Thanks for the help everyone. I only got to spend one day in the valley and decided to stake out Valley View for sunset. Without clouds and snow it is not as spectacular, however, it was an incredibly still day and so I was able to shoot some HDR's. I have included them below and welcome C&C.
Also, a friend who owns a camp up here took me up to some private property at the top of Soquel (familiar to locals?) where there are some turn of the century buildings from the estate of an old logging/mining family. I have included some of those below as well - C&C welcome.
Search Yosemite in this forum and the shots are so good as to be intimidating. However, I am going to dip my toe in the water here and head to the park Jan 11 - 13th. I am on my own, have all day and no responsibilities - unbelievable.
Suggestions? Where to shoot? What to shoot? When to shoot? Equipment - limited to Canon 50D + 24-70L + tripod. I imagine the 70-200 and the 100-400 are useless unless I see bear or coyote. I'm hoping neither.
I have a 4WD vehicle and will bring a GPS. Any and all advice are greatly appreciated.
A copy of Michael Frey's book "The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite" is a must have for locations, times, tips, etc. If not available on-line it can be had at any of the Yosemite locations such as Village Store, Ansel Adams Gallery, etc.
The long telephotos are not only good for the wildlife but you should look through them with some compressed landscapes in mind. Very interesting compositions can be made of tree lines, snowy ridges, waterfall close-ups, etc. Your imagination sets the limit.
While you have 4WD bear in mind the park mandates you also carry chains at this time of year. Have a grand time!
My experience is Yosemite looks better in late afternoon/evening than early morning. The high walls around the valley block a lot of the more scenic areas at sunrise. That's not to say there aren't some good photo ops in the morning, but the afternoon offers better light IMO.
Also be aware that several roads in the park are closed this time of year---like the road to Glacier Point. You can monitor the following website to stay abreast of the conditions at the park. I also find the webcams (link on the web page) helpful in monitoring the conditions.
Second Chaz' suggestion on Michael Frey's book. For your trip, it will answer all your questions. If you're lucky and you get the tail end of a good snow storm, a pair of snow shoes (which might be able to rent up there...check) add a lot of mobility. Walking up the river can give you some better shots of the icons not ordinarily seen.
I'd bring your 100-400mm lens for sure. I usually use 4 or 5 lenses on a days outing up there. You'd be suprised how many times you can use a telephoto.
Wintertime limits your destinations to far less that any guide will show you. In the valley, you basically drive the loop a few times a day to all the classic spots. As Jim said, snowshoes will help you go anywhere for the unique and personal views that you seek.
Thanks guys. I have Amazon'd the Frye book and should have it in two days.
I will now bring the telephotos and use them. I hadn't thought about the compression and what that might add. Hopefully, the friend I am visiting will have snowshoes. Apparently the list of equipment one needs for 'the shot' is never ending.
I tossed and turned on bringing my telephoto lens when I was out there this past xmas week. I'm glad I decided to bring it, came in quite handy on a few zoom shots of half dome among a few others. I 3rd the choice of using frey's book. I'm just now going over some of my photos and hope to have a few up soon. There is a shot that I belive is in his book that I have not seen posted on FM and having a telephoto lens makes it all that much nicer. It's on big oak road? not sure if that name is right?
I know from the junction where 140 and 120 hits you go back up 120 around 6-7 miles there is a pull out.
Have fun!
Kurt
I'll second the advice on Frye's book if you have not been there before.
Unless it snows you don't need 4WD in the Valley, though that will help if chain requirements are up. (The current prognosis for the long term is that we won't likely see any precipitation in that part of California until after that date.) Valley roads are pretty level. If you come in via the north or south routes you do go above 6000' and you might get some icy spots on the road, though they are likely to be in excellent shape this time. Coming straight up the Merced River from Merced/Mariposa keeps you below 4000' on the approach. Tioga Road is, of course, closed until spring or the start of summer.
(I'm guessing that there will be very little snow in the Valley when you get there, and no fresh snow. Do be prepared for cold though, more that you might expect for the modest 4000' elevation. The high walls of the Valley keep some parts - especially along the south edge - rather cold in the winter.)
Don't be afraid of seeing coyotes or bears in the Valley. (It sounds like you might be, though I may have misunderstood your comment.) While you may have heard horror stories about bears, and the park service is not above encouraging a bit of this fear, these bears are not really a threat to you at all as long as you don't mess with them or leave food lying around. You have a decent chance of spotting a coyote and perhaps a slightly lower chance of seeing a bear. Bobcats are also a possibility - the one that I saw in the Valley was in the winter. (It is a funny story that I won't relate right now.)
If this is your first time shooting the Valley, don't feel bad at all about shooting the icons. I know that some people will suggest that you aren't a real photographer if you shoot them, but they are icons for a reason. Even those of us who go there frequently will shoot them if the conditions are special. Plus, it takes some time, I think, to get to know the Valley intimately enough that the non-iconic locations and subjects become clearer to you.
You probably already know of some of the obvious locations: Wawona Tunnel View (traditionally shot in the late afternoon and evening, though it can be special in the right morning conditions, too.), Sentinel Bridge shot of half dome in the evening, Ahwahnee Meadow, the waterfalls, and so forth.
One of my favorite subjects is the meadows containing oak trees. There are quite a few that you'll spot, but I'm sort of partial to El Capitan Meadow. You may be able to take the upper route (NOT the mist trail) to the top of Vernal Fall - if so, you may get an interesting opportunity to shoot it with some ice around the base. (Afternoon will likely provide better light.)
Unless you have to travel light, I would at least bring along the 70-200. I've even had good opportunities to use my 100-400 on occasion.
rdolanjr wrote:
Search Yosemite in this forum and the shots are so good as to be intimidating. However, I am going to dip my toe in the water here and head to the park Jan 11 - 13th. I am on my own, have all day and no responsibilities - unbelievable.
Suggestions? Where to shoot? What to shoot? When to shoot? Equipment - limited to Canon 50D + 24-70L + tripod. I imagine the 70-200 and the 100-400 are useless unless I see bear or coyote. I'm hoping neither.
I have a 4WD vehicle and will bring a GPS. Any and all advice are greatly appreciated.
Thanks to all - Dan, I will be reviewing your post again when I have a map in hand.
I ordered the Frye book and Amazon (although it said 'in stock') has not shipped it. I may try to get a copy from a store near the park.
I am treating this as a scouting/photo mission as I don't expect the conditions are right for anything too great.
Thanks again.
RD
Depending on the weather and offerings, there may be ranger led tours out of Badger Pass, possibly on xc skis, perhaps snowshoes. Sometimes they stay closer to the Summit Meadows area, some have gone out to the edge of the valley at Dewey Point. Check the guide you'll receive on entry for ranger led and other activities.
Skis and snowshoes used to be available in the park for rental but like chains, I'd suggest having them before you go. It's been several years since I've made a winter trip up there so things may have changed and if needed, sometimes local rentals for things like that are more expensive and time-eating than renting near home. You can rent snowshoes, try Sport Chalet and REI in the greater Los Angeles area. I "bought" chains from my local Pep Boys and they were happy to take a return after a mountain trip recently as long as I hadn't broken the container seals and messed around with them. Turns out none of the sets I own fit my current vehicles so we took my daughters 4x4 and chains if needed. No new snow? No problem. They took them back, no questions.
A good set of snow condition boots, like "pacs" with the rubber feet and leather or other material uppers are usually well insulated and will help keep feet dry. Having clothes that you can layer and replace if wet goes a long way to staying comfortable. Watch your footing, as pointed out, the south side can stay quite cold and have ice on the roads and on the pathways, parking lots, etc.
If the roads along the north side of the valley are open, or or towards the 120 routes, I've gotten (in slide days) some interesting morning pictures shooting the highlights on the trees with misty meadows with the sun creeping over the southern edge cliffs. From the Sentinel Bridge and nearby meadows, in the AM you can shoot west as the sun lights the northern side of the valley, depending on conditions, Yosemite Falls may be freezing ice on the face of the cliffs and building an ice cone
Mariposa Grove, is near the south entrance and Wawona area, might require over snow or a walk from road end but is worth the effort to see the big trees. If coming in from the south via 41 from Fresno, the Wawona Road that enters the valley through Tunnel View is stunning.
I'd consider seeing a bear lucky and really unusual, seeing coyotes or deer wouldn't be a surprise. The deer tend to stay in one place or browse, moving slowly, coyotes, when I've seen them tended to be moving and not generally hanging around to offer photo ops.
Winter is a great time for photography, you'll find plenty to shoot.
Craig Gillette wrote:
From the Sentinel Bridge and nearby meadows, in the AM you can shoot west as the sun lights the northern side of the valley, depending on conditions, Yosemite Falls may be freezing ice on the face of the cliffs and building an ice cone
I've heard about the ice cone and was hoping to see it. It has been so warm I suspect not much is staying frozen. We'll see.
As for bears - I've had my share of run-ins in Alaska and as stated above, I find as long as you don't come between them and their food or cubs, it's all good.
I've seen one bear in Yosemite in the spring and apparently slept through several "bear in the camp" episodes while camping in the valley campgrounds. Apparently others banged pots loud enough to convince the bear to move on but not so loud as to wake me. sigh. I did have a friend approached by a bear after he'd done Half Dome and was resting near one of the falls on his way down. He had his head on his pack and it actually came up and was ready to go for the pack when people yelled at him and the bear. Not hurt but clearly a closer encounter than he wanted to have.
I hadn't heard of Soquel, but it looks like a cool place and you captured it nicely. You came away with some nice shots of Yosemite. Your best shot to me is #3, the one of El Capitan, very nice! In the first two watch the edges, especially on the bottom. You have something poking into the shot in both of those.
If you don't get much response to this, you may just want to take and repost these shots in a new thread. I know you added updated to the title, which was good, but sometimes people just don't realize to look again...
