Poets, pundits, and politicians have all tried to capture the magnificence of that is Yosemite. Teddy Roosevelt made it a national park the after a just a few minutes in the park. Ansel Adams was likely the best, his images almost to convey the power of Yosemite. 
For me as one of my instructors Mike Osborn said. . .
"magnificence does not make great photographs." Like so many before me I struggled to grasp such a powerful place.
Mama nature at hers rawest. Glacier honed canyons three times higher than the empire state loomed over us. Young Sequoias climbing hundreds of feet. Even the man made structures have a place in history. We walked an old toll road abandon for a half a century that still had long stretches of pavement and hand crafted hand stack support walls that survived rock falls and time with a craftsmanship that is all but lost. The vista are beyond grand. Wide jagged green valleys backed by cliffs and domes freshly cap with a late spring snow
From the base of El Cap ever so mighty pine trees look like twigs and even at just a third of the way up climbers become little blue and red specs.
It is work to teach an old dog new tricks. Especially one like me, a dog that loves the city and thinks alleys and water covers are fantastic. Keith Walkett is a dynamo. His ever present smile lit the snow covered landscape early in the week and fired up my classmates to that place “just over here†later in the week when we began to flag. Along with recently retired Yosemite Park Ranger Mike Osborn we worked, we worked 13 hours days to capture light and glory. Our group was similar and diverse. Geographically we came from just over the hill to as far away as London England. All we had in common was a need to get better as photographers. Keith and Mike helped us along. “Look here.†“See how the trees look against El Cap, or we can catch the light on the river if we hurry.
Keith worked to help us find order and beauty in natures chaos. 
A leaf against the sky, or waterfall across a valley? 
The ragged shadow of a raven against a shear mountain side . The bigger picture become a smaller one. This is a place where size and scale skew. Where big things are overwhelmed and the tiniest flower can loom larger than life.
By the end we had become a merry band. “Onward religiously affiliated solders.†We came from Jersey or England to march up waterfalls and down over boulders the size of U-Hauls. Splashing thought marshes and leaning against tall bushes. We carried tripods, lens and cameras to places few have seen. At each stop and cross over we help each other with a hand or covered a lens and helped a picture taker with a protective umbrella to shield against a water fall or the snow. We fought off cold and rain and wind to take home a couple of good photos to hang on our walls or show a friend or two. 
We battled hard and we won. Even without a single picture, we captured each others respect and admiration, and yes we produced some good work. It was a long rewarding week. I hope to see these guys again.
Now as I head back to the familiar foothills and alleys of Idaho, I can’t wait to get out a see what I can find. I’m thinking a 4-wheel drive might be in my future. Oh, and definitely a better phone!!! Stay tune for more pictures and adventures.