Yosemite high country + GF1 and 9-18mm (pics)

[Locster]

I took my buddies on their first multi-day backpacking trip last weekend. It's not only important to take photos of a trip like this but to come back with some crazy stories for the ladies. We came back with enough stories for a book, lol. They wanted to kill me the entire time but I know they had fun and hopefully got bit by the backcountry bug

We started at White Wolf and hiked through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne for 3.5 days and roughly 33mi. In previous trips I used a Canon SLR but this was my first time with a m43 camera, the GF1 + 9-18mm combo. It saved lot of weight and kept me in line with the ultralight philosophy (debatable since I had a tripod and 2 extra lenses )).

Snapshots here: Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne 2010 - a set on Flickr

The album for the previews below can be found here:
Tuolumne Favorites - a set on Flickr

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Yours truly marveling at the sunrise

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Early morning shot from the bridge at Glen Aulin to Tuolumne Meadows.

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Sunset just outside Glen Aulin

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I'm not sure if this is even a good picture but the longer I look at it the more it appeals to me. This was taken on the climb to Le Conte Falls.

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This is a stitched panoramic of Waterwheel Falls (I think). The great thing about panos is you can get so much in a scene to give viewers some context to just how beautiful the place is. The problem is it shrinks even huge waterwheeling waterfalls into something mild.

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Stitched pano. The great thing about this hike is seeing how the Tuolumne River takes on different forms.

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Another stitched pano. Taken at the top of the Muir Gorge, what a climb!

 

[Streetshooter]

Well, I'm sure....they are all nice but the B&W is stunning. It reminds me of the very early work by Sullivan......outstanding....!

 

[Boyzo]

Great work Locster....

Very nicely done colour and composition are tops

Excellent Panos too

 

[Bokeh Diem]

WOOHOO!

I feel like I am there. Wonderful stuff.

Bokeh D

 

[BBW]

Stunning, absolutely stunning. I just looked at some of your incredible set on Flickr. What a trip and what a good thing you brought your camera.

Now, after this it's definitely time for you to stop in and "officially" introduce yourself here: Welcomes and Introductions forum, if you wouldn't mind, that is.

 

[JoeFriday]

awesome! I don't know about your friends, but you're giving ME the backpacking bug!

 

[Amin]

Wow, fantastic set! Love the shot from the bridge.

 

[john1027]

Very nice work. The images really convey the natural unspoiled beauty where you hiked. Definitely an enticement for someone to visit the area.

 

[Brian Mosley]

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing these look teriffic...

Well done, and welcome here

Brian

 

[grebeman]

Terrific set of photographs, that black and white picture shows that that medium can still deliver with regard to landscape photography.

Barrie

 

[Locster]

Thanks everyone! Hopefully the photos inspire some to hike out a few miles and see something different.

Overall I'm very pleased with the GF1 as a backpacking camera. My other one is a 5D MkII and it's a Cadillac in terms of image quality and dynamic range. The GF1 is no slouch and produces great photos but I did miss some of that full framed goodness with an Olympus 21mm f/3.5.

What I didn't miss were tired legs and aching feet from muling a big SLR and lenses. I had a lot more motivation to take snapshots of friends and general scenery because the camera hung so lightly off my neck. I was able to hike faster and longer in the day with less effort and that's really my first priority. When I give the John Muir Trail a 2nd try next summer I intend to finish

 

[Iconindustries]

These are incredible Locster! Images like this is what sells the camera- although I realise 98 percent of the capture is determined by the person behind the camera. You've done a great job.
Really inspires me now to learn and give stitching a go.

Thanks for showing them.

 

[Darell Miller]

The B&W shot is fantastic! If I can bring back pictures form Cornwall in three weeks time that are half as good as these I'd be very happy.

 

[pwm2460]

Beautiful captures.

 

[Pelao]

Hey - is the B&W not one of those long lost Ansel Adams shots...

But really, a very nice group of photographs. A pleasure to view. I bet they will look great as prints.

Overall I'm very pleased with the GF1 as a backpacking camera. My other one is a 5D MkII and it's a Cadillac in terms of image quality and dynamic range. The GF1 is no slouch and produces great photos but I did miss some of that full framed goodness with an Olympus 21mm f/3.5.

Similar to my experience. My 5D produces images which are simply incredibly rich. But I feel I now have a balanced kit, with the GF1 offering more opportunities because it's easier to carry.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[PeterB666]

I love the colours in the sky of shot #3. Simply stunning. All the shots are great but that one really does it for me.

Cheers

PeterB666