I’ve been reflecting recently on this photo. It’s come up in conversation more than once with the photo editors I work with over at Patagonia, and I jokingly say that I’ll never top this image. Or I haven’t since.
2019 I was working as a guide for YMS in the valley, and I had just bought a Sony A6000. Since high school I’ve always had a camera on me. A Canon AE-1 35mm, a Canon EOS Rebel XT, disposable cameras, point and shoots… but it was always just a hobby. I’m not sure why I eventually bought the small Sony but I did and along with it a fantastic 12mm manual Rokinon lens.
Anyone who’s worked in the park or has hung out in Tuolumne long enough knows that the store is the gathering place. Simply a parking lot with a shabby building that’s thrown together every summer, it’s an essential watering hole for us high country folk with no phone service. It’s close to the campground where the SAR siters and climbing stewards live, the grill serves soft serve ice cream. and you can buy beers individually at the store (one of the few good things the concessionaire provides). After work, or a climbing day, you will probably drive or bike by and see a group of your friends hacky-sacking or hanging. There’s even a route in the Owens River Gorge called “Chillin’ at the Grill” named for this phenomenon.
Anyways, this moment is one of those moments. A particularly good hang. I remember I had just got back from a day of work. Probably guiding on Dozier Dome or something. Sat down next to Annie, joking about this amazing bruise she had on her leg from some offwidth she had climbed. The sun was starting to set, and the store always gets this gorgeous golden last light. More friends sat down. Stu was there, of course. People talking about their days, about what they were going to do the next day. Existing, laughing. Chris was there, which makes this photo special, too.
Somehow I nailed the manual focus. You can see in the top right corner the lens hood kind of got in the shot. You can’t see Alison’s face but her sprawling body communicates a vibe. We’re chilling at the grill, after all.