#52weeksofnature Photo Contest Week 6 Winner
The winner of Week 6 of our #52weeksofnature photo contest is Jeff Young (@jeffy_san). Yosemite Valley is a sight to behold and when you catch it with some fog and smoke trapped below the inversion layer it becomes one of the most mesmerizing landscapes on the planet. Jeff has won $150 and is getting his winning image printed on a HippyTree t-shirt. Explore the Nature Photography Collective section on our site to view t-shirts of past winners.
Where was the image shot?
Yosemite National Park, CA
What camera did you use and what were the settings?
Camera: Sony a7R III
Lens: Canon 17-40mm
Shutter Speed: 1/250
Aperture: f/13
ISO: 500
Was there any special preparation required to capture the photo?
I originally planned to shoot the valley at sunset. As I drove past I noticed a plume of smoke in the valley forced to stay low by a winter inversion. I didn’t have a tripod, but finally matched up my vantage point with what the smoke was doing.
How long have you been shooting?
I started shooting film around 10 years ago. I made the overall transition to digital shortly after, but I still keep a couple of rolls around for shoots now and again.
What's your favorite subject matter to shoot?
Big horn sheep! All wildlife really. Give me the most stubborn, frenetic, and enigmatic creatures in fog, snow, rain, or other interesting weather conditions.
Where would be your dream location to take photos?
I’d love to see the pumas of Patagonia. Another dream would be to see giant river otters in the Madre de Dios region of Peru again.
Who are some photographers that inspire you?
I am most stoked on photographers who use their talents and platforms to tell conservation stories. A couple of examples are Melissa Groo, Steve Winter, and a local favorite Daniel Dietrich.
What excites you about photography?
When the camera becomes a means to a deeper connection to my subject. Photography should be a tool to relay information, and if that causes folks to spend a couple minutes thinking about wildlife or conservation, then I am happy.
