Half Dome and oaks in flooded Leidig Meadow, June 16th
Last Thursday Claudia and I rose early and drove up to Yosemite Valley to see the high water. When we arrived, we found Swinging Bridge almost completely submerged, and large portions of Leidig and Chapel meadows resembled lakes.
I wanted to make a photograph that “said” high water—that really showed the flood. But when the water is this high, many of the best viewpoints are under water! I found a spot in Leidig Meadow that looked great, with two of my favorite Yosemite Valley oaks rising out of the pond. But there was no way to photograph these trees from dry ground without contending with intervening branches and trunks. If I wanted this photograph, I’d have to wade in.
Anticipating this possibility, I’d worn my shorts. But I’d expected to contend with a foot or two or water; instead I found myself in up to my waist at times. Man, was that cold! In the video below Claudia captured footage of me in action (if you can call wading into a pond action). You’ll also see the view from the pond, and the raging river below Pohono Bridge.
Hot temperatures yesterday and today are expected to raise the water in Yosemite Valley to near flood stage again. So there’s still time to see sights like this if you can make it up to the park. The highest water levels will probably occur on Thursday morning.
Should be on Sunday morning nature moment. Thank you for sharing.
Now *that’s* dedication. Good job, Claudia & Michael.
Very nice, Claudia and Michael. I’m glad you didn’t try to set up your tripod in the last shot! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful shot which was paid for dearly. I find it interesting that you entered that cold water twice. First to place the tripod so it would appear in the initial scene and then to wade back to take the picture. I think this is the definition of dedication to one’s craft or to one’s wife. Take your pick.
Thank you for risking life and limb to capture the beauty and serenity for others to enjoy.
Personally, I would have fallen and gone right under the water — camera, tripod and all!
I truly enjoyed the video.
Thanks for sharing this Michael. You definitely go that extra mile to get the shot, that’s for certain! It also made me realize that there’s a thin line between brave and crazy 😉
I enjoyed the contrasts between the two halves of the video. The first felt so calm and serene…except for the tree trunks submerged in water, one could think you were just wading into a lake! But the second half really underscores the torrent of water coming down into the valley. Lovely to see you at work, Michael. Excellent videography, Claudia!
Just beautiful Michael. The image is breathtaking and so is the video. I agree with Michele in the first comment this should be on Sunday Morning.
Beautiful photograph, Michael!
Dan
Just watched the video.
You are a tougher man than I am, Michael! I recall once swimming in the Merced when I was very young – got out of the water after a few minutes and was so number I couldn’t feel any part of my body! I’m duly impressed with your dedication – and with the casual way you handle the camera a tripod in waist deep water.
If you do go back on Thursday, I think you may want a taller tripod. And hip waders. 🙂
Dan
This is the shot I wanted, but did not pursue to stay dry on my drive back to San Francisco. I should have opted for the wet ride home. I’m green with envy! Great job!!!
I don’t think I could have done it, even if I were able to walk “normal”. That’s dedication! Excellent capture Michael!
Nice shot Michael. Very nice shot!
Ya know, they make waders for this kind of endeavor. Nonetheless, nice image.
Wow ! that’s a lot of water! On sat, atleast people could walk on that bridge and now its submerged ?
Claudia, a very nice video – except for the birds chirping in the bckgnd and Michael wading through the water, there is such quietness.. Yosemite is such a paradise !
Michael, lovely photo. You have captured the essence of a still and beautiful morning very well :-).
–Vidya
Jeez. That water must have been cold! How long ago was it snow? Minutes. Another great
photograph and video. And I am guessing you had to stand there a while, very still, to keep
the rippling water quiet for your photo.
Great shot Michael. And you are really showing us all that dedication and passion for your profession are not just words to you. Wow, getting out in that icy cold water up to your waist, now that is determination to get the shot!
Loved Claudia’s video, it really helps to bring the whole story to life.
Scary but such a great shot finally! I’m not ready to show such a dedication to photography yet. Your are really tough and passionate, but don’t stop it’s always a pleasure to discover your new shots.
Great shot and video! Let me know when the print is ready to be ordered!
Don
I’m speechless AND breathless from the sheer beauty of it all!! You and Claudia make a perfect team 🙂
Wow, thanks very much for your comments everyone! Glad you all enjoyed the photo and the video. I was fun being there, although wading was not so much fun…
The water was very cold, but you get used to it after awhile. I guess I really wanted to get to that spot! As some of you pointed out, hip waders would help. Maybe I’ll get some and keep them in the car for next time – like Keith Walklet. But my need for them is very infrequent.
Rich, a point of clarification here: I didn’t wade out there twice so Claudia could get the tripod in the shot – that’s a little too much dedication! I set up the tripod, then went back to shore to get a polarizing filter. You can see me putting on the polarizer after I get out there. As I was walking out this second time I spotted a photograph I wanted to take over to the right, so I picked up the tripod and moved over to do that (although eventually found that the water was too deep at the place I needed to be for that image).
Anyway, thanks again everyone!
Thank you all for your appreciation! It really means a lot to me. I’m having great fun with the new video camera. The tripod I am using is not optimal. If anyone has any suggstions for an inexpensive tripod with a smooth video head, I would certainly appreciate hearing about it.
You may imagine that Michael and I talk about what we plan to do and what I should shoot beforehand, but we don’t. I just try to stay out of his way and let him do his thing. That morning, I was so involved with just capturing the scene that I didn’t notice Michael wading out, nor did I think it that unusual. I decided in a moment to turn the camera on him. Anyway, I’m very happy you all enjoyed it!
Very nice photograph and interesting Behind the Scenes video 🙂
Michael, how does your tripod deal with to all the water? Doesn’t water get into the joints or does _it_ have waders? How do you dry it out?
Mikkel, good question about the tripod. My Gitzo tripod deals with the water pretty well. When I got home I unscrewed all the joints, took the leg sections apart, drained the water, and let everything dry out, making sure the bushings dried out too. It’s as good as new. I wouldn’t try this with salt water though.
Thankyou for this view of Yosemite. I enjoy your photos and videos. Hopefully someday I’ll make the trip from Ohio to see this in person.
Beautiful view, Michael. That’s what I call “sacrificing for one’s art.”
Sports Authority has very serviceable hip boots and waders that can be had on sale for a modest sum. I keep them stowed for these rare occasions and am thankful for them each time.
How was the mosquito problem, if any? How about later/warmer?
Thanks Ann. Glad you enjoyed this, and I hope you make it out to Yosemite soon.
Chuck, thanks – it didn’t seem like that much of a sacrifice. 🙂 No mosquitoes that morning, but they’re coming out.
Wow … I don’t think I’d go out there with “thousands” of dollars in gear in my hands. But then, I don’t have a pro photographer’s cabinet full of camera bodies & lenses, heh heh :).
Anyway, great shot – it’s actually very pretty covered in water. Maybe they shoudl build a dam … oh, wait … 🙂
Awesome photo and video. People should appreciate good photos more after seeing this. All the best.
Thanks Bill! I didn’t really think there was much risk to my gear, or I wouldn’t have gone out there.
Mike, thanks very much!
🙂 Michael – yeah as i watched the video i was imaging [myself] slipping on some kind of debris and dropping the DSLR with lens, etc into the water. Ker-plunk :).
How interesting. You’re exactly the same Michael I knew when you were 16 years old! You even walk the same way. great video Michael and Claudia. I’m glad I happened upon it.
Bill, I try not to visualize such disasters. 🙂
Nancy, great to hear from you! Funny how we change yet stay the same. Hope you’re doing well. (And if you’re reading this wondering how Nancy knew me at 16, she was my high school music teacher!)
Have you ever seen such beauty
Gets the photo – AND should also get a photographic Purple Heart for immersion in water with a temperature suitable for the Titantic films… !!!
Steve, I’ll take that! Who gives these out? 🙂
Brrr…….given that I assume you’re taller than I, even my chest waders wouldn’t have kept me dry there. 😉 Snow melt…..brrrrr! Gorgeous shot.
Lol Charlene – I’m six feet even. But no matter how tall you are there are always limits! Glad you like the photo.
I invite you to come to Cape Cod in the summer and swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Top water temp, when the gulf stream is favorable, is about 56 – 58 degrees (fahrenheit, not celsius). 100 miles north up Maine and 52 degrees in August is considered temperate. How does that compare to Merced? I’m not trying to be a Yankee smart ass (well, maybe a little) but I’m just wondering? 🙂
heh, yes, Michael that’s probably a good plan (not thinking about the possible disaster) :).
Nancy, I’d love to go to Cape Cod, although I’m not sure about swimming! I don’t know what the temperature of the water was when I waded in, but it’s all from melting snow, and it was frozen probably, on average, six to twelve hours earlier. The water temp was probably in the low 40s or even upper 30s.
Bill, yes, positive thinking is good!
Love the shot and the video. The serenity of the shot is just amazing.
Any thought as to potential damage to the meadow once it drains? I’ve wondered about doing this sort of thing myself a few times, but hesitated.
Doug
Thanks Doug – glad you like these. I actually hadn’t thought about potential damage to the meadow. My guess it that this is not much of an issue unless dozens of people waded out into the same area, but this seems unlikely!
Beautifull photo, amazing. It is nice shot.
Thanks Jakarta!