The Outlier

A trip into nature is where I go when I need to rebalance, reset, and recharge my batteries. Recently, I took a couple of days to backpack into one of my favorite places on earth, the Eastern Sierra. I brought my dog, Sierra, along for her first venture into this magical place. On the second day of our trip, I checked the weather on my Garmin device—thunderstorms incoming. Sitting in a tent at 11K feet during a thunderstorm is not exactly where I wanted to be. So, I made the decision to hike back out and move on, finding shelter in my car.
I eventually made my way north into Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. Tioga Pass had just opened a few days prior, and I had never ventured into this area before. To say my mind was blown would be an understatement! Although I had explored Yosemite Valley on many visits, the high country had always eluded me. Driving along the two-lane road that hugged the cliff sides with endless vistas as far as the eye could see was spectacular. Treating this trip more as a scouting expedition for future photography, I let my eyes feast and didn’t worry too much about creating art. I just wanted to soak it all in.
Of all the grand vistas, valleys, and mountain peaks, it was a small tree that caught my attention. As I drove along, through a small clearing, I spotted this beautifully odd-shaped tree. I pulled over and hiked a short distance back to get a better view. I loved the scene and felt compelled to create an image. The contrast of the smaller, crooked fir against the taller, straighter fir trees matched the contrast of the rocks and the surrounding trees. The raindrops dancing on the reflection of the pond added an element of life to the image. Looking at this scene, I couldn’t help but smile, even while being eaten alive by mosquitoes. I can’t wait to come back and visit my new friends under different weather, light, and conditions.

I hope you enjoy this image as much as I did making it.

~Andrew