Horsetail Fall just before sunset, Sunday evening, 5:28 p.m.
Yosemite got some showers on Saturday night, which helped to add a little water to Horsetail and create a decent flow – below average, but probably better than anything I’ve seen the last two years.
Sunday evening a workshop student and I joined the throngs of photographers near the El Capitan picnic area. Some thin clouds muted the the light a bit, and then thicker clouds cut the light off entirely just before it would have reached its peak intensity and color, and before the cliff behind the fall was in complete shade. But Horsetail still put on a good show, as you can see from the accompanying photo, made at 5:28 p.m.
Unfortunately the little boost in water level from Saturday’s showers probably won’t last long, and a hoped-for storm tonight and tomorrow now looks like it will bring only a slight chance of showers. I think Horsetail will keep flowing for at least the next week, but the flow will probably be pretty meager. Still, it doesn’t take much. With a clear sunset even a little bit of water can turn into a strip of neon orange. I’d guess the water flow will be similar to 2012; you can see what that looked like in this post from that year.
It now looks like the rest of February is likely to be dry. We really need a miracle March!
— Michael Frye
Related Posts: Another Clearing Storm, and a Horsetail Fall Forecast; Quick Horsetail Update
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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, 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 5: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide. Michael 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.
Even though water levels are down, it’s still an amazing scene. Did you use a wide angle or 70-200 for this photograph? I can’t tell because it looks like the ridge at the bottom is closer than the falls but I also have no idea how close you are able to get!
Thanks David. This was made with my 70-200 at 200.
I was there on sunday night as well. I flew in from Hawaii for two nights and was hoping I’d be luckly enough to capture this. Seemed like everything was aligned, clear skies and some falls. Then at the last couple of moments before it was supposed to turn red, the light just turned off. Better luck next time. Was cool to see all the photographers there, seemed like there were more there than at the super bowl
Edward, I’m glad you got to photograph it, even though the light didn’t fully cooperate. There were a lot of high clouds that afternoon, so it didn’t surprise me that the sun got blocked by clouds at the end. That’s often the way it goes.
Another great photo. Are you able to share your ISO, FStop and shutter speed settings with us?
Thanks Stan. 1/180th sec., f/11, ISO 800. If you’re thinking those same exact settings will work for you, they won’t unless the light level happens to be exactly the same.
Thanks so much. I am always interested in the ball park settings when a great photo is taken by a great photographer. I really appreciate your reply as we are going their this Saturday for our first attempt to shoot Horsetail.
i got the water fall on the same day, but different side. And after the raining, sunday morning was amazing!!
Di, yes, Sunday that Sunday morning was great!
Nice photos! I wish to go to Yosemite someday. My photo collections are mainly about Fairfield, Iowa. Lucky to got a chance to go to Hawaii, and next will be Yosemite (hopefully)
Thanks, and I hope you get to Yosemite, it’s a wonderful place.
My mom and I just love your photos and blog. We are using all the info youve shared to plan my moms first trip to Yosemite to see the “lava falls” something that shes dreamed about for 30 years!
Looking at February 19-23, 2015. Would you say these dates might be optimal (of course depending on weather and water flow)
Also, might you be giving any workshops that weekend?
Thanks for the great blog!
Thanks very much Liz. Yes, February 19-23 is a good time for Horsetail Fall, if the water flow is sufficient, and if you get some clear skies to the west so the setting sun can light the fall. Sorry, I won’t be doing a workshop then. Good luck!