Half Dome Through the Curtain
By John P. DeGrazio
I was leading a Yosemite Adventure Hike at Glacier Point almost exactly a year ago when the weather began to turn. The rain came down in sheets as the crowd sought refuge in the only shelter for miles. It was a brief deluge, but many lingered inside the warm gift shop even after the rain ceased. We patiently camped with our cameras at a location with a good vantage point and watched the clouds move by. Impromptu showers splashed us intermittently, but we held our ground. The clouds began to serve as curtains, briefly opening and closing to show glimpses of prominent landmarks of the Yosemite High Country. We were witnessing our own private magic show as we stood in astonishment. One moment it was the Clark Range and then Mt. Hoffman. Finally, it was time for the main attraction to appear. Like in a dream, Half Dome was unveiled for nearly thirty seconds, and then disappeared not to be seen again. Fortunately, I was able to capture a few fleeting images. This was my best and also my very first attempt at a black and white image. We moved on to hike up Sentinel Dome with high spirits after witnessing such a dramatic event.
