gdanmitchell
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 p.1 #16 · Visiting Yosemite for the 1st Time, Questions | |
yeap wrote:
1) is the photography walk tour offered by the park worth it?
The "word on the street" is that it is probably geared more towards very casual shooters, perhaps more the point and shoot crowd. However, there are some very smart and talented people associated with the Ansel Adams Gallery - if you go in at an uncrowded time and manage to engage them in conversation there is a lot to learn.
Many photographers will also engage in conversation - though it is important to be sensitive to a few things: whether or not they really know what they are talking about, whether they are the sort who love to talk or not, and when enough is enough. :-)
2) is it better to drive around in my own car or take the free shuttle?
Tough question, actually. If you are carrying a lot of gear it can be very awkward to schlep it around on a crowded shuttle. I know I've done it a few times and gotten a few odd stares. Of course it will be less crowded when you are there, being that this is the off season.
If you have not shot in the Valley before, a car is quite useful. You can have all of your gear with you and you can get more quickly from place to place - and timing can be pretty important since certain conditions happen only at the right moments.
But being attached to your car will tend to head you towards "icons." Again, if you are new to shooting in the Valley, I think there is nothing wrong with starting with icons. But if you want to really get to know the place I think you need to get out and about and spend significant time just wandering and looking.
I do my best work there - but not exclusively so - when I'm on foot.
3) It will probably be cold at nite around this time and gets dark after 6 p.m. Should I venture out to take night photos around this time?
Sure, if you like to do that sort of thing.
Yes, I've picked up the Michael Frye's book  Praying that the weather will be fine when I get there.....
Actually I pray that the weather will NOT be fine! :-)
The Sierras can be afflicted with (sometimes) weeks of "perfect" blue sky weather. BORING! I'd much rather have a clearing storm, some snow, ground fog and so forth. When the weather is too good, sometimes I don't bother going!
:-)
To touch on a few other points from previous posts:
In the fall, Tioga will close from time to time for a few days (as will Glacier Point road) when early light storms dust the higher elevations. This has already happened a few times this season. Eventually there will be a significant series of winter storms and the road will close for the season.
If this is literally your first view of the Valley and you can arrange it, come in from the south entrance via the Wawona Tunnel. Be sure your seatbelt is on and you have slowed down when you first see the view as you exit the tunnel... :-)
While the "crowds" diminish in the off-season, they don't exactly disappear. On Saturday I did get a campsite in the Valley on a drop-in basis (almost unheard of in the summer), but it was the LAST one available.
Dan
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) They are magnificient! I actually prefer taking shots at night rather than daytime. 
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