The crescent moon had just set and as a result the starlight exploded above Tuolumne Meadows. Billions of stars not visible in the valley illuminated the landscape as campers settled in near the campfires just upriver. The pleasant smell of the campfires wafted around the valley and all you could hear was the roar of rapids along the riverside and it reminded me of my childhood days spent camping in the meadow. Fish jump in unison all up and down the river creating concentric rings all up and down the river disrupting the reflected starlight . Deer crossed the meadow to get a last cool drink before bedding down. I would have stayed all night till dawn, and nearly did but responsibilities finally kicked in and we headed reluctantly back to the San Francisco Bay Area. Yet I was comforted in thinking this short unplanned trip was just the first of many shoots to come in Tuolumne Meadows and the High Sierra of Central California.