Bloody Sunrise at Yosemite Valley

Thanks to the accurate prediction of Sunrise-Sunset Forecasts Photographic Service by ccnbbc@WeChat, we captured this dramatic scene in Yosemite valley in the morning of November 6, 2021.

As a pre-caution to avoid Covid-19 exposure, we did not go to the now-always-crowded Tunnel View. Moreover, we always feel that Tunnel View does not provide a balanced composition for El Capitan and Half Dome since these two iconic landscape features are separated too far away from each other. In this view, these two giant rocks are much closer. One drawback of this composition is that Bridalveil Fall is blocked by the mountain on the right side of the composition. However, since it was the dry season, Bridalveil Fall was short of water anyway.

National Park Service was conducting controlled fire to reduce the amount of dry plants on the valley floor, a major source of fuel to wild fires across California during the past years. The fire created a thin layer of slightly blueish smoke near the entrance of the valley, adding to the atmosphere that photographers can only dream to have.

China Travel Photos by Xpan and Fujifilm Provia 100f Slide Film

Almost a decade ago, we travelled to China to visit our relatives. On that trip, we carried a Hasselblad Xpan camera and several rolls of color slide films. After coming back to the States, we stored the exposed films into the freezer, waiting for an appropriate moment to develop them. The waiting turned out to be near ten years long. Finally, thanks to www.needfilmdeveloped.com, we got these rolls of color slide films developed at an affordable cost. It brought back joys to us with the precious memory of that trip! And the color rendition of Fujifilm Provia 100F film is simply stunning.