California Splendor

[dales]

Yosemite National Park

[Long Run]

It is one of the most amazing places. Too bad, though, no one goes there anymore -- it's too crowded.

time for a Yogi yuck

[MajGenl.Meade]

I didn't know Thomas Kincaid touched up photographs

[Fafhrd]

It is one of the most amazing places. Too bad, though, no one goes there anymore -- it's too crowded

Either no 0one goes there, or it's too crowded. Not both.

Or did you mean "no one who counts goes there"?

[Crackpot]

Read the fine print

[dales]

I didn't know Thomas Kincaid touched up photographs

No, but God does.

[Gob]

That image is heavily HDR rendered.

[dales]

What does that mean?

I'm strictly old school, non digital, film, zone system, photographer.

[Guinevere]

What does that mean?

I'm strictly old school, non digital, film, zone system, photographer.

This photograph is not that.

It is in fact featured in this month's NatGeo magazine, in their series on the 100th Anniversary of the National Park System. The same photographer who took the Yosemite pic, has others in the article.

From the magazine:

For years photographer Stephen Wilkes dreamed of “compressing the best parts of a day and night into a single photograph.” Now, with digital imaging technology, he can create such time-spanning panoramas.

To make the photos seen here, Wilkes selects a vista, sets up his camera and computer gear, and establishes a fixed camera angle. Based on sun directions, moon phases, weather, and more, he chooses an hour to start. He then continuously shoots thousands of images through day and night, in whatever conditions nature gives him. “I have zero control,” he says, “until the end of the process, when I have complete control.”

Wilkes takes weeks to select what he considers “the 50 best moments” from a shoot. He decides on the image’s time vector—where in the frame the day-night cycle will begin, and which way time will proceed: top to bottom, left to right. Then he digitally blends the photos to layer parts of some on parts of others, turning separate “magical moments” into a seamless composite image.

Its a pretty photo, but I'm not a huge fan of the technique. I recognize its difficulty and artistry, but it doesn't wow me.

[Bicycle Bill]

For the record:
2016 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Park Service.  It has come to my attention that there are no less than sixteen days in this coming year when admission to your national parks will be free.

• ● January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  ● April 16 through 24: A nine-day stretch celebrating National Park Week
  ● August 25 through 28: Four days commemorating the actual National Park Service birthday
  ● September 24: National Public Lands Day
  ● November 11: Veterans Day

According to the National Park Service website, "the fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees.  Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concessions, and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise."

-"BB"-

[Gob]

Your "National (Land of the free) Parks" aren't free?

[Big RR]

No not free, but still pretty much a bargain, especially for seniors and kids:

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/fees.htm

[Long Run]

Nagging reminder boy: Nothing's free. For the most popular parks, I'd rather have the users pick up a piece of the cost of the services required to allow the visit. Plus, there are tons of no-fee federal and state public lands that are great places to visit, say, like a wildlife refuge in Malheur County.

[Gob]

Just spent a fortnight on Dartmoor, no charge for using the National Park

[Gob]

I have to admit though, I would happily pay to visit your National parks.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Dartmoor is lovely - buncha rocks, heatherish sort of stuff growing, ponies. No wonder it's free. Yellowstone now - lots of rangers to get paid, tons of animals (bears and bison, Gob - not to mention the ones not mentioned) to keep safe, hotels, restaurants, geysers to keep people from swimming in.... etc. etc. etc. Trails to maintain; hikers to rescue.... etc. etc. Yes, you'd love it - and a lot more than Dartmoor mate, loverly as it is, innit?

[Gob]

Now that you've told me that, no!

[MajGenl.Meade]

Philistine

[Gob]

Phil is fine.

[Fafhrd]

Read the fine print

I can't, my 80 year old eyes can't see anything there. Please tell me what it says?