About the Image

At 3,000 feet, the granite monolith of Yosemite’s El Capitan dominates the sky and imposes itself on the viewer. One cannot help but feel small while taking it in.

For this image, I wanted soft clouds and gentle light to show El Capitan not as a chief or war leader, but as a loving patriarch rising above the trees and looking down upon Yosemite Valley. I returned to this location several times over the course of a few days and waited for the right afternoon light and clouds. I was happy to finally be rewarded with the perfect afternoon to show the gentler aspect of El Capitan.