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For many first time tourists to Yosemite Valley, their first view of the valley is much like that of the Maiposa Battalion, who in 1851 were the first non-natives to see and publicize the existence of these wonders. Tourists have visited the valley in ever increasing numbers ever since.
Visitors entering Yosemite National Park on Highway 41 have quite a drive from the south entrance gate. The winding road goes for 27 miles and after 45 minutes of driving you come around a broad corner under Turtleback Dome and get your first view of El Capitan and Half Dome just before you plunge into a long tunnel. As you approach the end of this tunnel slow down. At the exit you’ll want to put to the left or right into the parking lots and walk to the railing to absorb this spectacular view. |
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A gorgeous day and a spectacular view. From this point in southern Arizona one can see well into Mexico, including a long stretch of the Border Fence. |
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The open pit at the top of the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, South Dakota beautifully exposes a series of Tertiary rhyolite dikes that were the focus of the hydrothermal system that formed this rich gold deposit. The open pit is no longer active, but it is a great opportunity for geologists to get a glimpse into the uppermost crust of the Earth.
Note that when viewing this in Google Earth, I have placed it in a position that corresponds with the shooting location as seen in the current satellite imagery. Unfortunately, the digital elevation model and the satellite imagery are not well registered at this time, so although I took this GigaPan at the edge of the open pit, it appears to be quite a distance from the edge when one compares it with the topography in Google Earth. |
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Every Columbus Day weekend, my mother’s side of our family congregates in Quebec City for Canadian Thanksgiving. My extended family also owns camp property in a fantastic town, Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval, just twenty minutes outside of the city. Adjacent to their land sits la Rivière Richelieu, a tributary to Rivière Montmorency (just a couple hundred meters downstream). When I bought the GigaPan, I had this very spot in mind and I think the shot came out fantastic. I created a Photosynth here last year (http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=dd8284a5-00c2-4db6-aa1b-50d2c06596a0) but the Gigapan came out even better. Photos taken October 11, 2009. About me: http://www.michaelhussey.com |
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The lighting conditions were not optimal, which is why the sky is so washed out. The good news is that they got better after this... |
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Lobby of the Father Regis Ryan Cultural Arts Center located in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania |
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Queen Creek Canyon is one of the dramatic vistas on the trail that loops through this amazing collection of desert plants. Along Queen Creek, the cottonwood trees have sprouted their brilliant green spring foliage. The Picket Post House crowns the top of the rocks at the left. This was the mansion built by Col. Boyce Thompson in 1928 and is now being managed by Arizona State Parks. Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a non-profit organization founded in 1924 by businessman and philanthropist, William Boyce Thompson. |
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Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Monument, photographed 7_13_09, 8:16am-9:00am. |
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Big Cottonwood canyon at the "remnants of an Ancient Sea" sign just below storm mountain. The big wall in the right side of the image has a couple of awesome multipitch climbs on it including the classic "Outside Corner"
I was experimenting with how much overlap you really needed in the field of view... guess I found out it is more than this! Too bad about the missing bits. |