California black oaks in El Capitan Meadow, autumn, Yosemite NP, CA, USA
I’m flying to Dallas today to teach a Lightroom workshop for the Sun to Moon Gallery, but I wanted to give you a quick update on the fall color in Yosemite Valley. And there’s still plenty of color. The yellow big-leaf maples are mostly gone, and the dogwoods are also past peak, but the black oaks were close to peak when I left the valley on Saturday, and the cottonwoods were still at least 30% green. Leaves tend to linger on the oaks, so I expect both the oaks and cottonwoods will look good for at least another week.
I made the photograph above last Wednesday, and if you look closely you can see that there’s still a touch of green in some of the leaves. The image of cottonwoods below was captured on Thursday, and again you can still see some green leaves. It’s not uncommon for these trees to peak in early- or even mid-November in Yosemite Valley. Fall isn’t over yet!
— Michael Frye
Cottonwood trees along the Merced River, autumn, Yosemite NP, CA, USA
Related Post: Fall Color Report
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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.
Beautiful shots!
Thank you Don!
Great shots, Michael. We just got back home after spending last week in Yosemite. Where you there for the snow last Monday? We awoke to a glorious sight. Got some great shots. My first time there for what you call the clearing storm.
Have fun in Texas.
Thanks Aram! I missed that snow. I got up to Yosemite Valley that afternoon, but most of the snow had already melted. I’m glad you got to be there though!
HI Michael – Thank you so much for the very timely update and beautiful shots. I’m leaving for Yosemite on Saturday, and I was very anxious about how much color was left in the valley. I was also pleased to learn that the Glacier Point and Tioga roads are both open, so that will give me some options as well. I’ve shot for the last three years during February and June, but never in November. I’m hoping to get some good sunset light from Taft and Glacier, and I’ll also be trying to recreate that wonderful shot of yours looking East towards Half Dome with that warm sunrise light hitting the trees across the Merced River (pg 87 of your book.) I’ve recommended your book to at least a dozen different photographers already, most recently from someone making the trip from Italy. I also wanted to mention that my friend Ivys said to say hi to “Bubba.” (She was at one of your recent workshops.)
You’re welcome Bill, and thanks. Say hi to Ivys from Bubba and Jenny. 🙂