In the Moment:
Michael Frye's Landscape Photography Blog
by Michael Frye | Feb 15, 2009 | Yosemite Photo Conditions
The next in a long series of winter storms is due to arrive in Yosemite tomorrow. This one is expected to be warmer than the previous two or three; the forecast calls for a snow level of 5000 feet, so it will probably rain at 4000 feet in Yosemite Valley. But the snow level often drops at the tail end of a storm, so it’s possible that the valley floor will get a dusting of fresh snow on Tuesday. Those of you living in the Bay Area who’ve already been drenched by rain may be surprised to hear that we’re not expecting this storm until tomorrow, but it’s stalled and moving slowly.
This past week it snowed in Yosemite on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with some misty, clearing-storm interludes in between. I took the photo above on Monday afternoon from Tunnel View. I don’t often make black-and-white images, but this scene was perfect for it. Sunrise yesterday morning looked spectacular on the Turtleback Dome web cam, and I was sorry I didn’t make it up there.
There is now plenty of snow on top of El Capitan to feed Horsetail Fall, but temperatures have been cold, so melting has been slow. We need at least a few warm clear days to get the flow going. The forecast calls for some dry days later this week, but I don’t know whether that will be enough.
By the way, you can find links to the National Weather Service’s Yosemite forecast and the Yosemite web cams on the right.
by Michael Frye | Feb 12, 2009 | Announcements
Two of my images have been included in the Yosemite Renaissance XXIV juried competition, including Oak Leaf Floating in the Merced River, above. The exhibit will be shown at the Yosemite Museum, next to the Visitor Center, from February 27th through May 3rd. A reception will be held on February 27th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., where prizes and awards will be announced. This is always a fun event, worth making a trip to Yosemite for!
by Michael Frye | Feb 8, 2009 | Photography Tips, Yosemite Photo Conditions
The National Weather Service is predicting snow tonight and tomorrow down to 3500 feet near Yosemite, and they’ve issued a winter storm warning. They’re expecting unsettled weather all week, with another system arriving Wednesday, and a third around Saturday. In the short term this could mean some great conditions for photography between storms. In the long term this is good news for the state’s water supply, and for photographers hoping for waterfalls and wildflowers.
I was in Yosemite Valley Friday afternoon and all day Saturday for a private workshop. The valley received a few inches of snow Friday morning, but it had all melted by the time I got there. Saturday brought a mix of sun and clouds, though mostly clouds early and late in the day, blocking the best light.
Despite the clouds my student Tom and I found plenty of things to photograph. In the afternoon we headed to the river near the old Camp 6, hoping for Half Dome to emerge from the clouds. Some pretty light on the cottonwoods across the river caught our attention and we temporarily forgot Half Dome. I made a series of images with the white trunks of the cottonwoods and some orange willows, one of which you can see above.
Here’s a little exercise for you: take a quick glance at this photo, then look away. Now answer this question: which is closer to the camera, the white cottonwoods, or the orange willows? After answering take a longer look. I know the image is small, but a close look will reveal that the willows are in front of the cottonwoods. In fact the willows were about 50 feet closer to the camera than the cottonwoods. A 200mm telephoto lens compressed the space and flattened the appearance of the image. Long lenses are great for creating visual juxtapositions between distant objects. I use this telephoto compression all the time to create abstract designs and patterns.
In fact I didn’t just stumble upon this composition. I saw these trees from about two hundred feet further to the left. From that angle the willows were well to the right of the cottonwoods, and trying to include them both would have left too much space in between them. But I knew that if I moved to the right I could position the willows in front of the cottonwoods and might find an interesting juxtaposition.
This ability to think in three dimensions, to imagine what might happen if you move left or right, forward or back, up or down, is an essential photographic skill. Ansel Adams wrote that while sitting in a chair he would often mentally compose images of his surroundings, and imagine how the composition would change if he moved a little to one side, or higher or lower. This is a great exercise – try it sometime!
Here’s hoping that the approaching storms will bring lots of photo opportunities and chances to exercise our composition skills.
by Michael Frye | Feb 5, 2009 | Announcements
Five of my nighttime rock art photographs will be featured in the exhibit “Rock Art Perspectives: Pictographs and Petroglyphs,” at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon beginning February 13th. The exhibit will also include photographs by David Muench, paintings by Native American artists, and finding by archeologists. A reception will be held on April 2nd. I don’t know yet whether I’ll be able to make it up there for the reception, but if you live in the area it sounds like an interesting show. You can see a few more of my rock art images in my Night Portfolio.
by Michael Frye | Feb 2, 2009 | Photography Tips, Yosemite Photo Conditions
Conditions haven’t changed much since my post from January 19th. Most of the valley floor has old snow, with breakable crust that’s hard to walk on. But of course there are always things to photograph.
During winter here in the northern hemisphere the sun rises from the southeast and sets to the southwest. In Yosemite Valley this means that the rock formations on the north side of the valley, like El Capitan, Three Brothers (right), and Yosemite Falls, get hit by the sun early and late in the day, while the south side of the valley, including Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridalveil Fall, gets little sunlight. Half Dome receives nice sunset light all year, but in winter this late-day illumination rakes across its face, amplifying the texture of the rock.
February is a transition month as we approach spring. Sentinel Rock and Bridalveil Fall start to get some late-day light. The waterfalls have just a little more flow than in December and January. In February Upper Yosemite Fall often has a nice combination of early morning sun and a decent amount of water. Of course there’s the famous sunset light on Horsetail Fall.
The forecast calls for rain and higher elevation snow later this week. Storms, whether they bring rain or snow, always provide opportunities for great clearing storm photographs.
by Michael Frye | Jan 28, 2009 | Yosemite Photo Conditions
I got up early Monday morning and drove to Yosemite Valley, hoping for snow, mist, and clouds. Cold temperatures inhibited mist development, but there was half an inch of fresh snow, just enough to outline every tree. I made this image of alder branches overhanging the Merced River near the “new” Horsetail Fall view along Southside Drive.
Speaking of Horsetail, I didn’t see much water in it. Since the cold temperatures slowed melting, that was no surprise. But there was little snow on top of El Capitan, Horsetail’s source, which does not bode well for next month. We received lots of precipitation last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but the snow level was too high, and most of that precipitation fell as rain on El Cap’s summit. The “storm” Sunday was weak, and added at most a few inches to the snowpack. So we need a good snowstorm or two in the next couple of weeks. Nothing in the forecast so far…
by Michael Frye | Jan 24, 2009 | Yosemite Photo Conditions
It’s been raining here in Mariposa and Yosemite almost continuously for over 48 hours. The snow level is high, around 8000 feet, but is supposed to lower to 4000 feet – about the level of Yosemite Valley – tonight and Sunday. Precipitation is predicted to continue into Monday and maybe Tuesday. Keep it coming! We need it.
Storms always create the potential for great photographs, especially during a break or as they clear. I’ll be alert for these breaks during the next few days. Snow would be nice!
by Michael Frye | Jan 20, 2009 | Photography Tips, Yosemite Photo Conditions
For years my friend and fellow photographer Keith Walklet and I have been debating this question: When is the best time to photograph Horsetail Fall (at right)? Sometime in February, for sure, but when exactly? Keith thought it was closer to the middle of the month, while I always maintained that it was later. To get the answer, I was able to gain unique access to archives from one of the Yosemite Association’s web cams. And the answer is… around February 12th to 22nd. So Keith was probably closer to being right than I was, but there are a lot of variables. You can read a full-length article on my web site that explains all the details.
by Michael Frye | Jan 19, 2009 | Yosemite Photo Conditions
We’ve had a long spell of dry weather. You can find old snow in shaded areas, but nothing very photogenic. The good news is that warm temperatures have increased the flow in the waterfalls. While nothing like April or May, Yosemite Falls has a decent flow now, and much better light than in spring. The upper fall (right) gets early morning sunlight, and you can see rainbows near Cook’s Meadow (location 12 in my Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite book) around 8 a.m. Half Dome and El Capitan also get their best light in winter. Try Cook’s Meadow and Sentinel Bridge (location 11) for Half Dome, and Valley View (5) and Cathedral Beach (9) for El Capitan. Half Dome is best from late afternoon until sunset. El Capitan can be good in either morning or evening.
The forecast calls for possible showers later this week, so I’m hoping for some more interesting weather!
by Michael Frye | Jan 18, 2009 | Announcements
Welcome to my blog. I’ll be posting news, tips, updates on Yosemite photo conditions, new images, and much more. I look forward to hearing your comments!
