Two storms unfolded almost exactly as forecasters predicted last week. On Wednesday night the first system dropped about 1.5 inches of rain on Yosemite Valley. The second storm on Friday dumped almost exactly two inches of rain. Badger Pass, 3,000 feet higher than the Valley, got about 18 inches of snow overall.
Despite these storms, rainfall totals are still only about 50% of average. In a normal year, Yosemite Valley would have received 26.9 inches of rain since last July 1st, however the current rainfall total for the season is only 12.9 inches.
But things are looking a little better after these recent storms. Conditions seem fairly normal in Yosemite for early March. There’s a snowpack in the high country, and the waterfalls are flowing well – a bit below average perhaps, but not dry, or nearly dry, as they’ve been for most of this winter. It seems as if the strange, dry pattern we’ve been in has ended, but we need a lot of wet storms to make up for all the rainless months. Some light showers are expected tonight and Wednesday night, and there are hints of a more substantial storm early next week – hopeful signs.
It’s been fun to finally have some interesting weather to photograph. On Thursday morning I found some beautiful, misty, black-and-white scenes at Tunnel View. Then on Saturday afternoon Claudia and I hiked up to a spot near Old Inspiration Point (I described our first journey there last year) and watched a spectacular, ever-changing display of dappled sunlight and flowing clouds. You’ll find a little mini-portfolio from both of those days below, plus one more image from Saturday at the top of this post.
I made all of these photographs with a Sony A7r, rented from Borrowlenses. I’ve been looking forward to testing this camera, since it uses essentially the same sensor as the Nikon D800E, but I can use an adapter to mount my Canon lenses on it. Because it’s a mirrorless camera, the A7r is very different than anything I’ve used before, so it takes some getting used to. But it’s growing on me, and the image quality is fantastic. I’ll post a full review soon.
I also saw many photographer friends and acquaintances around Yosemite this past weekend. There were some fun events going on, like the Yosemite Renaissance opening reception, and the Range of Light Film Festival, but for photographers I’m sure the main attraction was the weather. Where the average tourist hopes for sunny skies, we look for storms. It would be great to see some of the photos everyone made, so if you were one of the Yosemite storm-seekers during the last week please post a link to your images in the comments!
— Michael Frye
Related Posts: Approaching Storms; A Harebrained Idea
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Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author or principal photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, Yosemite Meditations for Women, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters. He has also written three eBooks: Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom, Exposure for Outdoor Photography, and Landscapes in Lightroom 5: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide. Michael 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.
Love the swirling mist Michael
Thanks Dave!
Wow! Some spectacular images, especially the vertical Clouds and Mist from tunnel view.
Thanks very much Charlie! It means a lot coming from you. 🙂
Excellent images Michael. I especially like the swirling mist at Bridalveil Falls.
Thank you Steve!
Really excited to see these images taken with the Sony A7r. I have very seriously considered this camera as an adjunct to my current camera. I like the ‘try before you buy’ option and would love to do the same with my Nikon lenses on it. Your images are fantastic BTW!! Particularly love the tighter shot of Bridalveil Falls in B&W…did you do the B&W in post, or in camera?
Thanks Susan! Try before you buy is always a good idea, and Borrowlenses is a great place to do that. They probably rent the Nikon-to-Sony adapter. Since I always use Raw mode, and Raw images are always in full color, I convert to black and white in software.
Michael, those are wonderful images. Thanks for sharing. I’m curious though…when you say “morning”, just how early are you actually shooting?
Thank you John. I reached Tunnel View just before sunrise, but the first image posted here, “El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall from Tunnel View, Thursday morning,” was made at 7:27 a.m., which was almost an hour after sunrise. But that was just because the sun didn’t break through the clouds very early that morning. I’ve made some of my favorite images from Tunnel View before actual sunrise, and after sunset.
Thanks Michael. I have to learn to go to bed earlier. 🙂
Well I probably stayed up until midnight and then got up at 4 a.m. that morning. I took a nap later. 🙂
Yeah, I’m into the nap thing now too. LoL! Once I’m up it isn’t so bad, but getting up is pure torture. 🙂
But I will force myself to get up early on my next trip to Yosemite. 🙂
Good for you! 🙂
You have some excellent shots from the recent storm Michael! Love those B&W …the misty bridalveil is my favorite of this set…
Thanks Raja!
Ha, I thought the tracking device I put on you was broken because we were at Tunnel View Saturday and it was beeping like crazy. It seems you were there, just above us. 🙂 Great looking images. I especially like that vertical black and white where the clouds look like they’re being poured into the Valley. And as a Sony shooter, I’m glad you’re enjoying the camera. Are you getting used to the EV? And did you see that big slice of red that shot across the Valley right at Sunset? Awesome afternoon at the park.
Ha, foiled your plan Kevin! 🙂 Yes, I’m getting used to the EVF. And yes, I did see and photograph that last-minute red light on Saturday. I didn’t like the photo that much from where I was, but maybe it was better from Tunnel View. Did you get it? Care to show us?
The red light went by so fast. Here’s what it looked like from Tunnel View.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonoraguy/12918006714/
Kevin, unfortunately it looks like that link is private, so I can’t see the photo. 🙁
Oops. Fixed now.
Enjoying your latest Yosemite photos. The b/w are especially stunning. “Clouds and mist from Tunnel View” photo reminds me of a huge cauldron. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your pics.
Thank you very much Ann!
Hi Michael,
Your photographs are as always spectacular! I was one of those Yosemite storm-seeker this last Sunday, and I did not see you. However, tunnel view was nice at sunrise -lots of colors in the sky. In the afternoon it was raining; therefore, the sun did not break through the clouds other than rain and rain. I had a small window of opportunity to photograph a clearing storm and I will post a link for you and others to see my photographs as soon as I finish editing them. mARTin
Thank you Martin! I wasn’t there on Sunday, but I’m glad you found some nice light, and I look forward to seeing your images when you finish processing them.
Hi Michael,
All I could do was watch the webcams and wish I was up there :-). Thanks for sharing these shots. That cloud arch was a great moment to capture. Number two also is wonderful (actually, they all are).
Doug
Well I wish you could have been there Doug. Maybe next time. 🙂 And thanks for the kind words about the photos.
Oops, accidental keyboard input there in the name above…
Doug
Figured that. 🙂
Michael,
After a few hours of processing my photographs, finally I have posted them at my website. You are more than welcome to visit my site at: http://martinnunezphotography.com/blog/
mARTin
Very nice Martin – thanks for sharing!
Hi Michael,
Oh, how I wish I could’ve been there! A great series. I really love the vertical and also the “intimate portrait” of Bridalveil with the mist swirling around it. Such a great mood. I also wish I could send you some of the record breaking snow we’ve had in the Chicago area.
Thanks Vivienne, and I wish you could have been there too. And yes, please send some of that snow here if you possibly can. 🙂
Ditto! the swirling mist is fantastic! Nice series Michael. I have to get up there now that we have some dramatic weather. Was there on Feb18th for the fire falls but there was no water.
Thank you Eleanor!
Michael, I’m trying to apply your advice to become a weather-watcher when planning a Yosemite trip. The forecast for Sunday and Monday (http://1.usa.gov/1gZ7Lg6) has a moderate chance of rain. Based on your experience, is a warmish March rainstorm likely to provide “clearing storm” conditions, or does it take a cold snowstorm to provide those dramatic skies and Valley mists? Thanks.
Sylvia
Sylvia, yes, a warmish March rainstorm is actually more likely to produce mist and clearing storm stuff than a cold snowstorm. Looks like Monday would be the most likely time for such conditions, but we’re still a few days away so the timing is vague at this point.