Workshop participant photographing a colorful maple
My five-day Digital Landscape: Autumn in Yosemite workshop ended Sunday, and I taught another private workshop in the park on Tuesday, so I’ve been able to monitor the fall colorin Yosemite Valley closely. The yellow big-leaf maples are past peak in a couple of early-changing spots, and just getting there in other places (like around Fern Spring), but overall they look great. The dogwoods are becoming more colorful every day. Most are still partially green, but you can find beautiful specimens around Valley View and between the old dam (Highway 120/140 junction) and Pohono Bridge. The higher-elevation dogwoods along Highways 41 and 120, and in the Tuolumne Grove, should be prime, though I haven’t checked them out personally.
Golden reflections in the Merced River
As mentioned in previous posts, most of the cottonwoods leaves just turned brown and dropped off, and the same thing happened to some of the black oaks. But the oaks around Cook’s Meadow seem to have avoided this problem, and are still in good shape, though they’ve only just started to change color. The elm in the middle of Cook’s Meadow looked great two days ago, but will probably lose most of its leaves soon.
A weak but cold storm is forecast to arrive tonight, and that could change everything. The snow level might drop as low as 3,500 feet tomorrow. Since Yosemite Valley is at 4,000 feet that means a dusting of snow could coat the trees and those yellow leaves—a highly photogenic combination if it happens. But the wind, precipitation, and sudden dip in temperature might also cause many trees to drop their leaves abruptly, or make partially-green trees, like the oaks, turn brown. It’s impossible to predict how these things will play out, but autumn could end abruptly in Yosemite Valley. On the other hand, snow-covered trees and clearing storms can look great also!
The accompanying photos were made during and just after the five-day workshop. We had a really fun time with a great group of people, and I hope to post some of the student’s photographs soon. The top image shows one of the participants, Jim, photographing one of the abundant yellow maples. The second image is from a new spot for me. With all the time I’ve spent in Yosemite Valley you’d think there’d be nothing new to discover, but I’m still finding juxtapositions of light and subject that I’ve never noticed before. This is a small rapid that gets wonderful reflections from the late-afternoon sun hitting El Cap.
The bottom photograph shows grasses and reflections in a pond near the Merced River. I’ve looked at this pond many times before, but this is my first photograph from this spot that I’m happy with. I seem to be in abstract mode lately!
Here’s hoping for some interesting weather and light in the next few days!
—Michael Frye
Related posts: Eastside Abstracts, and Yosemite Valley Color; Yosemite Valley Fall Color
Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author and photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters, plus the eBook Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom. He has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.
Grasses and reflections of willow leaves
Wonderful pictures. I am heading to the valley tomorrow, looks like I may not catch a lot of fall colors, hope to see some snow at least.
Thanks Milind! I don’t think you’ll be too late for color tomorrow, though it may be fading quickly. Have fun!
THIS PICTURES ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOUR PHOTOGRAPHYC VISION HAS HELPED ME.
Thanks Perla!
I really like your last image of the willow and grasses reflection. Bummer about the cottonwood & oak trees turning brown. It’s gotten cold here on the east side too. I guess our indian summer is coming to an end. Bring on winter! 😉
Thanks Cory – I think that last photo worked out pretty well too. Autumn is so fleeting, and I’m always sad to see it end, but I love winter too!
I love the reflections in the Merced. It’s like molten gold.
Thanks Vivienne – glad you like this one. It took a bit of experimenting to get the right shutter speed to show both the movement and texture of the water.
Thank you for your post. I like your Merced river reflection too. Just love reflections….
Was there in Yosemite last weekend. For sunrise I went to Cook’s Meadow to capture the Elm tree. The morning was beautiful.
http://blog.leu.org/2011/10/half-dome-and-elm-at-sunrise.html
Thanks Daniel – glad you also like that photo, and good job capturing the elm tree.
Nice work Michael. Inspiring. Three years ago I visited Yosemite and I was fascinated by the landscape. I’am also an admirer of Ansel Adams and particular his zone system.
It’s a pitty to live so far away from one of the most beautiful naturparks in the World.
I’have put a link to your site on my blog. May be ou can take a look at my work.
Greetings,
Con van Staa
Netherlands
http://confotoblog.blogspot.com/
Con, thanks very much for the kind words, and for linking to my blog. You have some nice work on your blog also.
Thanks for your reply, Michael. I’ll keep on following you.