The entry into the Yosemite Valley at sunset and dusk. The Valley is magnificent in winter, when the park is largely deserted and peaceful, not filled by idiots wielding boomboxes. Hiking thru the snow I came upon a small chapel and upon entering found a piano. So I sat down and played while watching the snow falling. Bach preludes, some of Pictures At An Exhibition, a little ragtime, whatever came to mind.
Paris at night seen from the observation deck on the Eiffel Tower ain't half bad, nor is the Plaza in Santa Fé New Mexico, around Thanksgiving when it is festooned with luminarios.
Walking across the Golden Gate bridge is wonderful.
Point Lobos is a photographer's dream.
Way back in 1980, my brother and I borrowed a friend's tent trailer and headed to Sequoia for a long memorial day weekend. When we arrived at the south (hwy 198 through Three Rivers) entrance, we were told the park was all but closed due to a heavy snowfall that winter, and if we wanted we could turn around, and our reservation fees would be refunded, or we could take our chances.
We chose adventure! The only camp grounds open were at Lodgepole, and they had only cleared the main parking lot and the first couple hundred feet of the roads in the campgrounds.
I took, if memory serves me correctly, 23 rolls of mostly 36 exposure film on that trip, but it was so worth it.
Soft white everywhere, solitude, peace...it was amazing!
Emerging wildlife, deer, bear, marmots, and so many others was abundant. The snow was still three to four feet deep in most places, and near streams, the early wildflowers and snow plants (
Sarcodes - Wikipedia - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcodes) were everywhere. And best of all, almost no other people!
Though I've been to Sequoia, the Redwoods and Yosemite many times, it was never better than this one trip.
