Yosemite Valley through the mist from Tunnel View, Yosemite, last Tuesday afternoon
We had a great time during our workshop last week in Yosemite, with a wonderful group of people, and some interesting weather. Although we didn’t get any new snow, we were able to photograph two clearing storms, plus two moonrises, and some misty trees. I’ve included a few of my favorite images from the week here.
We’ve had sunshine the last few days, and the fair weather is expected to continue until Friday, when another storm is predicted. The National Weather Service is expressing uncertainty about the strength and timing of this upcoming system. It should start off with high snow levels, which means rain in Yosemite Valley, but then the temperatures might drop enough toward the end of the storm to bring some snow down to the valley. We’ll see. But either way, more precipitation is good news in this state.
Last week’s storms brought the water-year precipitation total (since July 1st) for Yosemite Valley up to 28.12 inches. The average through the end of January is 19.9 inches, so we’re well above that, and getting closer to the annual average of 37 inches. As a comparison, the total for the entire 2014-15 water year was a meager 16.16 inches. We’re so grateful for all this rain and snow!
Of course people on the east coast might have had enough snow for awhile. I had been hearing about how warm and dry it’s been back east this winter, but it just took one big nor’easter to change everything. I’m hoping some people were able to get out and photograph the snowy aftermath, as it must have been pretty. I’ve seen plenty of photos of people digging out from the storm, but it would be nice to see some snowy eastern forests, lakes, or other landscape scenes. If you managed to capture images like that, please post a link to them in the comments!
— Michael Frye
Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest above foggy Yosemite Valley, last Tuesday afternoon
Trees and fog from Tunnel View, Yosemite, Tuesday afternoon
Bridalveil Fall, mist, and trees, Yosemite, Tuesday afternoon
Moon rising above Half Dome and the Merced River, Yosemite, Wednesday evening
Waterfall, Yosemite NP, CA, USA
Three Brothers poking out of the fog, Yosemite, Saturday morning
Related Posts: Misty Morning; A Snowy Day
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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.
Beautiful work as always! That Bridalveil shot is beyond gorgeous! It’s not exactly eastern forests, but this is at least east of you: https://frishmanphoto.wordpress.com/2016/01/22/fog-in-the-owens/ I sure do wish a bit more snow would make it over here, though.
Thanks Jackson. Just a little bit east. 🙂 Thanks for sharing – I’d like to photograph the Poconip fog at Mono Lake one of these days.
Fantastic stuff Michael. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks John!
Beautiful shots and great blog, always. May I ask that how many shots do you take to get a few that you like? Thank you. And I agree that I did not see any great landscaping snow shots out of the northeast snow storm.
Thank you Bailing! In answer to your question, I can’t give you a number. It depends on the situation. Obviously it takes many more exposures to get one good one when you’re photographing wildlife, or other moving subjects. And some situations are more fruitful than others. For landscapes I often try different compositions of the same scene, and when the light and weather are changing then I’m reacting to that and photographing the same or similar scene as it changes. There is, however, nothing scattershot about what I do. I’m not just making a bunch of random images and picking the best ones later. I always have a purpose in mind, and if I try multiple compositions of the same (or similar) scene it’s because I’m trying to find the absolute best expression of the idea I have in mind. And these days, with the high dynamic range and low noise of my Sony sensor, I rarely need to bracket.
You might find this post relevant:
https://www.michaelfrye.com/2013/11/19/courting-luck-part-2-adapting-your-composition-to-the-conditions/
Do you mind telling me why you want to know this?
Thanks for your answer. You are so kind.
Well, I am learning photography, slowly. One thing I felt helpless is that whenever i am at a location, I just do not know how to frame what I see so I took lot of shots hoping I will have a good one (very stupid, I know). So this year, my goal is took less shots so I do not end up with 5000 shots that I do not know what to do with them.
And the other thing I need to focus on is make the shots IN FOCUS! I feel that have the right exposure is not has hard as how to compose the image. I could be wrong. I did not think focus was that hard before, lol.
Again, thank you for you taking your time to answer my question.
Oh my god. Can I change my answer? I just read what you recommended and felt very stupid. I know nothing about exposure!
There is so much to learn.
No worries Bailing. There is always a lot to learn in photography, and that’s one of the things that makes it so interesting.
You’re welcome. I think it’s good to be more mentally focused and less random when taking photos. But you don’t have to keep all those images you don’t like. 🙂
Those foggy scenes make my heart sing!
Thanks Vivienne!
Just saw the first photo on Facebook via a share from Charlotte Hamilton Gibb – what beautiful photographs. You definitely have the eye! Thank you for taking such great photographs and sharing them.
Barb
Nice to meet you Michael at the tunnel view last Saturday. You are my inspiration to go to Yosemite and enjoy its ever changing beauty. Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures and your knowledge about photography!
Best,
George
Nice to meet you too George! I hope you got some images you like on your trip.
Again thanks for sharing your wonderful talent, Michael. Love them all – especially the Yosemite Valley through the Mist and the Bridalveil! Hoping to get over to Yosemite this coming weekend. Wish me luck!
Thank you Gail, and… good luck! 🙂
Another great post. So cool to live there and see daily changes to these iconic scenes. I appreciate the time you must spend to capture all the wonderful images of Yosemite.
Thanks Terry!
Hello Michael,
I particularly enjoy those layered shots with fog and trees! Thanks, as always, for the inspiration. MORE appreciation (if that’s possible) for your taking the time to post helpful, thoughtful responses so often see on your blog. Now, here’s a question I would enjoy having answered:
With the variable Yosemite weather this winter, planning is put to the test. Vehicle choice is my current issue. I have an awd Honda Element with good M+S tires, along with a sack of cable chains (which I have never installed). What, may I ask, do you rely upon for your travels, particularly when the weather is iffy? Thanks so much for all you share on a regular basis . . .
Ron
Thanks very much Ron. Your AWD Element should do just fine. The M+S tires quality as snow tires, and the AWD qualifies as 4WD, so you won’t have to put on chains with either R1 (chains or snow tires required) or R2 (chains or 4WD with snow tires required) chain controls. Only if the park service designates R3 controls (chains, no exceptions) would you have to put on chains, and that’s extremely rare. To answer your direct question, I use a Subaru Outback and a Ford Explorer.
Such nice variation on a theme. Nothing like a rain/snow mix storm we
have on caucus night/day here in Iowa. Such beautiful variations to your
stormy weather vs. ours. J
Thanks Joseph. I tried to post a variety of images and subjects here. I’m sure you can get some interesting and photogenic weather in Iowa.
Michael,
That waterfall shot is excellent. Very well balanced. I dig it!
I got out after the snow storm and did some hiking. Pics can be found here:
http://www.johnnydavison.com/blog?customize=3
Cheers,
Johnny
Thanks Johnny! I’m glad to see some photos from the aftermath of that storm. Looks like you had a good time out there.