Clearing storm, dusk, Tunnel View, 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Those of you who live in California know that our two-month winter drought finally ended, with storms arriving on Friday and Sunday. Yosemite Valley received over five inches of rain total, and at higher elevations most of that precipitation fell as snow.
For photographers this meant that for the first time in months we had the opportunity to photograph clearing storms. Not only that, but both storms were considerate enough to time their clearing perfectly and break up just before sunset.
Misty sunset over Bridalveil Fall, 4:57 p.m. Saturday
Friday night it dumped at our house in Mariposa, with strong winds driving the heavy rain sideways. A friend in Yosemite Valley told me he heard thunder that night.
Showers fell off and on most of the day Saturday, but the sun started breaking though in the afternoon, and the satellite and radar images looked promising.
I drove up to Yosemite Valley late in the day and arrived at Tunnel View just as the first patches of blue sky appeared. But just as the sun broke through a bank of fog blocked the view. Eventually the fog lifted enough to reveal a beautiful, misty scene of Bridalveil Fall with a pink cloud above Cathedral Rocks. The fog closed in again, but after sunset it cleared once more, with wonderful alpenglow illuminating the landscape. The photograph at the top of this post was made after sunset on Saturday, with a two-minute exposure to blur the motion of the clouds.
Sunday night’s storm was less intense, but seemed to clear more slowly. It continued to rain throughout the day on Monday, with no signs of sunlight or blue sky. But the forecast, along with the satellite and radar images, suggested possible clearing late in the day. I estimated there was a 20 percent chance of seeing some interesting light in Yosemite Valley that afternoon, but decided to drive up again, just in case.
It rained during the entire hour-long drive, but just as I pulled into Tunnel View I saw a small patch of blue sky overhead. On Saturday there were only two other photographers at this popular vista, but yesterday I found a workshop group there. I squeezed in between tripods, and we all waited.
Soon mist began lifting from the valley floor, and faint spots of sun hit El Capitan. The sunbeams got stronger, and then we were watching a full-blown, classic clearing storm, complete with orange and pink sunset colors.
Of course I’ve made thousands of images from Tunnel View, and on both of these evenings I could have headed to a different location. But I guess I have a bit of an obsession with Tunnel View. It is unquestionably one of the most spectacular and iconic vistas in the world, and when the weather gets interesting I can’t resist going there. It’s amazing to see how different this view can be from one day to the next, or even from minute to minute. Last night one of the workshop students walked back to her car while the light was still beautiful. The instructor (Phil Hawkins) said, “Going back already?” She answered, “I’m just waiting for it to change.” I was dumfounded. It was changing every second! I’ve been to Tunnel View hundreds of times, and this was one of the best sunsets I’d ever seen. Granted, they had been waiting there since 1:30, and I’m sure she was cold and wet, but how often do you get to witness and photograph such an event?
I’m extremely grateful that I live only an hour’s drive from this view, and have been able to photograph it under such varied weather and lighting conditions. I hope I never get tired of it.
—Michael Frye
Black-and-white version, Monday, 4:37 p.m.
Clearing storm, sunset, Tunnel View, Monday, 4:57 p.m.
Half Dome and El Capitan at sunset from Tunnel View, Monday, 5:01 p.m.
Half Dome and El Capitan through the mist at sunset, Monday, 5:11 p.m.
Related Posts: A Strange Winter Brings Unusual Opportunities; Yosemite’s Late Spring Continues…
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.
The Yosemite cams showed snow even in Awahnee Meadow. I’m glad you went up to show us how beautiful it was!
John, thanks, and there were a couple of dustings of snow in the Valley over the weekend, but the snow didn’t stay long.
Michael,
When I saw screen shots of the sunset being posted on Facebook y’day, I so hoped you would have captured all those images… Such a wonderful display of colors. Thanks for sharing with all of us (and also making me incredibly jealous of the fact that you got to experience it !! — just kidding !!!)
Thanks Vidya. I’m sure you’re only half kidding. As one of my workshop students once said, what’s the point of photography if you can’t make your friends jealous?
I knew you would see right through that
). But the part about hoping that you would have captured the light is true !!
Great Display with beautiful colors. I have waited a Olmsted Point to capture my favorite mountain and the changes arround it. I also have many photos from Tunnel View. No 2 are alike. Growing up in Berkeley, my dad used to take shots of the Sunset behind the Golden Gate Bridge. I didn’t appreciate them then and Now I am proud to have his 35mm slides.
Thank you Michael for your wonderful works.
Thanks Richard!
Gorgeous Michael! And good for you that you were able to witness it. Just goes to show how persistence rewards.
They’re all great – and I love the first image – the long exposure, the misty Bridalveil Falls, and that view of Half Dome and El Cap at 5:01 the most.
Thanks for pointing out your favorites Jennifer. I couldn’t decide, which is why I posted them all!
Misty Bridalveil Sunset is very nice, indeed!
Thanks Durwood! That moment really came together.
Incredibly beautiful photos, Michael! Really love the combination of fog, light, and snow in the fourth and fifth images. Glad to see that some snow has arrived in the Sierras at last, hopefully we’ll make up for lost time and there will be enough of a snowpack by spring.
Thanks very much Pat! Even without the great sunsets I was happy to see rain and snow, but we need much more.
Fantastic work there, Michael. Hurray for sucker holes!! And quite exciting as we’ve all been waiting and waiting for the snow. To call Yosemite your backyard is really special. The fact that you never tire of it and appreciate what lies before you with a great eye (and heaps of patience) from day to day is doubly special. You are awesome.
Thanks Jen! I am very lucky to live where I do. Hope you got some snow out in Colorado.
Michael;
Wonderful images! Even though we didn’t to get to experience the clearing skies, the time we spent at Tunnel View watching the changing shapes and depths of the mists was unforgettable. Thank you for sharing !
Thank you Dale! I remember that afternoon well, and it had its own magic.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your company at tunnel view. I am the gentleman that bothered you until the storm cleared. I bought your iPad app and real happy about the intuitive interface. Hope to be able to sign up for one of your classes.
Kent, it was nice meeting you at Tunnel View, and I’m glad you like the iPad app. How did your photos turn out?
My pictures were somewhat similiar. Not as much drama as I left my shutter open for 30 seconds. All in all, though, we were blessed to have the clouds break near the end of the day.
We were indeed blessed Kent.
Hiya, Michael!
Lovely work as always, and nice to see such a handsome black and white image as well! I’m missing Yosemite these days, and while the Ozarks are lovely, they just aren’t a patch on my beloved Sierra Nevada.
Do give Claudia my greetings,
Edie
Thanks Edie! Hope you’re doing well, and Claudia sends her best. Probably see you in February!
Bonjour Michael !
Merci pour avoir partagé avec nous ces superbes photos de ce lieu magique et impressionnant.
Belle lumière et belles couleurs !
Jean-Christophe
PS : (J’ai posté quelques photos de Lune sur le message précédent
).
Jean-Christophe, merci beaucoup. Je ne vois vos photos lune – le travail très agréable.
(Isn’t Google Translate great?!)
Tremendous shots, you do Yosemite credit, i imagine the tourist population would double if you published them in a holiday mag,
My favourite being the B and W.
Regards
Dave.
Hmm… in that case maybe I should avoid publishing these! Although it’s seems like everyone in the world is coming to Yosemite already. Glad you like the black and white image. I was experimenting with some other frames from Monday evening in black and white, which worked pretty well, but then when I applied the same settings to this photograph it just came alive.
Beautiful images Michael – thanks for reminding us that stormy weather can make for dramatic photos!
Thanks Jerry. Storms are always interesting, and this time, as I said, they timed their clearing perfectly. That’s actually very rare. I’ve waited at Tunnel View many times hoping a storm would clear before sunset and gone home with nothing more than the memory of a couple of hours spent shivering and stamping my feet.
Michael,
You have made me very very jealous! What fanatastic images. While I haven’t photographed Tunnel View as often as you have, I agree with you…it just keeps pulling me back. Same with Valley View. I just love seeing all the swirling clouds and the fantastic soft colors you got.
Thank you so much for sharing these. Now I have to wipe the drool off my desk.
Vivienne
Thanks Vivienne! There are, of course, many fantastic spots in Yosemite, but under the right conditions it’s hard to beat Tunnel View. And you mentioned the soft colors; in the heat of the moment I was just trying to capture whatever presented itself, but looking back at the images later it was striking to see how quickly things changed, and how different the mood was from one minute to the next – sometimes dramatic, sometimes soft and delicate.
Incredible photos! Exactly the kind of photos that make me think “Wow! I want to be there!”
Thanks Neelima! Hope you do get to be there soon.
Hello !
).
Thank you for your answer Michael !
If you don’t find my photos of the moon, please look at your article “Under a full moon” : I place the links there.
Thank your for your Work (books, e-books, photos…) which is a perfect model for me at my very little level !
Best regards !
(Please, scuse me for my poor english
J.C.
You’re welcome Jean-Christophe. I did see your moon photos, and thought they were very nice. Thanks for the kind words about my work and books.
Wow! Can’t think of a more wonderful way to brighten up my afternoon than to see these photos. My husband and I made our first trip to Yosemite in mid-May when the waterfalls were amazing and the weather changed by the minute. I think we stood at Tunnel View at least 7 times in 7 days at various times of day and never got tired of the view. When I look at your photos, I can’t help but be awestruck all over again. We’ll be back.
Thanks very much Ellen, and I’m glad these images help remind you of your visit to Yosemite. We did have some interesting weather and a lot of water last May, so you picked a good time for your first visit!
Wow Michael these are all spectacular shots! There is no way I could leave a location like this because I was waiting for it to change! Stick it out til there’s no light because you never know what you might see. My favorite is the top picture. I like the way the fog created a nice s-curve towards the waterfall!
Thanks very much Michael. Glad you like the top photo – the after-sunset alpenglow looked amazing to the eye, but when I’ve photographed that light in the past it never worked for some reason. But that light came through somehow in this image.
Michael, if this had only happened two days earlier we could have experienced it on our workshop with you! The images are wonderful.
Nevertheless, it was a enlightening 5 days of wall to wall photography and Lightroom processing with a superb group of fellow participants and fabulous teachers. Thank you so much.
I will just have to keep coming back until I get to experience that magic moment at Tunnel View. Such a terrible burden to bear (:>
John, it’s too bad that the storms didn’t arrive a little earlier; wish we could control these things! But I’m glad you enjoyed the workshop. I was a pleasure meeting you, and it was a great group of people all around. And yes, you’ll just have to keep coming back for that “magic moment” at Tunnel View. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.
I am soooo envious. If I can’t be in Yosemite to see the beautiful scenery myself, at least I can drool over your photos. Your first snow shots of 2012 are incredible. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Thanks very much Carol – but I have to say that between you and Vivienne there’s way too much drooling going on here!
Glad you like these images.
Hi Michael,
Beautiful work.
I love the “warmth and cold” quality of your winter photos.
Your clearing storm, sunset, Tunnel View, that you shot on Monday, 4:57 p.m. is incredible!
My favorite of the six photos is the clearing storm, dusk, Tunnel View, shot 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
When I have dreams about Yosemite that’s what they look like.
I hate to get all tekkie, but what was the focal length of lens that you used in these shots?
Thanks very much Paolo – I appreciate the kind words, especially the part about your “dreams about Yosemite.” Nicely said.
I don’t mind the “techie” question. Focal lengths were, in order: 34, 40, 40, 40, 126, 70. I used a full-frame sensor, and there is slight cropping on most of them.
Hi Micheal, Wow, I am feeling like I might of picked the wrong wk to come down. love your pics, I spent Sat/Sund watching the Web cam and getting very hopeful for my trip this coming Feb 3-9, Hopefully the NOAA weather people will be incorrect. they were spot on on this little storm. there is no snow in the near future according to them
anyway, if it stays that way , is Mariposa big trees still open at this time,
Tioga is closed correct??
maybe see you up there during that wk if you are in town, still thinking of booking a day with you. thanks for the posts
steve schwam
Steve, Feb. 3-9 ist still too far away to tell about the weather, so things could change. I hope so, because aside from getting interesting weather for photography we need the moisture.
The Mariposa Grove road is closed and will likely stay closed for the rest of the winter. You can walk, snowshoe, or ski from the South entrance – it’s about two miles to the parking area, and another mile or so to some of the more interesting trees. Tioga Pass is also closed and it’s unlikely to open before May.
Good luck!
Those are all fabulous, but my favs are the first two.
For the first one, could you share the settings and filter setup you used? A 2 minute exposure would have to use a ND filter, I imagine (I’m trying to learn this stuff before I go buy it – cheaper that way).
Thanks Andy. The first image was 2 minutes at f/22, 100 ISO, with no filter. It was well past sunset when I made that one, so it was easy to get a long exposure, no ND filter required. I do own both a 4-stop and a variable ND filter for situations where I want a long exposure and the light is brighter. I used the variable ND to make image # 28 from this post (exposure was 20 seconds for that one):
http://www.michaelfrye.com/landscape-photography-blog/2012/01/01/2011-my-best-images/
Thanks for the info on your settings – that really helps. And #28 is a cool image – great mood that the b&w along with the clouds really brings out.
Hi Micheal,
What beautiful photo’s, I especially like the first one. Thanks so much for shearing them with us. Your so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of our wonderful country.
I was in Yosemite for the first time this last April when the falls were at their peak.
Thanks again.
Thanks very much Gerald! And I’m happy you got to see Yosemite with a lot of water in the falls.
Great photos as usual. I can`t decide witch one I prefer. Thanks for sharing Michael.
Thanks Maria!
Michael, spectacular images as is your norm! You set the bar very high for us mere mortals!
It is so true that clearing storms – particularly in mountainous terrains – present some of the best photographic opportunities. Also, those of us fortunate enough to live close to such beautiful scenery never do seem to get tired of photographing it. Like Yosimite is to you, Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak are almost in my backyard. I am sure my wife’s and my family tire of seeing pictures of these places but they do change minute to minute. As we say in Colorado “if you dont like the weather, just wait for five minutes and it will change”.
Thanks very much James. There are many weather conditions that can create great photo opportunities, but clearing storms are certainly at the top of the list. And it’s always good to have places close to home that you can go back to over and over under different weather conditions. We’re both lucky to live near beautiful mountain areas.
OK, so I won’t drool. I just be awestruck and enjoy the warm feelings your photos give me. I especially like the Clearing Storm, dusk, tunnel view, 5:30 p.m., Saturday.
Thanks on both counts Carol.
Michael///I have to tell you that your images are stunning as usual. The B&W of Clearing Storm is unbelievable….love it.
Thanks very much Edith!
Simply gorgous. We were waiting and waiting for some snow in the vally, but with the storm that just passed, and no predicted valley snow, we hedged our bets and headed back up to Yakima between storms. I see now that perhaps there need not be any snow on the valley to get a wonderful photo. However, for someone who lives so far away, it would be too iffy to try to catch such beauty by planning a trip hoping for all the factors to line up. At least with actual snow on the ground I know I can see a winter wonderland of images.
You are lucky to live so close and take numerous trips to capture those rare juxtapositions of events. Well done. I will wait until next January on our winter trip. In the mean time, we have reservations for early May, and are hoping for a “normal” spring.
Aram
Thanks very much Aram. While I’d prefer to see snow on the valley floor in these images, the mist is much more important. In Yosemite I’d rather photograph a clearing rainstorm with lots of mist, and no snow, than fresh snow with no mist. Hands down – not even a second of thought about that one. And snow on the ground isn’t that photogenic – it has to be in the trees, and that usually only lasts for a short time after a storm clears. Just some food for thought when you’re planning your next trip to Yosemite.
Your last 6 images from Tunnel View are spectacular. I really love the 3rd and 4th images. Yosemite is the perfect place for B&W images. In the 3rd image, I really think the clouds and fog really add depth and character to the image. On the 4th image, El Capitan is perfectly lit and the fog in the valley is beautiful. I was lucky enough to get up to Yosemite a couple of years ago during a clearing rain storm. I agree with you that fog and mist hanging around all of the rocks really make for a spectacular photograph.
On another note, I was hoping to get up to photograph Horsetail Falls for the first time this year. I was tentatively planning on coming the 26th, but that appears to be too late.