LOWER YOSEMITE FALL & MIDDLE CASCADESThe dusky light comingling with the ethereal water flow fills the heart with emotion. FIRST PLACE AWARD. "23rd Annual Sierra Artists Gallery Fall Art Show." Mariposa, CA Storm On The MoveHeavy weather brings thunderstorms over Half Dome. June 2019 Storm CloudsStorm clouds in the high country converge over Half Dome.June 2019 Half Dome & Cloud's RestMarch 10, 2019 Tunnel View Crisp and ClearYosemite Valley never fails to inspire! Milky Way Over Half DomeThe majestic arc of the Milky Way Galaxy (our galactic home) sweeps across iconic Half Dome and the Yosemite High Country.Disappointingly, clouds at the right obscure the galaxy's most lovely "core." Oh, well, we'll try again...July 2015 "Whoops! Missed the Turn..."I waited at Tunnel View for weather and a dramatic sunset that never fully came to fruition.Recall that a decent snow was forecast and that didn't happen either. Never-the-less, interesting clouds and light teased us all day. Here is a small, low-flying cloud that strayed into the wrong lane and passed in front of Cathedral Rocks instead of running behind them with the "big dogs". February 28, 2015 Coming StormThe predicted snowstorm failed to materialize but we were left with roiling clouds and painterly light near sunset.February 28, 2015 Cooks Meadow Dressed In WhiteA heavy snow closed the park for three days in January 2010.This was the scene shortly after sunrise. "Fire In the Sky"At 5:43 p.m. on February 13, 2014 (after official sunset) sunlight breaks through cloud cover at the western horizon to produce the stunning "Firefall" effect on Horsetail Fall, located at the eastern edge of majestic icon El Capitan while seemingly setting the sky ablaze at the same time. Bridalveil Fall RainbowAfternoon light coaxes prismatic rainbow colors from high in the swirling, wind-blown mist. The vertical drop of Bridalveil is 617'.February 21, 2013 In Adams' CountryAnsel Adams made many wonderful exposures of this iconic scene - Tunnel View. And... we now add ours!April 2012. Glacier Point SunsetYosemite high country July 25, 2014. Horsetail Fall "Firefall"Thursday, February 13, 2014; 5:38 p.m. Deep In the "Twilight Zone"The seen and the nearly unseen insinuate their hypnotic magic deep into the recesses of the mind and make as one all who have ever and all who would one day still gaze upward with wonder and awe into the firmament... Enjoy this view conceived on a warm August night of Messier Object M31 (The Andromeda Galaxy) standing watch over Yosemite's monolithic icon, Half Dome.M31 is very near the top of the scene in the 11 o'clock position above Half Dome's "visor."August 11, 2013 Milky Way Over Half DomeThe Milky Way Galaxy (Earth's celestial home base) is an impressive sight in its own right - but is made more so when viewed from the grandeur of a majestic location like Yosemite National Park on a dark Summer's night. The silence is deafening as you view, or rather 'absorb' the cosmos. Its dust and "star stuff" infuse your being. Literally. Please enjoy this partial view of the Milky Way (it makes an arc across the entire sky) as we rotate beneath and within it, passing this night over Yosemite's Half Dome, as it has done each and every night for the nearly 5 billion years of planet Earth's existence. Note, also, that M31, better known as the "Andromeda Galaxy" is visible in the middle of the scene at the 11 o'clock position over Half Dome's "visor." August 10, 2013 Bridalveil Fall Dappled LightDappled sunlight plays across the granite face of Bridalveil Fall.February 21, 2013 Spring IdyllA profusion of poppies surrounds a browsing doe.Merced River Canyon. March 2009. Water "Sprites"High within the confines of Upper Yosemite Falls, "Water Sprites" cavort playfully in the Paracelsian tradition of mythological 'elementals.'Yes, you, too, will feel the spirits dwelling deep in the misty veil... OminousTUNNEL VIEWNovember 10, 2012Storm clouds and chiaroscuro light on majestic granite icons create an ominous tableau shortly after sunrise. Poppy Profusion!Fresh poppies proliferate in a profusion of pretty color!Merced River Canyon. March 2009. Winter FireA break in the clearing storm clouds at sunset allows a fiery shaft of sunlight to illuminate the granite surface of the great icon. "Rorschach Pattern"Wind-blown mist freezes and adheres to the rock face on both sides of Upper Yosemite Falls, creating ever-changing "Rorschach" patterns."Upper Falls," seen here, has a vertical drop of 1,430'.The full drop of all three sections of the falls is 2,425' making Yosemite Falls the tallest waterfall in North America and the sixth tallest in the World. Sunlight, Trees, Granite, FogSunlight, Trees, Granite, Fog - together creating a dramatic effect of chiaroscuro high upon the glacially-carved walls of The Yosemite.February 22, 2013 Granite Rock & TreesGranite walls exposed millions of years ago when Yosemite Valley was glacially carved seem an unlikely host for trees struggling to survive in the harsh environment.February 22, 2013 Yosemite Valley in New SnowA fresh blanket of snow leaves a pristine view of Yosemite Valley that never fails to please and inspire.In that same regard, Dr. Lafayette Bunnell wrote these stirring words upon seeing the very same view when entering Yosemite Valley for the first time in March 1851 with the 'Mariposa Battalion:'"It has been said that it is not easy to describe in words the precise im- pressions which great objects make upon us. I cannot describe how com- pletely I realized this truth. None but those who have visited this most won- derful valley can even imagine the feelings with which I looked upon the view that was there presented. The grandeur of the scene was but soft- ened by the haze that hung over the valley, light as gossamer, and by the clouds which partially dimmed the higher cliffs and mountains. This obscurity of vision but increased the awe with which I beheld it, and as I looked, a peculiar exalted sensation seemed to fill my whole being, and I found my eyes in tears with emotion."Icons in the scene include (from left to right) El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Fall. Encroaching WinterNovember 10, 2012An early season snow makes for a magical morning scene in Yosemite as fall colors are muted by winter white along the Merced River. Brewing StormStorm clouds rolled in and obscured the Northwest face of Half Dome. Then, a break in the curtain revealed this dramatic view of the 'Diving Board.' A Break In The Storm Yosemite Christmas Chapel Fall Is In The Air Along the Merced River Horsetail Fall Evokes 'Lava' FlowA February 2012 Associated Press wire story under the above headline brought world-wide attention to Yosemite's 'Horsetail Fall.' It described the natural phenomenon that creates a stunning visual scene reminiscent of the lava flow from an active volcano. Magical Light!Many of you know I make the annual pilgrimage with hundreds of other supplicants in hopes of capturing the amazing "Fire Fall Effect" that comes to pass each February at Yosemite's Horsetail Fall.With this being "The Winter That Wasn't" I went scouting to have a look at conditions in Yosemite in general and Horsetail Fall in particular.Snow several weeks ago and some rain last week are providing enough run-off to put a modest amount of water in Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall, but the small watershed atop El Capitan has, thus far, rendered Horsetail Fall dry as a bone.Things could change for the better during our annual window as several storms are forecast to begin shortly, but I wouldn't bet the ranch this year.As a consolation, I was delighted to enjoy this deep golden sunset light that rendered a Fire Fall-like effect on the bare trees that line the banks of the Merced River upstream from Swinging Bridge. As the sun sets down canyon, the background rock face/trees are in shade while the foreground trees are still in the path of "Ol' Sol", much like the light that paints Horsetail Fall while leaving the wall of El Cap in shade.So, here is my "Horsetail Fall Firefall" shot for February 2012 - unless Mother Nature gives us the snow-melt and water we crave later in the month... Sierra Nevada Snow PackSierra Nevada Snow PackFrom Washburn PointSierra Nevada Snow PackSnow pack measuring nearly 200% of normal high in the Sierra Nevada range will feed Yosemite waterfalls long into the summer.The raging waters can be seen here in Vernal and Nevada Falls feeding the Merced River. Bridalveil FallThis year's exceptional snow pack drives Yosemite's Bridalveil Fall with a vengeance where the force of the water dropping more than 600' into the precipice generates a wind that creates the misty "bridal veil." Granite Ice"The Old and the New"Day-old snow melt drips and runs and becomes fleeting, transitory ice but to disappear with tomorrow's sun on granite rock face that has been in place for several million years.Location: Wawona Tunnel Powdered SugarCrisp, 24 degree morning air and brilliant sunlight make the oak and pine trees below Bridalveil Fall (upper left) appear to be dusted by the Celestial Baker with sweet powdered sugar, just in time for the Christmas season! Fresh Snowfall In the Vale MistyAs sunset turns to dusk a cold mist rises from the valley floor, enrobing all things in a diaphanous white shroud of enchantment Beginning StormThe Yosemite snow of January 19-22 brought marvelous and varied conditions of all descriptions. Here, on the afternoon of the 19th, the storm was getting underway in earnest before breaking for a period and revealing Bridal Veil Fall and Cathedral Rocks that had, moments before, been shrouded in cloud.Many elements work together to make this a pleasing image for me. The leading lines of granite and trees bring the eye from top right down to the fall in lower left. The valley mist suggests that it is not mist at all but rather a pool of water emanating from the output of Bridal Veil fall.The "normal" view from this position at Tunnel View usually includes El Capitan on the left, making for a fairly static depiction. Here, I wanted to emphasize the sweeping grandeur of the place by aiming for a more dynamic, sweeping flow of the scene. Winter SunriseWinter Sunrise"Gates of the Valley" Twenty-two degrees as a new day dawns crisp and clear. A BIG RockThe last golden rays of sun wash over Half Dome in a ritual that has been repeated each evening for several million years. Half Dome with CloudsFrom Washburn PointWhile unstable weather rolled into the area I thought conditions might provide some spectacular photo ops for lightning strikes, sunset colors, etc. Alas, it wasn't to be.Hoping that the current weather pattern would bring a stunning sunset to Yosemite and environs, I drove to Glacier Point on Friday in anticipation, stopping first at Washburn Point to make this photograph.While heavy overcast at the horizon did not make for a photographer's dream sunset, this cloud formation above Half Dome late in the afternoon made a satisfying consolation prize. Mystical New Years' EveMystical New Years' EveDecember 31, 2009We stood entirely alone on the banks of the Merced River. Other New Year's revelers had dispersed for warmer climes after the sun had cast its last faint rays on glowing granite.The night air crisp and cold. El Capitan on the left and Cathedral Rocks on the right loomed as silent sentinels waiting for a full moon rising to herald the end of one year and the fresh new birth of the next. Half Dome & Elm Tree SunriseCook's MeadowCrisp morning air and golden harvest hues fill our senses in a favorite place. Siesta Lake Along the Tioga RoadOn the cusp of Fall, the day was bright, the air crisp and clean. Horsetail FallWarm sunlight bathes the wispy ephemera of Horsetail Fall in rich golden hues at sunset. Supplicants At The Altar Glacier PointGlacier PointWhile the sunset proved nondescript, these "Supplicants At The Altar" enjoyed the modest Alpenglow that appeared. Waiting for Sunset - Olmsted PointWaiting for Sunset - Olmsted Point Horsetail Fall DetailUpdrafts on Horsetail Fall create a misty veil of gold well out from the rock face of El Capitan. Upper Yosemite Falls with MoonbeamsA break in the weather between snow storms allows soft, streaming moonbeams to caress the face of Upper Yosemite Falls in the dead of a cold winter's night.January 23, 2010; 11:54 pm; 21 degrees F. Brilliant Merced River Morning Horsetail FallA break in clouds to the west allows for rich, golden sunlight to wash over the rock face of El Capitan and Horsetail Fall some twenty minutes before sunset.Alas, by sunset the clouds had returned and the scene turned a dreary, dull grey. Horsetail "Gold Nuggets"About this view:"I also like to hunt for interesting shapes and compositions within the context of the scene and this second shot (like last year's) is a detail of the rock face. It is wonderfully intriguing in that it looks so much like gigantic gold nuggets protruding from the cliff, just waiting to be chipped off to make a vast fortune of incalculable wealth Yosemite SunsetNo.0061 Tunnel View in Winter Rugged Outdoors Fresh Snow Tunnel View Horsetail FallThe 'Holy Grail' of Horsetail Fall devotees appears AFTER official sunset, when the deep red wavelengths of light below the western horizon renders the wispy water a deep, dark ruby red. Yosemite Valley SpringNo.0001 Half Dome Aplen Glow Leaking Cloud Bridalveil Falls Mirror Lake Yosemite Icon From Glacier Point El Capitan & Horsetail FallForty-seven minutes before official sunset, windy updrafts create a swirling veil of mist on Horsetail Fall. New Day's Promise Merced River Bridal Veil Falls Mirror Lake Horsetail FallA golden veil of mist is blown away from the rock face of El Capitan during the annual Horsetail Fall "Fire Fall" event. Winter White Tree With Snow - Brrrrr! Half Dome Passing Storm Winter Light "Molten Rock" Horsetail Fall Yosemite Fall Color Yosemite Falls Total Drop = 2,425'A total drop of 2,425' (739 meters) in three sections makes this the tallest waterfall in North America. Half Dome Rock & Sky El Capitan and Horsetail Fall Gathering Storm High Atop Half DomeHigh atop Half Dome late afternoon clouds roll in like great gobs of cotton candy. Full Moon Rising Half Dome El Capitan / Horsetail Fall Sunset Above the Misty Veil Tunnel View El Capitan Reflection AbstractEl Capitan Reflection AbstractOn the Merced River Snowing! Along the Merced River Horsetail Fall 'Fire Fall'Horsetail Fall 'Fire Fall' - No.2128Warm red wavelength light near the western horizon casts a rich glow along the rock face of El Capitan and the wispy ephemera of Horsetail Fall. High Country Snow Burst of Storm Light Upper Yosemite Falls 1425' Drop Sitting In "Church" Improving Upon Nature Yosemite Artist Yosemite Ridge Mist Yosemite Classic Tunnel ViewYosemite Classic Mist on Morning Yosemite ChapelNo.0024 El Capitan - No.0001 Magical Light - No.2033 Snowy Morning - No.0001 Valley View - No.0001 Summer Glacier Point - No.0001 Sunset on "The Captain" Half Dome - No.0002 Winter Ahwahnee Royal Arches Fall on the Merced RiverNo.0059 Washburn Point No.0001 Winter's Majesty El Capitan Enchanted No. 0035 Moody River Olmsted Point SunsetOLMSTED POINT, Yosemite National ParkFriday, September 9, 2011; 7:20 p.m.The weather report called for thunderstorms and blustery conditions.After checking Doppler Radar for the Yosemite high country, I set out for Tuolumne Meadow via the Old Tioga Road. The objective was two-fold: 1) to capture a colorful sunset and 2) to hunt down and photograph a lightning storm.The situation was promising as I approached Crane Flat just above and outside Yosemite Valley at about 4 p.m. Steady rain gave way to several sharp reports of thunder followed by a flash of light in the distance.Alas, it was short-lived. By the time I reached Tuolumne Meadow the rain had stopped and a dull, gray overcast enveloped the whole sky. Nothing much to do but wait and see if conditions improved.I pulled into the Tuolumne Village Store parking lot to watch the sky.Then, as I began the ride home with nothing exceptional in the camera the sky began to tease. Small pockets of light opened up here and there.Finally arriving at Olmsted Point the sunset began to look very promising.Alas and alack, it just didn't quite pan out. There was just too much cloud cover at the western horizon to illuminate Half Dome. However, some rich golden orange light did graze the high clouds in the distance, allowing for this pleasant rendition. Yosemite Valley Sunrise MistNo.0001 DSC8089 Fire In The Sky
![I waited at Tunnel View for weather and a dramatic sunset that never fully came to fruition.Recall that a decent snow was forecast and that didn't happen either. Never-the-less, interesting clouds and light teased us all day. Here is a small, low-flying cloud that strayed into the wrong lane and passed in front of Cathedral Rocks instead of running behind them with the "big dogs". February 28, 2015](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/DSC1227%20Small%20Cloud%20Cathedral%20Rocks.jpg?itok=YFkhfHS5 ""Whoops! Missed the Turn..."")
![At 5:43 p.m. on February 13, 2014 (after official sunset) sunlight breaks through cloud cover at the western horizon to produce the stunning "Firefall" effect on Horsetail Fall, located at the eastern edge of majestic icon El Capitan while seemingly setting the sky ablaze at the same time.](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/DSC8086%20Fiddle%20for%20Word%201A%20w%20border%20Small%20Card%20MLP.jpg?itok=JPIC9NAh ""Fire In the Sky"")
![Thursday, February 13, 2014; 5:38 p.m.](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/DSC8082%20Horsetail%20Fall%20web.jpg?itok=w5EW22IV "Horsetail Fall "Firefall"")
![The seen and the nearly unseen insinuate their hypnotic magic deep into the recesses of the mind and make as one all who have ever and all who would one day still gaze upward with wonder and awe into the firmament... Enjoy this view conceived on a warm August night of Messier Object M31 (The Andromeda Galaxy) standing watch over Yosemite's monolithic icon, Half Dome.M31 is very near the top of the scene in the 11 o'clock position above Half Dome's "visor."August 11, 2013](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/DSC6137%20M31%20%26%20Half%20Dome%20web.jpg?itok=2wc6NO0U "Deep In the "Twilight Zone"")
![High within the confines of Upper Yosemite Falls, "Water Sprites" cavort playfully in the Paracelsian tradition of mythological 'elementals.'Yes, you, too, will feel the spirits dwelling deep in the misty veil...](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/MG_9379%20Water%20Sprites%20web.jpg?itok=Ki729EgM "Water "Sprites"")
![Wind-blown mist freezes and adheres to the rock face on both sides of Upper Yosemite Falls, creating ever-changing "Rorschach" patterns."Upper Falls," seen here, has a vertical drop of 1,430'.The full drop of all three sections of the falls is 2,425' making Yosemite Falls the tallest waterfall in North America and the sixth tallest in the World.](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/_DSC0031%20BW%20Tweak%20Crop%20Magical%20Light%2072.jpg?itok=p85HXGhW ""Rorschach Pattern"")
![About this view:"I also like to hunt for interesting shapes and compositions within the context of the scene and this second shot (like last year's) is a detail of the rock face. It is wonderfully intriguing in that it looks so much like gigantic gold nuggets protruding from the cliff, just waiting to be chipped off to make a vast fortune of incalculable wealth](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/_DSC0006%20Horsetail%20Gold%20Nuggets%20Web_1_.jpg?itok=7wAJxHqe "Horsetail "Gold Nuggets"")
![](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/DSC0140%20Magical%20Light%20Tighter%20Crop%2072.jpg?itok=05YEz8zZ ""Molten Rock" Horsetail Fall")
![](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/_DSC0033%20Web%2072.jpg?itok=puN9ot5f "Sitting In "Church"")
![](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Yosemite/_DSC0009Tweak%20SH%20Web%2072.jpg?itok=jXHfF0Kn "Sunset on "The Captain"")
