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Laura Scudder Flake - Sea of Dreams - El Capitan - Yosemite was captured on the first ascent of El Capitan's Sea of Dreams in Yosemite on May 27th 1978. Dale Bard is cleaning what would have been miserable, if not impossible to climb without the use of the newly prototyped "Friends" made by Ray Jardine. The expanding nature of this ultra-thin flake made it impossible to use traditional nuts as each successive placement would have unleashed the previous one. It flexed about 1/2" when loaded with body weight. This was our blast off day and Jim Bridwell had just lead it while I was assigned the task of hauling our junk show up the first four pitches. When I arrived at the belay, Dale was still cleaning it and the light was so beautiful that I hustled to get the camera out from my pack and capture the image knowing full well that Dale wouldn't wait for me to get settled first. This image has been used in numerous publications and films and remains one of my favorite big wall photos.

Dave embarked on his photographic journey during his junior high years in Menlo Park, CA, where he first explored the world of photography in a home darkroom. His fascination with rock climbing blossomed during high school, particularly against the iconic backdrops of Yosemite. After graduating, he joined Yosemite's search and rescue team, seamlessly intertwining his passions for climbing and photography. His photographic talents quickly gained recognition, making him a sought-after contributor for renowned publications such as Outside, Rock & Ice, Climbing, Mountain, and Men's Journal. Corporations like R.E.I., W.L. Gore, Sierra Designs, The North Face, Lowe Alpine Systems, and 3M also enlisted his expertise for their promotional...