Warderfarhlls

Over a barrel in terms of accommodation close to the park and it's safe to say the place is a wee bit more expensive than your average Motel6, though personally I recommend splashing out a little as El Portal offers such a relaxed and sublime setting, that it's hard to fault. Up early to catch the morning sun as it glances from rock surfaces, the kinds that I wonder appear anywhere else on the planet, with every piece of camera equipment at our disposal and it gives me an idea of what Mr A. Adams must have felt like each morning as he set off. A sense of anticipation washes over me as I look up stunned at the stony giants flanking me either side of this impressively designed road. It's just twenty dollars for a 7-day pass, so stick it in P, pay and put it back into D.

Around half an hour to reach the centre part and expect your mobile to again receive signal. The tiny town here offers most services (even a post office if you so wish), and a free circumnavigating shuttle bus; should your feet tire of trapesing. It's easy to see the attraction of the place, why Rooselvelt proclaimed it the first national park and how exciting it must have felt to have camped out all night for that one shot of the rising sun. Several "warderfarhlls" await your cheesy shot in front of and along with the cycling (or running track), to each point of interest it's plain sailing.


So back to the photography and some interesting experiments with filters, exposures, White balance and image post-processing (all internal), and the results are - in my humble opinion - impressive. I pine for something with a large-format sensor, an APO prime, something to capture what my eye resolves and yet strangely it seems the landscape somehow prefers shades of grey; black and White is far more flattering.

A brief 12k figure of eight around the bus route and it's thirsty work in such bright dry conditions: There's room for a lapped marathon here and all the sub-grades I'm sure. Rent a bike if you prefer though the cost is positively ludicrous when compared to vehicle rental.



Overall a place of incredible natural beauty, where the forces of nature over millions of years have created an area so divine, it's an absolute must on any budding photographers wish-list. To be honest though and as much as I admire Ansel's work; it's hard to take a bad shot here. Visit and decide for yourself; it may be fair to say that like most deceased artists, he's a little overrated.