October 8th, 2006.......I left for Yosemite.....Alone........just myself and my camera. I haven't spent an entire 8 days totally alone, since becomming a mother 21 years ago. So, you can imagine my reaction to the thought of being in Yosemite..........for 8 days.......Alone. Did I metion I was alone??!! Well, that in itself was a dream. To top it off, I would be attending a week long photography workshop. A workshop taught by Mr. Mark Citret. He is an accomplished and very successful photographer. Not only is he a former student, but he is also a former assistant of three years to none other than.......Ansel Adams.

I drove in such an excitement, a bit intimidated because I don't shoot Landscape. But then I thought, that's what I am going there for.......to learn. And learn I did. I shot fully Manual 100% of the time. Mr Citret was able to sit with me during 1 hour of 1 on 1 time, and explain to me some of the fundamentals, the mathematics of the camera, that I have been struggling with for so long. The pieces of the puzzle that for what ever reason I was never able to make fit. We talked shutter speeds, asa/iso settings, metering, metering and metering and f-stops, stopping up and stopping down, and how come stopping down means the numbers are going up? They just do, and get used to it. Okay.

I sat in the studio where Ansel Adams once taught and stood in the dark room where Ansel Adaams once worked. I watched as Mark Citret developed film, rinsed, and rinsed, and printed and dodged and burned, and while it was facinating, I love my flash cards and computer and have no intentions of going film! I listened as Mark Citret told us stories about "back in the day" the days of the Adams, the Bests, the Westons, and felt so honored and so extremely fortunate to be there listening. Mark Citret very generously shared with us not only these interesting pieces of history, but also shared his portfolio of numerous facinating and beautiful pieces of work, telling a story of how each piece was created, the where, the when, the why. Re-enforcing that old saying that "every picture has a story." And what a honor it was to hear those stories Mark.

It's been just about a month since the workshop, and leaving Yosemite. I met some really great people. Jeanne and Steve form Northern CA, Emily from Lisbon, Jan and his lovely wife from Swedan, Kevin form UCBerkely, and Tom from Oregon. I miss that week, I miss Yosemite, I miss everyone I met there. And to any of you listed above who might end up reading this.....Hello!!

It is hard to explain just how much that trip meant to me....and I won't even try, but I will say this.... On the last day, I sat at the exit of the Park, ready to head to my hotel room, and while I had a great room at the lodge, and my family waitng for me to return home, I just didn't want to leave. I sat crying, so thankful to have recieved this wonderful gift. This trip and Workshop was all a gift from my very best friend, and sometimes my very best enemy!, =O) my very loved Husband. This was the best gift anyone has ever given me. I am so extremely thankful.

If anyone is interested, you can see the work of Mark Citret @ www.mcitret.com. He also has a beautiful Coffee table book full of his gorgeous work that goes for approximately $50.00.
He is scheduled for another Yosemite Workshop coming in Summer 2007!
Maybe I'll see you agian Mark!


This gallery is dedicated to My Husband, Christian, who was always on mind during this great adventure!