Clearing snowstorm from Tunnel View, Yosemite, 8:53 a.m. Sunday
The first snow of the season fell in Yosemite Valley Saturday night, so of course Claudia and I had to go up and see the snow. Getting to the valley Sunday morning was a challenge; Highway 140 between the entrance station and the valley hadn’t been plowed, and it was a mess. Near the old dam (the junction of highways 140 and 120) there were about eight inches of snow on the ground, and a single track to follow through the snow. We had to wait about 15 minutes while an SUV put on chains in the middle of the road. But we made it through, and once we reached the valley the roads were plowed, and the driving easier.
We headed up to Tunnel View, where we found about a foot of new snow. Just as we arrived some blue sky appeared, so it looked like the storm was about to clear. It took awhile, but eventually the clouds parted and the sun broke through and hit El Capitan. I ended up staying near the Tunnel for a couple of hours photographing the ever-changing scene. Eventually I tore myself away, headed down to the valley, and visited a couple of spots along the Merced River.
The images I made that morning were all taken from well-known viewpoints. But in Yosemite it’s more about the moment than the location. When a storm is clearing the clouds, mist, and light are constantly shifting, and it’s fun to try to capture those moments, even from places I’ve photographed many times before. I always try to keep my ideas fluid, and adapt my composition to the conditions. In the photograph above, for example, I noticed the zigzag line of mist along the valley floor, with a diagonal band of clouds to complete the reverse-Z shape. At other times I focused on just El Cap and Half Dome (on the rare occasions when Half Dome was visible), or on Cathedral Rocks, as you can see in a couple of the photographs below. Tunnel View works particularly well during clearing storms because there are so many possible compositions. You can go wide and encompass the whole scene, or zoom in focus on a particular piece of the landscape.
It was so nice to see snow again, and feel it underfoot. Let’s hope we get a lot more this winter!
— Michael Frye
El Capitan and Half Dome from Tunnel View, Yosemite, 8:50 a.m. Sunday
Lower and Middle Cathedral Rocks from Tunnel View, Yosemite, 9:27 a.m. Sunday
Clearing storm, El Capitan and the Merced River, Yosemite, 10:05 a.m. Sunday
Related Posts: The Art of Being Flexible; Staying Flexible on a Snowy, Misty Morning
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, Yosemite Meditations for Adventurers, 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: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide. Michael 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.
Great shots, Michael! Can’t wait to join you there in January.
Thanks Fred, and I look forward to seeing you in January.
Beautiful images. I love your work!
Thanks Brownyn!
Beautiful … thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you Randy!
Beautiful. Thank you.
I’ve seen a number of photos from that day, and wow, how beautiful. I just love those swirling clouds and mist.
Thanks Vivienne! Yes, many photographers made it out to photograph the snow on Thanksgiving weekend. 🙂
Beautiful images, Michael. Very inspiring! Thanks for capturing and sharing these unforgettable moments!
Thank you George!
Beautiful scenes, beautifully seen! As usual, I might add.:-)
Thank you Chuck!
Wow.. Beautiful shots.. Thanks for sharing
Ramesh
Thank you Ramesh!
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It sure is wonderful that you live where you can hop in the car and be in Yosemite when the opportunity arises.
These are fascinating images. Love seeing them.
Yes, it sure is nice to be so close to Yosemite. Glad you like the images Terry.
Spectacular images as always. I am heading up to Yosemite this weekend, with the forecast predicting snow. Hopefully I get some interspersed sun and maybe even bump into you. Do you suggest staying in the valley?
Thanks Karthik! I see only rain in the forecast for Yosemite Valley, not snow. The snow level is supposed to be around 8,000 feet, which is far above the valley at 4,000 feet. Nevertheless, there could be interesting clouds and mist, which are more important in Yosemite Valley than snow. Here’s the NWS forecast:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.72836644908416&lon=-119.6136474609375&site=hnx&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text#.WEeKHHeZOEI
If there are rooms available, and you can afford it, staying in the valley is ideal. Good luck! It’s possible that you could bump into me; we’ll see what happens with the weather.
Great photos! I am going on a photo trip to Yosemite Valley in either late March or late April for 6 days. Which one would you choose and why? I understand the flowers near El Portal are probably best in late March.
PS I ordered your book on photographing Yosemite, but want to make a decision about dates very shortly.
Thanks John! Both times are good, so you really can’t go wrong. In late March you could find poppies blooming in the Merced River Canyon (near El Portal), but this bloom varies a lot, so it would have to be a good year. Late March is also often the peak time for redbuds in the Merced River Canyon, which are a bit more reliable than poppies. Late April is usually the peak time for dogwoods, though in some years it’s early May. There’s likely to be more water in the falls in late April; on the other hand, there’s a better chance of storms (and therefore clearing storms) in late March.
Wow, these are some nice moments. Some days… I tell ya…. 5 or 6 hours can just pass in a glimpse.. huh. The transitions of light and drama just seems endless. Each snap a transition in it’s own powerful glory, never to be repeated exactly again and all for the snapping. This looks like one of those days. Just killer man. Congrats. This is why we do this, right? For all the fizzles and flubs, near misses and OK’s. To find ourselves prepared and in the path of such moments, what a trip.
Nice weather coming next few days.
Thanks for sharing mike
Thanks Mizzy!
Those pictures remind of me of when I pass by a nearby park in the early morning. Usually, the fog hasn’t quite lifted all the way yet, so there will be a waist-thick “carpet” of fog in certain grassy areas. Thank you so much for sharing!
I think much of the power of photography comes from association – we associate an image with something in our own experience. Glad that happened here for you Dorothy.