Sunset over Yosemite Valley with Cathedral Rocks, El Capitan, and Horsetail Fall, Yosemite
The best photography tales always seem to start with something like this: “It wasn’t looking good. The skies were completely overcast, but I decided to stick it out and see what might happen. And then…” The teller of the tale goes on to describe the amazing light show that ensued.
Of course you never hear stories about the times when the skies remained overcast and nothing interesting happened. There’s no story there. But the best light often does seem to occur when the odds are low. There might only be a ten percent chance of the sun breaking through, but if it does the results could be spectacular.
I’ve been skunked many, many times over the years. I can’t count how many times I’ve gone to Tunnel View, or Gates of the Valley, or some other location, hoping for the sun to break through and create some interesting light, only to go home disappointed. I don’t often write about those days on this blog because those aren’t very interesting stories. (Although sometimes I do write about times when I didn’t get the light I was hoping for, but switched gears and found something else.)
But this isn’t a story about getting skunked. This is one of those classic tales about a time when the odds seemed low…
As I wrote in my last post, Claudia and I drove up to Yosemite Valley early on Wednesday morning, hoping to find some fresh snow and catch a clearing storm. We got both, so it was a great morning.
Claudia had to stay in the valley to help hang the Yosemite Renaissance exhibit, so in the early afternoon I took a nap in the car. By then clouds had congealed over the valley, and I was awakened twice when graupel (snow pellets) hit the windshield. The showers were interspersed with patches of sunshine, but the satellite and webcam images weren’t promising, as I could see many clouds out to the west. But I was there, so I decided to try my luck with Horsetail Fall.
I have many photographs of Horsetail Fall of course, and I wasn’t interested in repeating myself, so I headed for a spot with wider view of El Capitan and the western end of Yosemite Valley. This location would only work with some interesting clouds; on a clear, sunny day I’d rather go to one of the two main Horsetail viewing spots and get a closeup view. On Wednesday there were plenty of clouds ā too many, it seemed. I knew the odds were low, but I also knew that it was just the kind of day when something special could happen.
When I reached my location I saw thick clouds to the west, but also spotted a thin strip of clear sky near the horizon, so there was some hope. At one point the underside of the clouds started to glow, and it looked like sunlight might crawl under those clouds and break through. But then the clouds thickened, and the glow dimmed. After about five more minutes, however, the strip of blue sky near the horizon grew larger. Then a few minutes later a beam of sunlight broke through underneath the clouds and lit the very bottom of Horsetail Fall:
Sunbeam on El Capitan, Yosemite
I hoped that as the sun sank that beam of light might move up and hit Horsetail, but instead the light faded, blocked by more clouds. Then, a few minutes later, the beam returned. This time it reached a little higher… and faded again.
But the clouds seemed to be breaking up a bit. A few minutes later sunbeams began fanning up from behind a cloud. Then, for the third time, a beam of light broke underneath the clouds and hit the bottom of Horsetail. This time the light kept moving upward until the whole waterfall was lit.
At this point it became difficult to believe what I was seeing. Was this really happening? Seriously? It looked like a scene from a dream. I’ve always thought Albert Bierstadt’s Yosemite paintings were unrealistic, but maybe not ā maybe he really did see those things. After all, here was a Bierstadt painting before my eyes.
And the dream continued. The sun rays above the cloud morphed and changed, but lingered for at least five full minutes while the wind played with backlit, glowing Horsetail Fall. I kept photographing through it all, varying my compositions slightly as the clouds moved and the light changed. Every moment was wonderful, but my favorite is the one shown at the top of this post.
It was perhaps the most amazing light show I’ve ever seen. Our planet is always beautiful – always. But sometimes nature outdoes itself.
ā Michael Frye
P.S. The contrast in these scenes was extreme, so I used auto-bracketing to capture sequences of five exposures, each two stops apart. While doing this I kept a careful eye on the red channel in my histograms, making sure that I had at least one exposure in each sequence where the red channel wasn’t clipped (pushed up against the right edge of the histogram). Later I used Lightroom’s HDR Merge to blend these bracketed sequences together. (Both photographs shown here were captured and processed this way.)
P.P.S.
It’s natural to want to know where these photographs were taken from (especially if you’re familiar with Yosemite Valley and have tried to photograph Horsetail Fall). I’m usually willing to share everything about how my photographs are made, but I don’t think it would be appropriate to share this location. In my younger days I did a lot of rock climbing and mountaineering, and I’m comfortable moving in terrain that would be risky for most people. Furthermore, I’m familiar with mountain hazards, know when and where rockfall and avalanches are most likely to occur, and can assess and minimize (though not completely eliminate) these risks. Rockfall is a serious hazard near Yosemite’s cliffs. Not just when a big slab occasionally peels off and rumbles down to the valley floor, but also from the steady drizzle of smaller rocks, especially in certain areas. These smaller rocks are not to be taken lightly; a fist-sized rock whizzing towards you at 100 MPH is no joke. I’ve seen people exploring around, looking for alternative Horsetail views, who lingered in spots that are particularly prone to rockfall (and avalanches when there’s snow) ā spots I wouldn’t go near. Please don’t go exploring around Yosemite’s cliffs unless you know what you’re doing.
Related Posts: Snowy Sunrise; Horsetail Fall, El Capitan, and a Cloud
Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author or principal photographer of The Photographerās 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.
MF. That is a spectacular shot! Pat yourself on the back. Job well done!
Thank you for sharing. Wednesday was remarkable. This amazing perspective captures what was happening.
Your warnings are on point. Friday, south of Southside Drive the sound of large ice falls reverberated often.
Thanks for your great blog and the iPhone App!
Glad you got to be there both Wednesday and Friday Ken. I was near Southside Drive on Friday too, and also heard ice falling.
Beautiful picture. This will certainly be one of, if not THE, top photo of 2017. If it’s not, I can’t wait to see the ones better than this. Great job Michael.
Way to do something different for the Horsetail Falls Sunset. Fantastic clouds and sun rays. Great image.
I have not yet seen a Horsetail scene that I’ve liked more!
Yikes – Bierstadt indeed!!
Bravo! Bravo! CLAP!! CLAP!! CLAP!!
Just absolutely magnificent images and text, Michael! And you deserve this!!
Michael, I have been swamped and rarely get a chance to comment, but that first capture – among your very best. It is stunning and a testament to your incredible vision. Phenomenal. xo
Thanks so much Jen!
thank you for not sharing the location!
Knowing your location, knowing the weather patterns, knowing your equipment and then finally, getting a little bit of luck. What a fantastic shot.
While you’ve always had great vision Michael, you are also one of the most patient photographers I know. To be rewarded like this is wonderful to see. Hard to imagine when you one day look back at a lifetime of work, that this will not be amongst the images you love and remember most. Wow.
Fabulous shot. Even better knowing it’s a rendition of something that actually occurred.
Oh, my!! It’s like looking into the face of God!
Fantastic, Michael, your persistence & knowledge really paid off! I’d love to see a bigger version — is it possible to post a link to one?
Thanks Monika! You can click on the image above and see a bit larger version (about 1000 pixels wide), but that’s as big as I’m willing to put on the internet. š
Beautiful – I saw the top photo earlier on social media, but the second (earlier) image is wonderful too! It’s very Tolkienesque. Reminds me of when Bilbo finds the back door on the Lonely Mountain.
Thanks Elizabeth. It was nice to see you on Friday. And I’m glad you like that other photograph too. I like it as well, and if that was the best image I was able to make that day I would have considered it an evening well spent, but then…
It was great seeing you and Claudia again too! I loved the variety of works at the YR.
Michael, I own several of your prints and have taken a workshop with you, and know how modest you are, but you have the shot of the year or probably a lifetime! God showed you the light!!!! I will have to buy another print. The gallery will really sell this one well. I can’t wait. Congratulations on your best work yet!
I totally agree with Karl!!!
I posted the location on a forum sometime ago. Deleted it jst now after reading your P.P.S
Oh my!
Stunningly spectacular!
I knew when you teased us in the prior post that we were in for a treat, but this goes way beyond that!
Congrats on the capture, and thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate all the kind words. It was such an amazing evening, one I’ll never forget, and I’m glad to be able to share that moment with you all.
So amazing! Beautiful image!
My gosh, what a stunning, beautiful image, and such a great story! I guess if we landscape photographers are persistent, eventually we get paid back. You certainly did, in a big way! As always, Michael, thanks so much for sharing all of this with us.
As great as ‘Clearing winter storm’,
Congratulations.
Really impressive,,
little thoughts in my brain, how long you spend time to wait for the right time.
and what underlies you for taking the theme of sunsets? what if it was just a coincidence ??
So far your photos captivate me.
Love it
What a phenomenal shot!–Your blog is always so interesting I have to open it immediately. Your patience really paid off here–this is EPIC!!
Your ministry to all of us thank you
Such a gorgeous image, Michael. Yosemite has certainly provided some amazing moments this season!
This is incredible Michael! Even your “non-Horsetail Fall” photo in this post is something special. Kudos.
This has got to be one of the most amazing photographs I have EVER seen. Right place, right time, right talent. We had so much snow up here that I cancelled my plans on trying this year. 1) I could not get our camper van out from the side of the house w/o chipping through an 18 inch tall icy drift 2) the weather looked too iffy to drive 800 miles. Well, I was definitely wrong on the last point. Should have started chipping away at the drift when it first formed. Lesson learned.
Again, amazing photo. Success favors the prepared.
Thanks Aram, and sorry you couldn’t make it. The weather didn’t cooperate much for Horsetail Fall this year; the 22nd was, I think, the only good day during the window of best light – but it was a really good day. Though it didn’t look good until the last ten minutes.
Wow! Absolutely beautiful image, Michael. Everything came together, and you’d put in the time to be at the right place to take advantage of the possibility. Great stuff. And fantastic telling of the tale. Thanks much for sharing!
Thanks again everyone – I really appreciate the comments!
Fantastic image, Michael. Was in Yosemite Friday and got a good shot, but your addition of the sunset, clouds, as well as the falls is just wonderful!
Thank you John! Glad you got something you like on Friday. I was out there on Friday too, and Horsetail lit up nicely, though briefly.
They who complain on Bierstadt, err š ! Wait ‘n’ see before talking š !! You captured the anticipated moment as one prepared ! Kudos !!
Thanks very much Paul!
Wow! What an amazing shot, just beautiful. Made me smile on a dull day in England! Nature never fails to surprise and enchant. Right time, right place and being patient definitely paid off. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks very much Jane!
Michael congratulations this’s a very nice photograph. Thank you for sharing this with us all. Let me know when you will have prints available. I am thinking 11 x 14. Martin
Thanks Martin! As I said to Jane above, we may include this image in one of The Ansel Adams Gallery’s special print sales, however I don’t do 11x14s – 16×20 is the smallest size print I make.
Thank you Michael, and once again congrats for a job well done. You’re a good inspiration for all of us.
Wow, you had such a treat that night! Certainly a Horsetail Fall like no other. Wish I had been there to witness, but seeing through your lens and hearing your story is wonderful.
Thanks Vivienne – wish you had been there too!
Late to the party here, but WOW WOW WOW, Michael! Iād say you outdid yourself, but really mother Nature outdid HERSELF and you were honored with being there at the right time. Of course, with forethought as to where you might want to be if anything interesting should happen, lol. So together, you ādancedā the sunset celebration dance, and your results are sublime.
Thanks Brenda, and it was mother Nature outdoing herself for sure!
Michael – truly spectacular! Patience and local knowledge paid off big time! I wish I could have been there! Glad you stayed safe!
Thanks Peter!
A very beautiful capture of a moment in time in one of the most beautiful places on earth. The fact that you have the ability to capture these moments in such a phenomenal manner and then also take the time to share these with the rest of the world is something extremely special. Any one who has the opportunity to view your pictures should take a moment to say thanks to you for bringing this beauty before their eyes.
Thanks again for capturing the beauty of the places you see and sharing them with the rest of us.
Cliff and Sherri Butler
Very kind words Cliff and Sherri – thank you so much!
Michael, Congratulations on this spectacular image. Your patience has really paid off. Thank you so much for explaining about how you captured this image. It is very helpful.
Thank you Vishwanath!
Fabulous & stunning shot Michael! It already has my āhands-downā # 1 vote for ābest picture of 2017! and perhaps for eternity! Congratulations. Your blogs with photos and descriptions always add a huge bright spot in my day and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. So appreciate you sharing your adventures and amazing photos with us.
p.s. I hope you will keep the photo spot hidden for all of us to dream and continue searchingā¦.
Thank you again Paul!
Fantastic photo! Your photography is outstanding!