Horsetail Fall and clouds on a March afternoon, Yosemite NP, CA, USA
I’m happy to be up and running after dealing with some computer issues, and can give you a quick report on Horsetail Fall. During a private workshop on Monday I had a chance to check out the water flow. I’d say it’s a little below average for mid-February, but definitely better than last year. Despite six weeks of mostly dry weather there’s still some snow on top of El Capitan to feed the waterfall, and temperatures are supposed to rise a bit this week, which should help melt that snow and increase the water volume.
The window of best light for Horsetail Fall starts this weekend and lasts about a week to ten days. If our dry spell continues we should see some clear skies at sunset during that time — an essential requirement for the Horsetail light show. But the long-range forecast calls for precipitation next Tuesday and Wednesday, so we’ll see.
As a reminder, I’ll be at the reception for my exhibit at The Ansel Adams Gallery this Saturday from noon to 2:00 p.m., and also at the Yosemite Renaissance opening reception the following Friday, February 22nd, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Yosemite Museum. I hope to see you at one of those events if you’re in the area!
— Michael Frye
Related Posts: Horsetail Fall Questions; The Best Time to Photograph Horsetail Fall, Revised
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.
You know, for a natural phenomenon that’s all about color, the B&W photograph that heads this post is really quite stunning.
(I’m hoping to be up there visiting friends in Mariposa 2/24-25. To see Horsetail, though, I’m thinking of bringing a raft to float the Merced to avoid the crowds 🙂 ).
Eric, there wasn’t much color when I took this photo. It was made in March, so long past the time when Horsetail gets that sunset light. The light in March and April can be beautiful — just not colorful.
Still a great picture 🙂
Thanks for the update, Michael. I was in the Adams Gallery last Saturday and came across several of your prints which were just stunning. I’ll be up again this Saturday with about 10 of my friends, so if we are over on that side of the valley from 10-noon, we might try to stop by. Glad that the gallery is featuring your work!
Thanks William — glad you liked the prints. It would be nice to see you on Saturday, but it’s noon to 2:00 p.m., not 10 to noon! 🙂
Michael
Just found your site in the past couple days, Will be in Yosemite late April so your updates will be great. Will be doing a workshop then staying a couple more days. At the time we signed up I did not know about you but would love to do one of your future workshops. Never been to Yosemite so am really looking forward to it.
Glad you found me Thomas. I hope you have a good time in April, and maybe I’ll see you in a workshop some time.