Figure 1. Washburn point, Yosemite National Park.
Washburn Point is an overlook on Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park. This place is very close to the more popular Glacier Point. So they look similar from certain angle.
I've been to Glacier Point many times, but may not stop by Washburn Point every time. The condition on this day at Washburn Point works out best from my previous visits. While this is not the golden light moment, the lighting is good enough to me. In fact, one of my interests is to get good photos without golden light. I like the line of trees in the foreground. They help create the 3D feelings of the scene. Another key element to make this photo work is the clouds, I think. These cumulus clouds are just at the right place and make the whole composition strong.
Just like the gradient of temperature or wind is a factor to get a good shot of a geyser, clouds may be a factor to get good photos in addition to good lighting. Many factors have to be in place to be a strongly composed photo and this doesn't have to happen at golden light hours. When a photographer routinely seek more factors to get a good photo, he would not be restricted to a narrow window of time such as golden hours. Thus he would become more productive and competitive.
