Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The Creative Exchange: Yosemite

I just got introduced to "The Creative Exchange" through a friend, and decided it was timely to participate.  I like the theme, which is "your camera in one hand, your heart in the other."  Honestly, I don't think the two ever part ways when I take pictures, but obviously some photos have more personal meaning than others.

The 21st of this month marked five years since my dad passed away.  He had Alzheimer's, but thankfully what took him before being fully ravaged by that disease was a sudden heart attack - he was gone in an instant after returning from a walk with my mom in his beloved outdoors.

The pictures I am sharing were taken just this last Thanksgiving in Yosemite, a place very dear to my dad's heart from boyhood until he passed.  He was blessed to live nearby at the end of his life, and would go on weekly hikes with his "buddy Tom".  Alzheimer's took a lot from him, but never his love of Yosemite and being outdoors.  We just had a family reunion at my mom's at Thanksgiving, and one afternoon took a beautiful drive through Yosemite.  I will share a few of the images I captured that afternoon as sun and clouds shifted and played games with the incredible, ever-changing landscape where rain and snow had fallen just hours earlier....

I love and miss you, dad!


the road down into Yosemite valley

Bridal Veil Falls

fog shrouding the tops of granite walls

the sun breaking through and lighting up my dad's favorite tree to photograph

fall and the falls

the sun was shining on the valley floor, lighting up the fall colors while winter was presiding at the top

Half Dome was covered with clouds almost the whole trip, but suddenly the clouds cleared and late afternoon sun lit it up in spectacular fashion

low clouds started to gather again as we were leaving

as the sun was going down and it got cooler, mist began to rise on the meadow

a shot through the windshield of the rising mist

our last look back as we left, with mist rising from the meadow and the setting sun kissing the snowy peak good night...






14 comments:

  1. What a beautiful tribute to your Dad Pam, and your photograph are simply beautiful.

    My Mom had Alzheimer's, as did both my Grandparents, so I know how horrible this is. I know this may sound awful, but my Mom lived with it for almost 18 years. Ten of those years, she did not "know" me nor anyone else and I would have given most anything if God would have just taken her quickly.

    Thank you so very much for sharing with us this week at The Creative Exchange.

    Have a wonderful evening!

    lisa.

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  2. Your images were just beautiful! I actually work about an hour from Yosemite. It is truly a magnificent place!

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  3. Pam every one of those photos is stunningly beautiful! How wonderful to hear of your fathers love for this gorgeous place. Perhaps some of his spirit is hovering above the mists of this beautiful space. Glad to see you here at the Creative Exchange! It is a great place to meet every Monday!

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  4. See, you too have a new face on your website! Welcome to both of us!

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  5. Beautiful place and photos, too.

    Regards and best wishes

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  6. I just came from a post that brought tears to my eyes, then I read this one & more tears... but, I love to read what someone has written w/ such love about a loved one!

    My grandmother passed away from Alzheimer's & I miss her (and my grandpa) soooo much!

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  7. Pam... OH MY... these are gorgeous! WoW!

    And I appreciated hearing a little about your dad and things that he loved. I, too, know about missing one's dad no matter how much time passes. My dad moved to heaven in 2003 close to Christmas... it's nice to remember such wonderful memories of those we love!

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  8. Thanks so much for the follow... I'm your latest follower, now, too! =)

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  9. Such beautiful pictures! And I'm sorry to hear about your dad - it's tough. I just went through the first anniversary of my mother's death and can fully relate.

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    1. thank you....i am so sorry for the loss of your mom. that first year is especially hard. hugs!

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  10. Such a stunning location and your photos of it are wonderful. I can see why it was close to your Dad's heart too.

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  11. A beautiful and breathtaking way to honor your dad. Wow.

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Thank you so much for taking time to visit...I love hearing from you!

Pam