Yosemite in early September

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View from Interstate 120 as you approach Yosemite Valley.                                         70-200mm, f/8.0 @ 1/320. ISO 100
We loaded up the car with our tent and the rest of our camping gear and headed off to another 'must see' USA destination. It's a very scenic drive there from Sonoma County and the weather was truly glorious.
                                                                                                                                                         24-70mm, f/6.3 @ 1/50. ISO 100
We had a spot reserved at the Lower Pines campsite, so if you decide to go and camp there too, this could be your view in the mornings if you stay at space number 44. It was a great spot and at nights we could watch the dome at the top of the mountain become illuminated with the last of the sun's rays as it set.
                                                                                                                                                      70-200mm, f/5.0 @ 1/800. ISO 400
One evening we had wandered across to the river bank at the camp and I notice how the sunset was illuminating the top of the famous Half Dome. I had attached my 70 - 200 mm lens to my camera and didn't have time to go back to our tent and change it for something wider. So to get the shot below, I took 15 separate exposures and then stitched them together in Photoshop.
15 exposures stitched together in Photoshop                                                                        70-200mm, f/7.1 @ 1/40. ISO 400
Even though it was the end of Summer and expected to be quite dry, the fact that California is experiencing a serious drought has made the area even drier than you might expect. I took the picture below standing in what is normally a stream running down from the mountains.
                                                                                                                                                      24-70mm, f/8.0 @ 1/500. ISO 100
And in this next one look how dusty Mirror Lake has become.
                                                                                                                                                        24-70mm, f/8.0 @ 1/500. ISO 100
Wildlife is not too timid since they are used to not being threatened by humans          24-70mm, f/3.5 @ 1/25. ISO 100
Stoneman Meadow                                                                                                                     24-70mm, f/8.0 @ 1/160. ISO 400
Dynamic rainbow formed at the base of  Vernal Fall                                                              24-70mm, f/3.5 @ 1/25. ISO 100
We hiked to the top of Vernal Fall
People cooling off at the bottom of Vernal fall                                                                     24-70mm, f/7.1 @ 1/250. ISO 400
Double rainbow forming this time                                                                                      24-70mm, f/7.1 @ 1/250. ISO 400
The ground squirrels have become fearless and used to visitors feeding them which is probably not a good thing. If you have food keep an eye on it. If you put your backpack down anywhere and they smell food in it they will be all over it in seconds trying to claw their way to the goodies!
                                                                                                                                                             24-70mm, f/4 @ 1/80. ISO 400
Starry night sky                                                                                                                               24-70mm, f/5 @ 30sec. ISO 800
Quick check around the campsite with a lamp before bed                                                     24-70mm, f/5 @ 30sec. ISO 800
Park Ranger Joel Simmons                                                                                                            24-70mm, f/8 @ 1/10. ISO 100
Next to Mirror Lake and up some stone steps is an area filled with balanced stones. I built one too before we left.

                                                                                                                                                         24-70mm, f/8 @ 1/60. ISO 100 
And another starry night
                                                                                                                                                           24-70mm, f/5 @ 30sec. ISO 800

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