My first ever trip to Yosemite was in winter last year, which was just an incredible experience. Having left awestruck that I just spent a week in Nature’s Cathedral, I kept my eye out for any opportunity to go back. That opportunity came much more quickly than I thought, as I took my second trip this spring.
The most notable difference, apart from the snow, between winter and spring is the strength of Yosemite Falls. It was booming this time. My first morning I woke up at dawn and walked over to take sunrise pictures of the falls only to be greatly disappointed. Unlike in Winter, when the falls are lit up by the morning light, by spring the falls appear to remain in shadow until late morning. On the plus side, I was able to sleep in the next two mornings…
On my first trip I managed to capture most of the ‘standard’ Yosemite shots, but there was one gaping hole in my Yosemite portfolio: Tunnel View. I almost blew it this time, as I mistimed when the sunlight would disappear from the valley floor, but the first 3 or 4 shots were usable, as the clouds parted in just the right way to illuminate Bridal Falls.
Most photos were taken during the harshness of mid afternoon light, but converting to B&W with a red filter turned the harshness to my advantage to create a nice contrast of water and rocks for many shots. Other than seeing the strength of the falls, I’m not sure spring is the best time to visit (as a photographer…). I’m still in love with Yosemite in winter.
Full gallery over at SmugMug
Links to my posts for the winter sunrise photos and miscellaneous others, plus the winter Yosemite gallery.
