Misty sunrise from Tunnel View, 6/6
After a long, cool spring, the weather in Yosemite has finally warmed up. Increasing snowmelt has raised the volume of the waterfalls, and partially flooded the meadows. And it’s supposed to get warmer: temperatures are predicted to reach eighty or above tomorrow and Wednesday. The waterfalls will only get bigger, and the meadows will turn into giant reflecting ponds. The Merced River is expected to reach flood stage by tomorrow night, and peak early Thursday morning. Flooding will probably be minor, but road closures are possible.
All this happens at just the right time for people hoping to photograph the lunar rainbow during the upcoming full moon. Once again, here’s a link to Don Olson’s site with his predictions for when the moonbow will be visible from the bridge below Lower Yosemite Fall, and from Cook’s Meadow. Note that the lower fall will probably be much too wet for photography—it will be impossible to keep spray off the lens. Also, here’s a link to one of my previous posts with tips for photographing this event.
There is no official word on when Tioga Pass will open. It’s possible that they could unlock the gates this weekend, but it seems more likely that will happen the following week, or even later.
In the meantime, we’ve had some great light and clouds in Yosemite Valley recently. I’ve included a mini gallery of images here from last Monday (6/6) and Saturday (6/11), made during my last two private workshops. My students Paulo and Stephen got lucky with the weather!
—Michael Frye
Fog, sunlight, and Bridalveil Fall, 6/6
Cathedral Rocks enveloped in mist, 6/6
High water, Cascade Fall, 6/11
Half Dome at sunset, 6/11
Wonderful photos, thanks so much for sharing..
I’m a big fan of low lying fog or clouds. Great pictures.
Beautiful waterfalls, very nice photos……
beautifully captured images, hope to get back up there soon!
Spectacular images! Thank you for sharing them!
AMAZING!!! Thanx for sharing 🙂
Great Work Michael. Absolutely love the fog, sunlight, and Bridalveil image.
Thanks very much everyone! Glad you like the photos. Dave, I like that one too – thanks.
Lovely Mike!
How many shoots compose the first and the second photographies?
Michael, the photo of fog and Bridalveil is very special — one of those shots that shows you something you’ve always seen in a way that’s different. I love the Valley in fog, too. You never know what the fan dance will reveal.
(I quite like the mist at Cascade. Also one of those views you don’t see often).
Hello everyone, I am a newbie to this site and to photography so looking forward to this blog.
Fabulous, wonderful wonderful photos. Makes me very envious, no mountains where I live!
Look forward to seeing lots more!
I love the layers of clouds in the valley. They remind me of a time during the edge of a storm (I believe it was beginning) and a tourist exclaimed how beautiful it would be once the clouds went away. I silently laughed…preferring the clouds. The other funny comment was how beautiful Half Dome looked when all you could see was El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall. 🙂
yes, why is it people hate clouds – to me they make it! Bring on the storm – makes a far more interesting photo!
Absolutely beautiful….it all came together and so well captured!
Michael, what can one say? Speechless with admiration.
Thanks David F.! Are you asking if those first two images are exposure blends? The first one yes, the second no. The first one, Misty Sunrise From Tunnel View, is a blend of three exposures using LR/Enfuse and Photoshop. I’m actually not entirely happy with this yet – I think it needs a bit more work.
Eric, thanks very much, I really appreciate your kind words! I like the Fog, Sunlight, and Bridalveil image too – one of those instances where the weather and light came together just so.
Claire, welcome! Glad you found this blog, and I hope you enjoy it.
Vivienne, your story reminds me of another. A friend told me she was in the Visitor Center in Yosemite Valley on a rainy day recently, and a couple of soaking wet people with cameras and tripods came in. My friend told them they were lucky not to have boring clear skies for their photography! I’m not sure those people appreciated that at the moment…
Nanthor, Vivien, thanks very much!