I found a smooth portion of the Merced River that reflected the granite face of Yosemite’s famous El Capitan almost perfectly. I waited for a figure on the opposite bank to walk into my frame and shot this image of its reflection to add scale incongruity. I then turned the reflection upside down to make El Capitan, along with its tiny tourist, appear right side up. The key to this picture was the intensity and color of the light falling on sheer face of El Capitan itself. By exposing on the reflection of that light as it hit the surface of the river, I was able to make everything else very dark, which greatly simplified what otherwise would have been a very cluttered image. I created this strange looking landscape to represent the fantasy aspect of Yosemite that lingers in the imagination of most of its visitors. They may see it for what it really is, but they also steadfastly retain an idealized version of Yosemite in their own minds, which is what this image represents.