Tioga Pass East Entrance with Sign – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Day 1 of the partial U.S. government shutdown just happened to fall on the day I left for my fall photography and new moon astro-landscape trip. My first stop was Yosemite National Park which was a high profile casualty of the shutdown. All highways were open to the park so as to drive through, but visitors were asked to refrain from stopping. Quite ironic that the public was and still is being advised to avoid using public land.
Tunnel View Signs – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Having traveled through Yosemite so many times it was incredibly sad and frustrating to not be able to enjoy the scenery as I might normally. I cannot emphasize how frustrating it was to have something of such beauty in reach, but yet deliberately taken away. Lucky for you though I’ve developed a set of images taken during my trip that just might evoke that frustration as I felt. Below are the amazing views of Yosemite as taken during my time in Yosemite during the first days of the U.S. government shutdown.
El Capitan Sunset – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Tuolumne Meadows – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Half Dome from Olmstead Point – 2013 Federal Shutdown
El Capitan – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Tunnel View – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Deer in El Capitan Meadow – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Tenaya Lake – 2013 Federal Shutdown
Photo Details:
iPhone 5S with blur achieved in camera at the time of capture.
For more on why the national parks were shut down I recommend this NPR article and broadcast:
National Parks Close As Other Public Lands Stay Open
Great work Jim of an unfortunate situation.
Thanks Richard. Very frustrating to be limited access to such a wonderful place.
I like the blur concept here Jim to show all of our frustrations with this situation!
Wow, those blurry images really evoke emotion, I feel almost as frustrated as you must have been when I look at them.
On a side note, since they’re ASKING that you refrain from stopping and it is public land, and, well, you’re the public, couldn’t you just wonder around and take pictures anyway instead of observing their stupid shut down? I mean really how shut down is it if they still have people standing there to tell you it’s shut down *shrug* it just seems overly symbolic in a frustrating sort of way