Jim, I'd try and fix those highlights just a bit, but otherwise this is spectacular. Definitely one of the coolest Horsetail shots I've ever seen. I was tired of the closeups
It's a view that I haven't seen before, and I like it very much. Seeing it in the whole context is a good thing, I like it better than the "common" close-ups. In general I do agree with the highlights comments, but overall it's very nicely executed.
Hey Jim, sure I have a little accident and then you go and find this shot to get!
You got it all, Horsetail in the light and the reflection in the merced. Is this the little surprise? Great work my friend!
Randy
Never been to Horsetail Falls, but it seems to be an extremely popular place, and the pics are always beautiful. What makes the falls glow as if they're on fire like that?
Chip Payet wrote:
What makes the falls glow as if they're on fire like that?
For approximately two weeks during February, the orbit of
the Earth around the Sun makes for a stunning display on El Capitan and
Horsetail Fall as the setting sun illuminates the thin, wispy ephemera of the
water while the remaining granite face of El Capitan remains in shade. Sort of
our own "Solstice at Stonehenge." For the wonderful "firefall" effect to be
seen two elements must be present - proper light and sufficient water.
Some years there is sufficient water from snow melt and/or warm rain but poor light (low clouds at the horizon) or no water but good light at sunset such that the thrill of the chase makes or breaks the year.
Galen Rowell's iconic 1973 photo was made after he and a Yosemite ranger came down from a technical climb and were near the picnic area at sunset when the stunning firefall appeared. Rowell pulled out his camera and scurried for position during the few minutes the effect was visible.
The rest is history and Rowell's photo has put us all on the chase for this annual ritual.
dswiger wrote:
Jim,
Very nice shot.
I will have to wait til next year to try this view, but it was worth it for you.
I have a different kind of suggestion.
In addition to the toning down of the bright sky (one of my weaknesses),
I would suggest trying an abstract by doing a double-flip of the lower half.
Dan
Hey Dan,
Interesting idea on the double-flip... I will play with that later. The sky I will play with too, but the problem is when it is just that bright and burning through some tree's. You can underexpose it, but then that doesn't always end up looking real either... I did pull back on that area when I processed it. But I am glad to get the feedback, I will definately work on that area of the shot some more.
Make sure you give yourself enough time next year to shoot this. I usually plan 5 to 7 days here, because with the snow storms, etc... you just don't know when it will show. There were about a half dozen people I know last year and this that missed it by a day, just because it was snowing or it got overcast when they were here.
ajkessler wrote:
Jim, I'd try and fix those highlights just a bit, but otherwise this is spectacular. Definitely one of the coolest Horsetail shots I've ever seen. I was tired of the closeups
Great shot, Jim! I was there 11 days ago, and felt I was lucky to get the iconic shot from that location, but you went the extra step to the river and got a shot that puts mine to shame (lazy me)!
Chip Payet wrote:
Never been to Horsetail Falls, but it seems to be an extremely popular place, and the pics are always beautiful. What makes the falls glow as if they're on fire like that?
Hey Chip,
Chaz sure answered that good. I will add my 2 cents though. The position of the sunset constantly moves, and there is a time, twice a year where when the sun is setting it skims across that face of El Capitan where the waterfall is. And in the end of Feb as the angle of the sun moves each day, it skims less and less of the face, until there is a point where it ends up missing the face of the rock basically when it is setting and only hits the waterfall, causing it to light up.
Course, that's what Chaz said, but I like the less technical description.
