Is it fog? Is it low cloud? No, it's ...... smoke!

[Donald]

On the morning of September 18th I left Tioga Pass Resort early and started to drive down through the pass, above Lee Vining Canyon. As I got down below 9000 ft and then 8000 ft I could see what looked like a mist hanging over the valley way below.

It was only later in the day that I learned that this was no mist. This was smoke. Some 30 miles or so further south, close to Mammoth Lakes there was a fire going on a 7-mile front. The area for miles and miles around was affected like this all day.

You're comments and critique will be appreciated.

[mknittle]

On the morning of September 18th I left Tioga Pass Resort early and started to drive down through the pass, above Lee Vining Canyon. As I got down below 9000 ft and then 8000 ft I could see what looked like a mist hanging over the valley way below.

It was only later in the day that I learned that this was no mist. This was smoke. Some 30 miles or so further south, close to Mammoth Lakes there was a fire going on a 7-mile front. The area for miles and miles around was affected like this all day.

You're comments and critique will be appreciated.

Welcome to California.
We have this problem wey too often these days. we have three seasons here cold and wet, hot and dry and fire.

[Shadowman]

Nice angles and composition.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Great picture Donald.
You don't want to be spending too much time in that kind of air, believe me.

Speaking of Tioga Pass, this reminds me of the summer we took a vacation there, as a kid in the '60's. Dad had a big travel trailer we used to go camping in. We got stuck going up from the Bishop side. Had to be towed over the top by a trailer truck. Our car vapor locked from the heat on the way up. We never got to use the air conditioner much on vacations.

[Polar01]

If I remember correctly there is a pull out for a lookout there.

Cheers: Allan

[JBW]

Just wondering if hints of colour would work with this shot?

[Donald]

Just wondering if hints of colour would work with this shot?

Do you mean selective colouring, Brian?

[madcrow]

This image don't need improving, leave it alone.

[Mike Buckley]

This is my favorite so far of your Yosemite-area images. The combination of detail and lack of detail caused by the smoke works really well for me.

I'm surprised you couldn't smell the smoke.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice

[JBW]

Do you mean selective colouring, Brian?

selective hints of subtle tones to enhance.

[Manfred M]

Another beautiful image, Donald.

What I find interesting is that the smoke seems to be highly localized which gave you such a very clear foreground to work with. No wonder you couldn't smell anything, it was so far away (a good thing too). The two times I was in areas of forest fires, the whole area was blanketed with a haze and the smell of burning trees was definitely in the air; very poor conditions for photography.

[Mike Buckley]

The reason I'm surprised you couldn't smell the smoke is due to an experience I had in the area of Canada's Banff National Park. The closest fire was at least 50 miles away and there was no visible evidence of smoke. Even so, we could smell it enough to be aware of it.

[Donald]

Once again, thank you for the comments.

The reason I'm surprised you couldn't smell the smoke i.

That was the strangest thing. Maybe my senses were dulled given I was living at 9500 feet! But even when I carried on down the pass and went to Mono Lake where I was 'in'; it, I still wasn't sure what it was.

I've got a couple of images from around Mono Lake on that morning that I've still top get to, but I think they might be quite good.

[NorthernFocus]

Interesting shot, Donald. Well rendered in B/W.

At some distance from wildfires it is common for the smoke to hug the ground during the cool of the morning. Wood smoke is mostly particulates therefore heavier than air. Once it cools and if the air is still it will settle like this. It is indeed very similar in appearance to mist though typically has a slight color cast dependent on lighting conditions.

[Mike Buckley]

Donald,

I recommend that it's a waste of time for you to smell wine before drinking it.

[Manfred M]

donald,

i recommend that it's a waste of time for you to smell wine before drinking it. :d

I'll have to remember that little tidbit of wisdom..

[RList]

Very nice picture, Donald