xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

I'm going to Bodie Ca. tomorrow.

Anyone have any recommendations as to what
to look for in that area to shoot. I'll be there 3 days

Chris F. Loc: San Francisco

Bodie, the ghost town is not that large and should not take a huge amount of time to see and shoot. Mono Lake is close by, lots of places to shoot there and if Tioga Pass was open, Yosemite National Park is right there too. Looks like it's not open yet though.

Mammoth is down 395 a ways and there is Devil's Postpile which is a National Monument and a cool thing to see and shoot. Have fun!

Chris

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

With all the time you have allotted to the prep, we are all expecting some adequate snapshots. :mrgreen:

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Bodie is great fun, especially if you have interesting skies.Plan to spend several hours at least. Shoot brackets so you can do HDR blends, Bodie is perfect for them.

On the little winding road to Bodie, watch for the huge herds of sheep and the traditional Basque shepherds that tend them.

Between the Bodie turnoff and Lee Vining, you'll pass Conway summit. I don't know what it looks like in spring but in fall it is spectacular.

Mono Lake is a must, from several angles and perspectives. My favorite is South Tufa/Navy Beach. Sunrise/sunset location in just about any weather.

Lundy Canyon is pretty wonderful too.

Conway summit


Mono Lake


Lundy canyon

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Red, at Bodie, take one of the tours of the big stamping mill and there are lots of photo-ops inside. Use a flash on some, others have good existing light.
If in Lee Vining, do some light painting at Mono Lake.
Check out Photographer Jim's website for ideas, he's the Bodie master!!
If you get to Bishop, take in the Galon Rowell gallery.
Also from there it's not to far to shoot bristle-cone pines! ;-)
SS

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

Thanks very much. I will try to see these places
while I'm there.

I hope your wrong about Yosemite. I'm planning on going in to shoot for a day.

:thumbup:

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

Haahaa. Thanks. I hope I surprise you Big guy.

Flying by the seat of my pants is my specialty.

:-D

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

Hey there. Thank you

I appreciate the tips for the area.
I have never done HDR. One more thing to learn.

What simply stunning photo's you have.
I think this will be a busy trip.

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

I was hoping you would show up.
Thank you for the tips. Very much appreciated.

Actually, looking through Photographer Jims
website a few weeks ago inspired me to take this trip.

I am going to get as much done as I can
and still take time to stop and smell the roses too.

I'm thinking the 7100 and the sigma 17-70
are both going to be hot to the touch when I get back.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

It is too early in the season for Tioga Pass to be open. And Tuolimne Meadows and Yosemite is a photographers dream. I used to live there. But Bodie, Mono Lake and the entire sea is incredible and fraught with once in a lifetime, fantastic photographic opportunities. I will be returning there myself sometime in the not too distant future, and as always, as you will, be coming back with many wonderful images to relive the trip by. You'll have a great time. There is so much to see, shoot and do there. Have fun.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Last time I was there is ancient history.
Have a blast! :mrgreen:

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

If you are coming up 395 from the LA area, there are photo ops in the Alabama Hill near Lone Pine. Also Mt. Whitney portal. Also out of Lone Pine is side road just off the road to Death Valley that takes you way back in the mountains to the old Sierra Gordo mining town around 9,000 - 10,000 ft above seal level. Cool drive but take is slow, kinda rough.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

If you are coming up 395 from the LA area, there are photo ops in the Alabama Hill near Lone Pine. Also Mt. Whitney portal. Also out of Lone Pine is side road just off the road to Death Valley that takes you way back in the mountains to the old Sierra Gordo mining town around 9,000 - 10,000 ft above seal level. Cool drive but take is slow, kinda rough.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

My neck of the woods. Tioga Rd. to Yosemite could open any day (it is typically announced one day prior to opening.) Historically, it usually opens 1-3 weeks after Glacier Point, and that opened March 28 this year (plowing on Tioga began April 13.) http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm

Conway Summit is indeed beautiful, especially the valley to the west during autumn, with the Sierras as a backdrop. The summit is north on 395 past the first turnoff to Bodie by a few miles (from 395 you can turn right, east on SR 168 toward Hawthorne. Another 10-20 miles there is a well-marked turnoff for Bodie which offers views of Mono Lake as you ascend.) Anyway, from Conway Summit you can head west to Virginia Lakes Resort, which includes upper & lower Virginia plus Trumbull Lake that you drive to and a couple other lakes just a short hike away. I've spent time camping/hiking around there. Many small canyons on well-marked trails and VERY picturesque alpine Sierra back-country.

Mono Lake is also worth your time. You can try the county park off 395 just north of Lee Vining and enjoy a nice boardwalk path through a swampy meadow to the shoreline, passing markers sadly displaying the dropping elevation of the once-pristine, fresh-water lake that thirsty So Cal'ers are drinking to oblivion. But there are better tufa formations around the south side, off of SR 120 (same as Tioga Rd., but East of 395 and open.) There are also numerous small volcanic craters in that area. You might stop in at the visitor center at the lake for more info.

Off and on thunderstorms the next few days should make for good skies. Bodie is best at night IMHO, but closed after dark except for special occasions (it won't even be open during the golden hour for you, and park rangers enforce hours.)

Finally, the skies up here are crystal clear when not stormy, so you might find some interesting foreground and try some Milky Way shots. The prettiest part of the MW lies due south in the wee hours this time of year, and you'll lose your sky by 5:00 am so get out early where you have a pretty clear shot of the southern horizon.

Photocraig

It will be snowing in the Sierra Friday and Saturday, so dress accordingly and drive (all or 4 Wheel Drive) and the snow coverred peaks make fabulous backdrops. Since Bodie is at elevation, you might get some snow to provide a geat counterpoint to the weathered siding and roof material. Many of teh buildings are not open and the interiors are only viewable through the old flawed glass windos. They make excellent shots, but the Contrast and low light inside will be perfect for HDR.