Yosemite Valley, the valley of light and shadow. There are days here that are so bright you don’t want to open your eyes and days that are so dark that you worry the sun has found its end. When looking from the west down the valley, long shadows create an oscillating line of light and shade through the middle of the forest that lines the Merced River. One side may represent good and the other evil but in total balance. On the dark side it is cold and full of snow and ice, the walls of the granite cliffs are saturated with long icicles and frozen waterfalls, you here sounds of cracking and breaking, loud and quiet but radical on both ends. On the light side, it is warm and bright, water trickles down those granite cliffs creating a subtle peace. The water is giving life to the vegetation eager to grow back to it’s summer strength. The sounds are soft, like the water almost tempting you to dip your toes in. In the middle is where I hope to stay to enjoy both sides of the valley and to learn from both.
A fresh layer of snow makes the evergreens in the valley look a little frosty. The Leaning Tower on the right casts a large shadow over Bridal Veil Falls.The dark and light is emphasized here in a black and white version. Many parts of the valley don’t see the daylight at all.Even in the middle of the Merced River we see a light and dark side. The sun illuminates the high country above the valley and Half Dome shines bright above.Darkness at the base fades into light at the peak. It’s best to always look up when times are dark.The light always finds a way to penetrate the forest’s canopy. Even in the middle of the day long shadows are constant.Now it appears the dark is over taking the light. The tall trees are trying to protect the darkness on the forest floor.Even as the shadows try to overtake the light this granite cliff stays strong and absorbs light from the surrounding valley. The treetops and grasses continue reach for the sun’s strength.Where light remains it shines bright but the setting sun allows darkness to take over quickly.The Merced River takes a leap of faith down into Yosemite Valley. A moment of bright light before it plunges into the darkness. The light of the water appears to want to retreat upwards away from the dark plunge pool that awaits the Merced River.The boulder’s roof is shining bright while the bottom struggles to stay out of the dark. Even Half Dome tries to fight out of the darkness despite snow blocking the sun’s rays.Now we see shapes that are dark and light, triangles and rectangles form foundations that impenetrable. The quadrilateral tries to eliminate all light in the heart of the boulder while being swallowed by the snowy light <The darkness can make a great frame for the light, enhancing its shine creating even more light. Even the dark can seem light and it’s important that it doesn’t trick you. When the dark gives a smidgin of light don’t be fooled, it is still dark.These trees grow on the dark side of this peak knowing that lighter days are coming.This peak almost seems like a flame smoking into the sky. Surrounded by darkness the peak remains bright and burns through the valley’s darkness.Thank you for following and enjoying my visualizations of the Yosemite Valley. A constant wavering of light and dark has existed here since the inception. The granite cliffs have so much power that they can fight the sun, the most powerful thing in our universe!
