El Capitan and Horsetail Fall at sunset, Yosemite
I rose early yesterday morning to go up to Yosemite Valley, thinking the storm might clear just after sunrise. But showers persisted, and the sun didn’t break through until almost ten o’clock. By the time I finished photographing it was almost noon, so I decided to stay in the valley until sunset.
In the afternoon typical after-storm condensation clouds formed around the rim of the valley. Thinking those clouds might add something to a photograph of Horsetail Fall, and allow me to capture something a little different from my other images of this waterfall, I headed for a spot with a good overall view of El Cap and Horsetail.
It turned into a really beautiful sunset. At first I could see clouds banked up to the west of Cathedral Rocks, and worried that they might block the light. But those clouds gradually dissipated, while a picturesque cloud on top of El Cap lingered until sunset. That cloud constantly changed shape, but basically remained in place for almost an hour. As the sun sank the light turned gold, then orange. The wind played with Horsetail, making this tiny fall look exceptionally large. Mist rose upward next to the fall several times.
I kept changing lenses to capture both wider and tighter views, but reviewing the images later I really liked the wider compositions, with that cloud above El Cap. The photograph shown here has all the elements I was looking for: El Capitan, sunset color, the beautifully-shaped cloud, and wind-blown Horsetail Fall. I couldn’t have asked for more.
I’ve seen Horsetail put on its light show many times, but never get tired of it, and last night was an exceptional performance. I bet there were a lot of happy photographers in Yosemite yesterday!
— Michael Frye
Related Posts: Horsetail Fall Forecast; Horsetail Fall 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, 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: 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.
Just when you thought it was impossible to make a unique photo of horsetail falls…
This is really a striking photo, and totally unique. I have seen quite a few photos of this famous waterfall lately, and although they are beautiful, I felt one thing was missing–a sense of place. The close up photos are always somewhat abstract. But, with this photo one gets a feeling for the whole atmosphere around the fall. The waterfall here is a small, but important part of the whole photo. I also like how the small sunlit cloud on the left echos the form of the larger one above the falls and cliff.
Because I don’t have the chance to actually see the falls in person during this time of year, I’ve been looking at various photos. With this photo I now have a better sense of the moment, feeling and place.
Brian
Thanks very much Brian! It’s hard to find an overall view from the right angle without a bunch of trees in the way. And without clouds or mist, a closeup view of Horsetail is definitely more dramatic. But as you say, it’s nice to see the fall in context. This photo actually shows Horsetail’s drainage – that little draw that leads up and to the right above the top of the fall. The drainage might include a little more area that you can see here, up behind the rounded dome at the right edge of the photo, but not much. Given how small that drainage is, it’s amazing that Horsetail has as much water as it does – and not surprising that it can be almost completely dry in some years.
Good morning and thank you for a beautiful image to wake up too! I always enjoy your updates on Yosemite, and enjoyed your article in Outdoor Photographer too, which I read late last night. Thank you again for sharing. Maybe next year I can see that in person.
Thanks very much Lisa, and I hope you do get to see Horsetail in person sometime. Even though it’s been photographed so much, it’s not the same as seeing it in person.
Beautiful, Michael! As someone who’s seen firefall images for years, but never seen the event in person, it’s neat to have the wider view for some context and scale, especially when the clouds and light tie it all together.
Thanks so much Jackson! As I told Brian, it’s hard to find an overall view from the right angle, and even with that you need some clouds or mist to add interest, otherwise you’re better off zooming in on the fall.
Michael,
This is the best photograph I’ve ever seen of Horsetail Fall.
Cheers,
Alyn
Thanks so much Alyn!
Michael
Thank you for a wonderful photo. I always say Yosemite is magical.
Yosemite is always on my list of places to visit when I travel to the States.
Cheers
Denise
Thanks Denise!
Michael,
I agree with Alyn – the best I’ve seen! The sliver of light on the further cliff face, the glowing clouds puts into another realm.
Chloe M.
Thanks very much Chloe!
Great work Michael. I’ll be there on Sunday with some friends and hoping for more of the same – or variations.
BTW, is the NPS still parking cars on the roadways (south and north sides)?
Mel
Thanks Mel, and good luck on Sunday. Yes, the park service has been blocking one lane for parking on sections of Northside Drive and Southside Drive.
Hi Michael,
I plan to be in Yosemite this weekend – I’m looking at weather.com’s hourly forecast cast for Satruday(2/20) and it says it will be “mostly cloudy” from 3pm until after sunset. From your experience do the weather.com guys get the predication right? Alternatively, I also considering to stay the night tomorrow, and hopefully get to shoot the firefall on Sunday.
Lee
Lee, I don’t use weather.com, so I can’t tell you how accurate it is. If you go to the National Weather Service site for Yosemite Valley…
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.72836644908416&lon=-119.6136474609375&site=hnx&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text#.VsefUVL1fxA
… and look at the hourly weather forecast graph, it shows 40% sky cover until 3 p.m. Saturday, and 22% from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday looks better – 10%. But remember these are forecasts, and any attempt to predict the future is not going to be completely accurate.
Thanks for the information, Michael. I looked at the forecast for Monday.. the National Weather Service website says cloud cover is 7% until 3pm, and 11% from 4pm onwards for Monday. From this information, its tempting to go on Sunday/Monday instead of Saturday/Sunday.
My question is: from you experience and knowledge of shooting the in Yosemite valley, do you think the sun’s angle will still be good on Monday to make the falls glow?
Lee, as I’ve written in previous posts about Horsetail Fall, the window of best light is from about Feb. 16th through Feb. 23rd, possibly a little beyond the 23rd. The later in the window you go, the longer the best light lasts each day – that is, the longer the cliff behind the fall will be completely shaded while Horsetail is still lit. So in terms of the sun angle, I think Sunday and Monday will be excellent.
Thanks much for the useful information Michael. I going to give it a shot, by going Sunday/Monday.
Beautiful capture. I shot this night from Northside drive. It was pretty amazing having that cloud on top. Where was your photo taken from if you don’t mind me asking? Looks a little higher up then most valley floor shots.
Thanks Jeff! I’m reluctant to share the location this photo was made from, in large part because it’s a difficult and potentially hazardous place to get to.
Dear Michael,
Congratulations! All the components are in the right place. What a perfect masterpiece and also very refreshing from where you took the picture.
Best,
George
Thanks very much George!
Please don’t tell folks where u took this !!!!!!!!! It will be ruined and overrun by the massessssssss!!!! Like everything these days, soon there will be huge trail going there
Well I wasn’t planning on it JJ.
thank you, leave the fun and adventure in finding new spots instead of easily being found by gps..
Hi Michael…as people who have photographed nature in Alaska, Washington and here in California, it is amazing to see beauty captured as it looks to the eye. Looking at your photos is like looking at the scenes in person, and since my wife can no longer hike the way she used to, your images allow us to see things like we used to. We even managed to take some pictures a few years back of Horsetail Falls in a firefall condition, so seeing these images you captured brought back some good memories.
By the way, I believe I saw your pictures on Headline News this past week. I was on a business trip to North Carolina, and it was during one of their weather segments where they put up outdoor images from around the country. If it was not your image of Horsetail Falls, then you had someone standing in your hip pocket when you took you photo.
Thank you for sharing your gift of capturing the beauty around us in the part of the world.
Thanks so much Cliff! As I wrote you, that wasn’t my photo on Headline News, but many Horsetail photos tend to look alike. 🙂
Hi Michael.
It was nice to meet you as we crossed paths headed to and from your spectacular vantage point. The overcast skies beforehand made me think it wasn’t going to happen. So glad you got such a fantastic shot.
Thanks Peter – it was nice to meet you too. I hope you got something you’re happy with too!
Hi Michael,
It’s so fun to see a different view of Horsetail Falls. Love those glowing clouds! I feel fortunate to have gotten to see this and photograph this. I still remember the wonder I was filled with when we saw the water light up and glow. I have my photo in my office at work, and people always do a double take when I tell them that is water, not fire!
Thanks Vivienne. I’m glad you got to see Horsetail under the right conditions; even though it’s been photographed many times, the photos actually don’t do it justice – it’s really a spectacular sight.
I agree, Michael. I think part of the wonder is watching the light begin to hit the water and the color change. It’s one thing to read about it and see the photos, but another to see it in person.
I have to agree with all…the pictures and descriptions are marvelous in the mind, but actually seeing this for the second time can only be equaled in my mind with seeing the Aurora Borealis when we lived in Alaska…we are a fortunate few who get to see these things in nature…and I appreciate anyone who sees and shares this images with the rest of the world…
Nicely said Cliff, thanks!
A wonderful interpretation as per your usual!
Thank you Chuck! Hope you’re doing well.
Hi Michael,
I was at the southside area last Tue and Wed. Great viewing and lots of fun both nights. Here’s an image from Wed: http://mjkatzphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Recent-Work/G0000RLw_gdLUjvA/I0000YZ9QOKXEIg4 There were several hundred people, including painters and videographers. A joyful bunch. Here’s a modest proposal: why not have NPS extend the shuttle bus loop to the El Cap Meadow cutoff during the prime viewing windows? It’s only an extra mile or so each way, and it would cut down on the traffic and parking problem.
Glad you had a good time Michael, and got some nice photos. A shuttle bus seems logical; you should send your idea to the park service.
Monday morning I arrived in Yosemite to find, as hoped, the waterfalls brimming and Horsetail Fall looking
Glad you found the waterfalls so full Vaughn. I was there on Monday too, and it was beautiful, though lacking the forecast snow.
Michael, Excellent Image. In fact, I was there on Feb 18 and saw many photographers bunched up to photograph the horsetail falls at sunset. I preferred to go elsewhere in the park and made my own images. I summarized my Yosemite photography from Feb 18 in my blog – http://blog.pixgaga.com/?p=206. I have referenced this post of yours from Feb 18, in my blog.
Thanks Satish. In looking at your blog post, I certainly understand not wanting to take the same (or substantially similar) image as hundreds of other people. On the other hand, seeing Horsetail Fall in person in the right light is spectacular. The photographs actually don’t do it justice. Would you avoid going to the Grand Canyon because too many people had photographed it, or would you want to stand at the edge of the canyon and feel its immensity for yourself? I actually think viewing Horsetail Fall is in the same category. It’s one of nature’s most unique and spectacular light shows, and this year’s exceptional conditions may not be seen again for many years. We photographers often become too focused on results. Thinking about getting the photo, or not getting it, or worrying about whether the photo is original or not, all distract us from actually experiencing the beautiful places we go to. Perhaps your experiences in Yosemite away from the crowds were equally rewarding – I hope so. But I can’t help but feel that you missed out on something.
Michael, this is excellent feedback. Over the years, I have had several inflection points in my growth as a photographer. This may just be one. I am too hard wired to drive towards photographic results, although I never feel pressurized to produce an image from a trip. Yet, I am always thinking, “is there an image here?” or “how am I feeling now – can it be shown in an image?”. In recent times, I have not been thinking “what a great feeling it is to see or experience this” and walk away without taking a photograph. I am always trying to connect to a final image, if at all possible. Thank you for triggering a possible inflection point in my path.
Glad you found that helpful Satish. I’m as guilty as anyone of focusing on the result when I’m out with my camera, but I try to remind myself to experience and enjoy things as much as possible. On the one hand, photography motivates us to get out to great places at the times when they’re at their most beautiful. On the other hand, once we’re there we often don’t really experience that beauty first hand!
Incredible shot Michael!
I was there that night to shot the waterfall as well. What a magical showing that was — folks said it was the best in years! It being my first time in Yosemite, I downloaded your app and it helped me navigate around the park so much. It was the most important piece of equipment I carried with me that week. Fantastic app!
Glad you got to see and photograph that Matt, and I’m happy you found the app helpful!