The Base of Illilouette Falls

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Number: 09-3
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Date: July 2009
Time of Day: Afternoon

Story: The memories of a trip to the base of Illilouette Falls in 1977 have remained all these years. I have made three more trips to the falls in the last few years. First was a wonderful journey to the top where I made a spectacular image. In 2009, I returned to the base. It is a tricky, wet, and hard day-hike during high water in early summer. The actual amphitheater at the base of the Falls is magic. No trails, no people, just you and the powerful waterfall just steps away. This image combines two photographs. I have seldom used this technique in Photoshop, but in this case, my 4x5 film camera is unable to record the scene that our eyes can see. The difference between the shadowed base of the Falls was 8 stops! I made one exposure for the sky and Half Dome, and another for Illilouette Falls.