Late afternoon view of Yosemite Valley from near Old Inspiratoin Point, Monday afternoon

It’s the time of year when both El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall get late-afternoon sunlight when seen from the west end of Yosemite Valley. In winter, El Cap get that late-day light, while Bridalveil stays in the shade. In summer it’s the opposite, with the cliffs to the right of Bridalveil Fall (like the Leaning Tower) receiving the last glow in the evening, while El Cap goes into shade earlier. But in early March (and around the end of September) the light balances well on both sides of the valley, making it a great time of year for photographs from Tunnel View and Gates of the Valley (aka Valley View).

Knowing this, I watched the weather closely on Monday. Some showers moved through, and it seemed like the last chance of seeing interesting clouds for awhile, so I decided to hike up above Tunnel View to a spot near Old Inspiration Point (I’ve described previous journeys up this trail here and here). I got there in time to catch one moment with beautiful cloud shadows. I especially like the shadow near the bottom of El Capitan (in the photo above).

Toward the end of March the light shifts more to the right, and can spotlight Bridalveil Fall late in the day. I’ve included a few older images below to show how the light changes at this time of year.

I’ve been seeing too many sun symbols in the weather forecast this week, but now there’s at least at chance of rain in the long-range forecast for next week.

— Michael Frye

Autumn sunset from Tunnel View, showing balanced sunset light on the upper parts of El Cap and Cathedral Rocks. This photograph was made on October 4th, 2009, about 15 days after the autumn equinox. The sun sets at approximately the same angle on March 6th, 15 days before the spring equinox.

Beam of light striking Bridalveil Fall from Tunnel View, March 27th, 2007. In late March the light can reach Bridalveil Fall very late in the day.

Moon rising between El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks from Valley View (Gates of the Valley). In winter, sunlight strikes El Cap late in the day, but Bridalveil Fall and Cathedral Rocks stay in the shade.

Related Posts: Rocks and Clouds; Yosemite Storms; Rainbow Weather

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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, Yosemite Meditations for Adventurers, 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 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.