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Golden Moment

© Francis Cailles

Golden Moment

Uploaded: December 19, 2004

Description

Yosemite Valley, CA. This was shot after a snowstorm had just passed over Yosemite Valley. When I first got here, I can barely see El Capitan's glow through the thick fog/clouds that fully engulfed the granite monolith, so I was a bit disappointed. Hoping for the best, I proceeded anyway to compose a shot using the perfectly still Merced River and a partially submerged tree branch covered in fresh snow as my foreground elements. I metered for the snow, locked my camera in place, and waited. I paced about to keep warm, keeping an eye on El Capitan...after what seemed like an eternity, the fog/clouds engulfing El Capitan cleared revealing the most beautiful light I have ever seen. I managed to fire a couple or so shots, and within what seemed like a few seconds (could be a lot longer, but time sure flew!), El Capitan was engulfed once more. I checked my camera's LCD to see what I got, and I smiled to myself...how lucky can one man get?



Comments

Marcie A. Fowler December 19, 2004

Absolutely gorgerous. The colros are fantastic and the clarity is right on. #197754

ashley nicholas level-classic December 19, 2004

Another beautie Francis, nice and clear. #986870

Leesa White December 19, 2004

This is beautiful!! Your gallery is also beautiful Francis! #986942

Costas Partassides December 21, 2004

wow :) #989533

Beverley Lu Steeves December 21, 2004

This is simply gorgeous Francis!! #989583

Paula Showen December 21, 2004

Gorgeous!!! #990792

Kelly Heaton January 18, 2005

Wonderful Capture! Congratulations! #1042036

Joannie Bertucci level-classic January 18, 2005

Hi Francis and congratulations on Finalist, but I'm not a bit surprised! Looks like Dr. D was a fine inspiration on this one :-) #1045286

Francis Cailles January 18, 2005

Wow! A Finalist..What a pleasant surprise!

Thanks all for the wonderful comments. Very much appreciated!

Thanks Joannie. You make me smile! :-) #1045751

Paula Showen January 18, 2005

Gorgeous! Congratulations! #1046014

Ed Heaton January 18, 2005

Outstanding image Francis,
Congratulations on your finalist :-) #1046043

Jennifer Rennison January 18, 2005

Gorgeous, Francis!! Congratulations on your finalist! #1046144

Brenda W. LaFleur level-deluxe January 19, 2005

This is WooHoo quality, Frances :)

Congrats!! #1049387

Sherrye Nozaki January 20, 2005

This is absolutely spectacular. It should be on the front cover of a magazine.

Aloha,
Sherrye Nozaki #1049592

Judy S. Fung January 20, 2005

Congrats on your first place win, Francis! #1049647

Jordi Delgado January 20, 2005

AMAZING SHOT, AMAZING WIN, FRANCIS!!!

CONGRATS!!!

:-)) #1049655

Paul C. Gazzanigo January 20, 2005

Congratulations! #1049706

William C. Raco level-classic January 20, 2005

Congratulations, Francis!
What a beautiful photo.

bill #1049799

Cathy Gregor January 20, 2005

A gorgeous scene, Francis! Congratulations!
-cathy #1049819

Francis Cailles January 20, 2005

Thanks all for the wonderful comments! This is unbelievable! Woo-hoo!! #1050220

Wendy Stevenson January 20, 2005

Congratulations Francis on this stunningly beautiful, FIRST PLACE win!!!! #1050284

Judith G. Secco January 20, 2005

Wonderful! congratulations to you. #1050313

Darren K. Fisher January 20, 2005

Man oh man. No surprise here well yea it is, I was thinking grand prize. You and Donna sure did rack up some awesome images from this trip and this one is just icing on the cake. A big congrats to you. Now the two of you Donna and yourself are two people I really need to catch up with some time and shoot with, that is on my wish list. OKAY? #1050528

Lisa Deaton January 20, 2005

Simply Beautiful!!! Congrats on your win!!! #1050745

Jill Flynn January 20, 2005

Congratulations on your First Place win Francis. Beautiful and spectacular photograph! #1050792

Audrea Telkamp January 20, 2005

Congratulations Francis!! What gorgeous light!! #1050905

Brenda W. LaFleur level-deluxe January 20, 2005

Yep, a big First Place Win Woo Hoo!! Way to go Frances. A most deserving recognition. #1050907

Kay Beausoleil January 20, 2005

Congratulations on your First Prize, Francis -- El Capitan looks lit from within! #1050952

Kathleen R. Struckle January 20, 2005

Congrats on your win Francis!! #1051373

Patrick Campbell January 20, 2005

Congrats Francis on your win! A gorgeous Yosemite landscape! #1051506

Jennifer Rennison January 20, 2005

Congratulations, Francis, on your beautiful first place win!! #1052095

Debra Booth January 20, 2005

Congratulations!! #1052124

Donna La Mattino Pagakis January 20, 2005

Wow, this is amazing!! The lighting is perfect. Very well deserved!!! #1052239

Nemil B. Chabebe January 20, 2005

This is one beautiful picture. The composition, light and balance are perfect. #1052434

Kip T. Berger January 20, 2005

Congratulations on your win Francis for this beautiful scene! #1052613

Susana Matos January 21, 2005

wonderful photo! Congratulations!!
Cheers from Portugal, Su #1054441

Kristi A. Howson January 21, 2005

Wonderful capture and presentation of this beautiful place...love this composition. Congratulations Francis!!!!! #1054515

Eric Highfield level-classic January 22, 2005

Congratulations of your fantastic win, Francis! I've enjoyed the TimeCatcher website very much. You and the team do excellent work, and this is a great addition to the collection! Well done! #1057258

Leonard Pierce January 23, 2005

Congratulations on your First Place win Francis!!! #1058834

Francis Cailles January 23, 2005

Thanks all for looking and commenting. Very much appreciated! #1059010

ricky A. riddle January 24, 2005

Amazing Photo Francis Congrats. #1061090

Nancy Grace Chen January 31, 2005

Lovely lighting and scene. A late congrats to you on your first place winner!!

Nancy #1075598

Lori Carlson February 21, 2005

Wow Francis!! When I just went back to the home page and this photo appeared I gasped!! True sign of a breath taking photo,huh!? :0)
Congratulations!! It's gorgeous.
#1122401

William Neill March 10, 2005

Congrats Francis. As the saying goes, "there is only one thing wrong with this photo. Its not mine!"

Keep up the good work!

William Neill #1162199

Keith L. Clayton July 11, 2005

Absolutely awesome! #1581861

Wanda-Lynn Searles level-classic November 01, 2007

WOW! What an awesome photo and colors!
Just amazing!!
Congratulations on your First Place win Francis! #5013002

Francis Cailles March 07, 2009

Devil's Elbow area, Yosemite Valley, CA. This was shot after a snowstorm had just passed over Yosemite Valley. When I first got here, I can barely see El Capitan's glow through the thick fog/clouds that fully engulfed the granite monolith, so I was a bit disappointed. Hoping for the best, I proceeded anyway to compose a shot using the perfectly still Merced River and a partially submerged tree branch covered in fresh snow as my foreground elements. I metered for the snow, locked my camera in place, and waited. I paced about to keep warm, keeping an eye on El Capitan...after what seemed like an eternity, the fog/clouds engulfing El Capitan cleared revealing the most beautiful light I have ever seen. I managed to fire a couple or so shots, and within what seemed to be a few seconds (could be a lot longer, but time sure flew!), El Capitan was engulfed once more. I checked my camera's LCD to see what I got, and I smiled to myself...how lucky can one man get? #7255235

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