosemite! My hubby and I live just east of Visalia off Hwy 198.

Here's a snap I took of the bear we saw when Dee and her family were visiting us! Not a great photo...he was only a few feet away and I was shooting through and open window. I got a little nervous, so the photo is a wee bit blurred, LOL! After Dee's visit, I saw bears every time I went up to Sequoia, which was surprising because I'd never seen any at all before this! We even saw a momma bear and her two cubs at Glacier Point on a day trip to Yosemite this past August! It was awesome, but a little scary because several people were getting far too close to the bears...as in only a matter of feet away (and this was with kids and toddlers beside them!).

Anyhow, Springtime is when they come out with their babies, so we might all get lucky this coming trip! But I'm still hoping for that coyote~ :)
Nice Bear, and yes I too have seen people lead their children right up to a wild animal acting like it's a pet. Deer are the worst, people see those big brown eyes and think it's a big housecat or something. I do have to admit, that I sometimes get a bit close to the Coyotes, but my wife and daughter are safe in the car. A few of the Coyotes up there are so used to people that they are easy to approach if you take it nice and easy.

We are pretty close to neighbors, I'm in Fresno. I have seen Coyotes in Yosemite until about June so we may get lucky. In late Jan or early Feb the coyotes are out looking for some companionship and you can hear them howling, sometimes you even get to see them.

This was taken last Feb, the only time I've ever seen one howling.
http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/13323483-M.jpg