Autumn Sunrise, Half Dome and the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California
“Within National Parks is room – glorious room – room in which to find ourselves, in which to think and hope, to dream and plan, to rest and resolve.”
— Enos A. Mills
Happy 100th Anniversary to the National Park Service!
— Michael Frye
Michael, I’ve been following you now for a number of years and I just want to say I believe that through your photography of glorious Yosemite, you have done a great work in showing the awesome beauty of the park. Thank you, Dan Simpson
I live in Australia and with your photography, it is nice to know that Yosemite is there if I ever have the opportunity to see it. If your photography only encourages a few people to visit the parks, you have accomplished a great deal. Once people see the beauty and experience the grandeur they will always want to save it for future generations.
I have visited a number of National Parks in the US e.g. Zion and Bryce Canyon the US National Parks service does an amazing job, my fond memory is of the junior ranger program.
I have learnt a great deal through your photography especially your use of long zoom lenses. I thank you for that.
Thanks for all the kind words Tim. During this summer, when Yosemite is so overcrowded, I’m not sure I want to encourage people to visit the parks! But I know what you mean – it’s important that people gain an appreciation for the parks, and for other natural areas.
Thank you Dan!
Thanks for the reminder Michael! And also for the never ending possibilities of photography in Yosemite. You always find a way to resolve, and tell us about it. That is what I like about your photography the most!
Thanks very much John!
Michael,
America’s National Parks are truly national treasures. Through the lenses and vision of our photographer forefathers the parks – particularly those in the western USA – inspired many individuals to visit these beautiful places. You and a few others have devoted your professional lives to continuing this tradition. I just hope that on the 200th anniversary park visitors will be able to see the same scenery that your (by then archival) images had captured.
I hope so too James! And I hadn’t thought about what my photos might look like in 100 years. Kind of a scary thought. 🙂
Michael,
Perhaps this will be the scenario:
As visitors are transported on air walkways through a gallery of 3D holograms of Yosemite NP they will enter the “Hallway of the Ancients” to experience the historical works of such greats as Adams and Frye, preserved in a vacuum and sealed under transparent titanium.
Ha! Well if people can be transported on air walkways maybe we won’t need hotels in the valley.
I do not even know the park, but thanks to Michael Frey with their photographs is awesome place to take pictures during 24 hrs, wonderful place.
Happy 100th Aniversary Yosemite Park.
Kind Regards .
Federico Flores Moy
Thanks Federico!
Indeed, and what a wonderful park system it is! What a lovely Yosemite image, Michael. I’ve been going to that amazing park since I was a boy, growing up in the Bay Area in the 1950s. After work on Fridays, dad would throw all us kids in the back of the old Ford station and we’d drive to Yosemite where we’d sleep in our sleeping bags on air mattresses on the valley floor. No tent was needed. We’d spend the weekend wandering, hiking, wading in the Merced river and watching the firefall. Yosemite is one of the places I miss dearly now that I live in Italy, but I’ll be back one of these days. I can certainly be there vicariously through your beautiful Yosemite images, Michael. Many thanks!
Thanks for sharing your experiences growing up Bob – nice!
Hi Michael,
I join others in complementing you in your photographic career that has developed into an ambassadorship that promotes our National Park System in general and Yosemite National Park in particular. The National Park System is our greatest idea and without question a national treasure. My wife and I have visited most of the parks west of the Rockies with well over one hundred adventures in Yosemite alone. There is no greater wonder in the world to me then Yosemite. I truly thank our ancestors for having the foresight to protect this national wonder for all of us to continue to enjoy. Regardless of the season or number of others who have come to enjoy it’s natural beauty, Yosemite is always an absolute joy to behold. I thank you personally for continuing to showcase this natural jewel.
All the best,
Alyn
Very kind of you Alyn. I feel the same way in the redwoods state parks, where you frequently pass a plaque or bench dedicating a certain grove to someone long gone. These are people who donated money to buy tracts of land to preserve redwoods, and without them most of the best redwood groves that still exist would have been logged a long time ago. No doubt these were wealthy people, but I think they spent their money well.
Michael,
As to some of the largest and oldest species on earth, the Giant Sequoias and redwoods of California, I couldn’t agree with you more! I’m looking forward to attending your workshop in Yosemite with much anticipation come January! Hope all is well with you and Claudia in Mariposa.
Cheers,
Alyn
Thanks Alyn – I’m looking forward to it too.
Michael, Thanks! Alyn
Michael, This is an amazingly beautiful photograph. I have many favorites among the photos you have shared over the years, but this is my favorite favorite! Thanks for sharing your work and your spirit, Kathy
Thanks so much Kathy!