Three Brothers reflected in the Merced River on a moonlit night, Yosemite NP, CA, USA
It was 1985 — I think. My fiancé Claudia and I had started working at The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley in September. On New Year’s Eve it snowed, but after dark the storm broke, and a full moon appeared through rifts in the clouds.
Someone suggested going cross-country skiing in the moonlight. With a few co-workers from the gallery and other valley friends we gathered our ski equipment and headed out to the Ahwahnee Meadow. There were nine of us altogether (I only know that because a snapshot of the group has survived). Most of the group weren’t experienced skiers, and I remember a lot of flailing and falling while we were trying to cross a ditch in the meadow.
Then someone had the brilliant idea of skiing to Mirror Lake, about two miles away. In our youthful exuberance and folly we all thought this sounded great. We skied out past the Ahwahnee Hotel and along the old roads that lead to the lake. At one point Claudia, myself, and a few others got behind the rest of the group, only to be ambushed by snowballs as we entered a stand of trees.
We eventually made it to Mirror Lake around midnight. None of us thought to bring any champagne, but it didn’t matter — we were quite happy anyway, and thought it was a fitting way to greet the new year.
One of my memories from that night is how indescribably beautiful it was to watch a snowstorm clearing by moonlight. As we skied out to the lake I kept looking up at Glacier Point, Half Dome, and the moon. The clouds and mist glowed, and the snowy cliffs seemed impossibly bright.
For the past several years, spurred by the memory of that New Year’s Eve, I’ve wanted to capture a photograph of a clearing snowstorm by moonlight. It’s not often that a storm clears after dark while the moon is full, but I finally got that opportunity last Wednesday.
A series of storms had left over a foot of fresh snow on the valley floor. Watching radar and satellite images online I realized that the skies would clear in the evening, and the moon was almost full, so I dressed, packed my camera gear and some food, and drove up to Yosemite Valley.
When I left my house in Mariposa the moon was out, so I thought it might be too late by the time I reached the park. But I was just in time. The mist actually lingered and swirled around the valley for hours, and I photographed from Tunnel View, Cook’s Meadow, and along the Merced River near El Capitan. This photograph of Three Brothers is my favorite image from the evening — the one that best captures the feeling of that moonlit, misty night. And it evokes memories of that New Year’s Eve twenty-seven years ago.
I hope the coming year brings you joy, beauty, and light. Happy New Year!
My Best Images From 2012
The new year has almost arrived, so that means it’s time once again to pick my best images from the past year. Tomorrow I’ll post a selection of my top photographs from 2012, and let you vote for your favorites. This has become an annual tradition on this blog, and is always a popular event, so keep an eye out for that post tomorrow!
— Michael Frye
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 eBooks Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom, and Exposure for Outdoor Photography. 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.
Michael, once again an absolute gorgeous image and a great story to accompany it. Your dedication to landscape photography is inspirational but, more importantly, so is your (and Claudia’s) dedication to a long marriage. Today, that is becoming a rarity. Best of wishes for 2013!
Thanks James, especially the part about the long marriage. 🙂 Happy New Year to you!
What a gorgeous shot, Michael! Thanks for sharing that great story! So jealous that you are in Mariposa and can head up whenever the conditions look good!
I wish I didn’t live 6 hours away because I’ve been keeping an eye on the weather as well and trying to decide how much the conditions could change by the time I actually make it up there. So tempting to just driving up there to try and time it when a storm is clearing. I’ll be back in February for the annual Horsetail attempt, but this time I’m bringing about 13 good friends with me, most of which are photographers. We won’t have any moon to work with, but we are certainly hoping for some snow…and maybe a clearing storm! Most of us have already purchased your book or app. Thanks for being an inspiration to us all! 🙂
Thank you William! Wish you lived closer. 13 people… well I guess that will be just a drop in the bucket along with the hundreds of other photographers who will be there trying to photograph Horsetail Fall. 🙂
One of the most inspiring photographs I’ve seen in 2012. This is what photography is all about, this is why photography is my way of live.
I wish you and your wife all the best for 2013!
Thank you Jan — all the best to you for 2013.
Michael, a most beautiful image! The story was fun to read and obviously great memories for you and Claudia. That is the year that Lori and I got married, so we are right there with you. The time has sure flown by and it is a great reminder to slow down and enjoy the journey. This was a wonderful year of photography for me and many thanks to you for your help and inspiration! I would like to wish you and Claudia a very happy and joyful new year. All the best for 2013!!
Thank you Marc! Claudia and I got married the next spring, but you two have lasted even longer. 🙂 Hope you have a great year in 2013.
Beautiful! I am envious of your skill as a photographer and your proximity to Yosemite – never more so than when you share such an evocative story and inspiring image. All the best for 2013 and I hope to see you one day soon in the valley.
Thanks Robert, and all the best to you in 2013!
Happy New Year Michael & Claudia!
Excellent work Michael!
This is one of the most incredible Yosemite photos that I have ever seen by ANY photographer!
When I have dreams about Yosemite … This is what they look like!
Sorry for all the exclamation points, but your photo just blew me away 🙂
Take care.
Paolo
Well okay, I’ll let you get by with all those exclamation points this time… 🙂 Happy New Year to you Paolo!
As always Michael, I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog and seeing the inspirational images that you post. I am envious in the fact that you live so close to Yosemite that you are able to get up there in just a few minutes to take advantage of rapidly changing weather conditions which allow you to capture those extremely beautiful but short lived moments in the Valley. This one is by far one of those images that truly conveys a beautiful moment in time – Good Job!!
Wishing you and Claudia a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!
Bill
Thank you Bill — I’m glad you like this photo. Happy New Year to you!
Michael. Truly awesome shot and lovely story. That was the day we left Yosemite to head south. Missed it by that much….. As Maxwell Smart would say.
Happy new year to you, too. Keep those great shots coming.
Aram
Thanks Aram, and sorry you missed this night. You’ll just have to stay in Yosemite for a year or so next time. 🙂 Happy New Year!
That is one seriously beautiful shot Michael! It’s great when a moment in time can saved forever and bring back wonderful memories! Happy New Year!
Thank you Michael – Happy New Year to you too!
Awesome Shot Michael, The clarity of the peaks in the water and the magical feel of the evening you have captured and shared so beautifully.
Thanks very much John — Happy New Year to you!
Michael, 2013 blessings to you and your family! Thank you so much for the inspiration you have given me these last 8 years. I first met you during your May 2004 workshop and learned a lot about the importance of light in compositions and about printing well. My husband now mounts our photographs in his “flotart” style and we have Yosemite and nature surrounding us on our walls at home and at work. It gives us great joy to have them out where we can ponder and share instead of having to go to our computer to do that. You are my most favorite photographer-teacher and I look forward to all your blog entries and photographs as they continue to inspire me. Again, thanks for your teacher spirit and someday soon I hope to introduce you to my new (3 years new) husband.
Thank you Karen! All the best to you and your new husband in 2013.
Michael,
One of the best shots (and that is of so many good shots you have shared). It definitely evokes that Yosemite magic for me.
Thanks for sharing as always and happy new year!
Doug
Thank you Doug, and Happy New Year to you too!
What an inspiration; both image and story, Michael!
Werner
Thanks Werner!
A great story and a fantastic image. Thanks for sharing.
A do love how serene this image feels, very peaceful. A perfect image for beginning the New Year.
Thank you Richard — glad you enjoyed the image and story.
Michael,
This is an amazing image!!! I love capturing the colors that are hiding in the dark – of course there is no darkness, only a lack of light. This shot has an otherworldly, fairy tale look to it and jumps off the screen, Excellent work!
Also, purchased your Yosemite guide. It is a great reference and a huge help for the visiting photographer. Thank you for sharing your years of hard earned experienc. It’s nice to come across an artist that gets it when it comes to sharing local knowledge.
Mike
Thank you Mike, and I’m glad the book (or was it the app?) was helpful.
Michael, thank you for sharing your memories of that evening. It sounds like it was a magical New Year’s Eve. Cross country skiing in the valley sounds absolutely magical too!
Thanks Vivienne — cross-country skiing in the valley can be magical indeed, especially by moonlight.
Michael, I really enjoyed reading this post! The picture it WONDERFUL! I’m subscribing so I’ll “see” you again soon. Happy New Year!
Dorothy
I’m glad you enjoyed the post Dorothy, and thanks for subscribing!
Fantastic photo Michael and I enjoyed the ’85 story.
Any chance you can give us a heads up when great conditions like this are approaching? I’m just a few hours from Yosemite but don’t have nearly the same feel for the weather you obviously do. Maybe just quick posts when you decide to head out and why?
Thanks for all the great posts and your book was invaluable the last time I visited!
Thanks John. I do occasionally post things here about upcoming weather conditions, but it’s hard to do it last minute. Maybe Twitter would be a better way? I’ll think about that.