Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Recent high temperatures at home provided an ideal opportunity to visit Yosemite’s high country during the first weekend that Tioga Pass was accessible. High cloud cover caused by volatile weather provided just the right amount of diffuseness to highlight the rich colors and textures of an ancient Western Juniper on the granite slopes of Olmsted Point.
Specific Feedback
Balance, composition
Technical Details
ISO 100, 24mm, f/14, 1/25 second. I believe I darkened the exposure in camera by a stop to bring out some more drama in the shadows and textures.
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That’s a wonderful old tree. The Junipers and Lodgepole Pine in the area make wonderful subjects. I’ve been to Olmstead many times. Is this tree above the road or below?
The color and textures in your image come across nicely. I would like to see more of the tree, but I can see that the sky would’ve complicated things in that regard.
Looks like a thunderstorm was brewing!
-P
Thought I would add a link about a Juniper in Tuolumne County known as the Bennett Juniper. It is reputed to be the largest Juniper in the US and is estimated at approximately 3000 years old. I have seen it a couple of times and it really is a stunning tree.
The Bennett Juniper
-p
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Preston, thank you for sharing that article! I love the gnarly textures of these old trees and the way they sometimes will grow right around a boulder. This is above the road, and a different take of a tree I’ve photographed a few times, and you’re right, there was indeed a distant storm brewing!
Beth: I LOVE old trees like this and am always on the lookout around treelines in the mountains. The colors in the trunk and exposed roots are marvelous as is the surrounding terrain. One can easily imagine how it has faced storms over perhaps many centuries and has prevailed. Great find and a superb capture. >=))>
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Very nice Beth. I was going to say, in response to the comment by @Preston_Birdwell , it has to be the Juniper that is north, uphill side, of the the Olmstead Parking area. I always go up there and see this tree every time. Its been a couple of years for me, but nice to see it is still there.
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@Bill_Fach that was exactly what I was thinking! How many years or even centuries these beautiful old trees have witnessed 
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@Youssef_Ismail isn’t it great to find favorite subjects and photograph them over and over? You are exactly right about it’s location and was also a favorite astro subject of mine (back when I photographed more astro)
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Beth, the warm browns in the trunk of this old Juniper stand out well against the rest of the view full of cool tones. You’re choice of framing works well.
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I love this image. I think that’s partly due to fond memories of scrambling around that area looking for compositions. I used to love looking at how the roots would wrap themselves around these enormous boulders.
