Ice Wave Sentinel

by Dave Diegelman

Title

Ice Wave Sentinel

Artist

Dave Diegelman

Medium

Photograph - Archival Photographs

Description

"Ice Wave Sentinel" was captured on a trip that Kurt Rieder and I took to escape the crowds and heat of Yosemite late in the summer of 1976 to climb Mt. Ritter. The Yosemite climbing scene had scoured our souls and we ventured off to recapture some serenity in the Sierra. Our limited funds restricted us to the bare essentials of a diet of peanuts and raisins (a note to self: not tent-friendly due to ensuing gaseous consequences).

Descending to Garnet Lake, we encountered a breathtaking glacier left by the previous winter. Recognizing a unique photo opportunity, I equipped my Nikkormat camera with Kodak Panatomic X film, boasting a low ASA of 32—ideal for a tripod, which I had. Despite the stunning scene, I felt something was missing in the composition. To remedy this, I asked Kurt to scramble to a protruding boulder and gaze into the landscape. As he assumed his position, the missing element was fulfilled: a captivating silhouette against the glacier's brilliance. Opting for F16 to capture sparkle off the ice, I hoped for the best—a reality in the days before instant digital feedback. Bracketing wasn't a practice I embraced due to film cost; instead, I exposed for highlights, allowing shadows to fall naturally—a practice I maintain today but with the luxury of instant digital review.

Months later, in a friend's darkroom, the developed image unveiled exquisite detail. Astonishingly, even the shoelaces on Kurt's boots were clear and distinct when examined with a darkroom spotting scope.

Photo & Text All Rights Reserved © Dave Diegelman

Uploaded

March 8th, 2024

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