Yikes, I'm headed to Yosemite around the 2nd week of April. From this thread it sounds like much of the park will still be closed? I'm assuming due to unplowed roads or First timer here, will it be possible without chains?
We are going to Death Valley the 1st week of April and then up to Mono Lake before heading into Yosemite. Probably the long way around as I know Tioga Rd will be closed. Am I living in a fantasy world or can Yosemite be done this early in the Spring?

Wesdot:

The valley itself is OPEN. Very little snow on the ground now, and chances are any more snow we get won't stick around. What's closed are the roads at higher elevations; Glacier Point is accessible by X-country skiing, but it's 10 miles from the "trailhead", i.e. the parking lot at Badger Pass, out to the point. If you're up for a longish walk, the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees is two miles from the south entrance parking lot, but by then there's a chance that the road will be open and you can drive right in.

Yes, Tioga Pass is closed. You'll prolly have to travel up to 88 to traverse the Sierra Nevada, a lovely ride with some great photo ops along the way.

Time your trip if possible to hit Mono Lake at sunrise, leave Death Valley at night, and arrive at the South shore Tufa area at dawn. Sunrise is spectacular there. Then you can hit Lee Vining for some breakfast, possibly catch a nap, then head up to one of the northern passes.

I'd recommend taking CA highway 49 down from Jackson; Lots of privately run caverns/caves in that area if you're into such things--a bit commercial, but still an incredible sight. If you're at the very first tour in the morning on a weekday, sometimes they'll let you bring a tripod if there are no other visitors. Chaw Se Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park has campsites that are open for $15 a night. That's just east of Jackson off Highway 88 near Volcano.

LOTS of things to photograph in Yosemite in April. Things will be starting to bloom.

As for chains, by state law you MUST carry chains if you are going over any of the passes. You probably won't need to put them on that late in the season, but you still have to have them.

Hope this helps,
Edie

You'll be able to get to the Valley without problems in all likelihood. (You could get a snow shower over the higher routes from the north or south if a front comes through.) The Valley is open all year round, with only occasional road closures for extreme situations.

Tioga Pass Road will very definitely still be closed so there is no way you will get there through the park from the east side unless you want to ski in from Mammoth or Lee Vining... ;-) E.g - if you want to get to the Valley from Mono Lake you will have a very long drive ahead of you. You'll likely need to go north on 395 to eventually find your way over highway 88 (Carson Pass) and then south to Yosemite.

The road to Glacier Point will still be closed.

Dan

I think it's totally wrong to infer that sunrise in Yosemite is some ugly step sister compared to sunset. Think about it, yes there are the classic sunset locations at Tunnel View and Half Dome from Stonemans Bridge, but already mentioned there are cool meadow shots, cool shots of El Capitan, and as Doug mentioned we still always shoot sunrise from up at Tunnel View. Why would we do it if it produces such inferior shots? In fact I have seen Phil up there shooting, so why do it, if it's so lousy?

Now maybe that's not everyone's intention by saying that sunset is better then sunrise, but what does better mean? I will say, and stand up here loud and clear and shout to the world in my best Edie imitation and state that sunrise in Yosemite Valley is every bit as good as sunset!

Jim

Thanks for all the great info! Man, you know RI! Yes that's Beavertail ... one of my favorite spots. Born and raised in RI ... sounds like you too? Here's one of the lighthouse:

JimFox wrote:
I think it's totally wrong to infer that sunrise in Yosemite is some ugly step sister compared to sunset.

I don't think anyone said that.

But it is the case that there are quite a few more obvious opportunities to shoot "sunset photographs" in The Valley due to the geography of the area. Sunset light actually come directly into the Valley and illuminates all sorts of things in interesting and astonishing ways that vary from season to season and location to location within the Valley... because the Valley is open to the west and because many of the most impressive features have faces that are struck by that light and because there are any number of wonderful places in the Valley to see this.

Sunrise is a very different beast in The Valley. No direct sunrise light actually makes it into The Valley since the east end of the Valley is surrounded by much higher peaks and because the Valley walls are generally quite steep. While some very lovely morning light does make it into the Valley eventually, it is not longer actually "sunrise" when this happens.

There are some literal sunrise possibilities in the Valley. I have also shot sunrise from Wawona Tunnel view and it can be stupendous. I have some photographs I like that include the first light coming over and around Half Dome. As I pointed out earlier, I enjoy shooting pre-sunlit photographs in some of the shaded areas due to the wonderful diffused light.

In the early morning - after sunrise - there are a number of other interesting opportunities in the Valley that I and others mentioned above.

Take care, and DO get up early to photograph in the Valley!

Dan

danmitchell wrote:
JimFox wrote:
I think it's totally wrong to infer that sunrise in Yosemite is some ugly step sister compared to sunset.

I don't think anyone said that.

But it is the case that there are quite a few more obvious opportunities to shoot "sunset photographs" in The Valley due to the geography of the area. Sunset light actually come directly into the Valley and illuminates all sorts of things in interesting and astonishing ways that vary from season to season and location to location within the Valley... because the Valley is open to the west and because many of the most impressive features have faces that are struck by that light and because there are any number of wonderful places in the Valley to see this.

Sunrise is a very different beast in The Valley. No direct sunrise light actually makes it into The Valley since the east end of the Valley is surrounded by much higher peaks and because the Valley walls are generally quite steep. While some very lovely morning light does make it into the Valley eventually, it is not longer actually "sunrise" when this happens.

There are some literal sunrise possibilities in the Valley. I have also shot sunrise from Wawona Tunnel view and it can be stupendous. I have some photographs I like that include the first light coming over and around Half Dome. As I pointed out earlier, I enjoy shooting pre-sunlit photographs in some of the shaded areas due to the wonderful diffused light.

In the early morning - after sunrise - there are a number of other interesting opportunities in the Valley that I and others mentioned above.

Take care, and DO get up early to photograph in the Valley!

Dan

Hey Dan,

You better go re read the messages, and even read yours again, even your wording of "some literal sunrise possibilities...", hedges against the possibilities of sunrises. I have shot hundreds of sunrises in Yosemite, and again I will say there are as many possibilities for sunrise shots as there are for sunset shots in Yosemite Valley.

And in my comment, I didn't single anyone out, I simply replied back to the tone I had read from everyone's messages, so there is no need for you to come to the defense and disagree with my statement.

Look at one more quote from someone else:
phil hawkins wrote:
....You can get good sunrise shots on specific locations, like Vernal Fall, Yosemite Falls and El Capitan, but the Yosemite sunset is a far better thing to pursue than sunrises. (If you disagree, I'm open to be corrected. State your case)
....

So when I said:
JimFox wrote:
I think it's totally wrong to infer that sunrise in Yosemite is some ugly step sister compared to sunset.

And then you said:
danmitchell wrote:
I don't think anyone said that.


You might have missed Phil's comments?

Jim

Techical question: f stops and tripods. I shoot handheld, and don't own a tripod. Looking at the images on this board and some of the comments on how they were made, it looks like many of these are taken with high f stops - I saw a few T f22 for example. And lower shutter speeds than I'm used to.

Should I invest in a tripod for Yosemite? I'm starting to think I don't want to be limited to just hand held ...

patriot wrote:
Techical question: f stops and tripods. I shoot handheld, and don't own a tripod. Looking at the images on this board and some of the comments on how they were made, it looks like many of these are taken with high f stops - I saw a few T f22 for example. And lower shutter speeds than I'm used to.

Should I invest in a tripod for Yosemite? I'm starting to think I don't want to be limited to just hand held ...

i would say no question about it, but practice with the tripod first before you go. i used to hate my tripod lugging it around but after a few outing sessions with it, i came to understand that it is a must for landscape photography. one thing i have to warn you, it will cost you money. buy the the best tripod you can afford and you'll also need a ballhead and a camera plate/l-bracket, and possibly a wire trigger. do not waste money by buying cheap tripods and ballheads because it will cost you more in the end.

Patriot:

I spent 16 years in RI--was not born there, but I did a lot of growing up there. *grin*

Tripod? Most definitely. Don't let Binh Ly scare you, though; Most of my shots are with a cheapo tripod. One advantage is that they are light to carry, and if they tumble down a hillside, no big loss. Or if they're stolen from your car.

Yes, voice of experience here.

JimFox wrote:
I think it's totally wrong to infer that sunrise in Yosemite is some ugly step sister compared to sunset.

Hey, in the end I suspect that you and I are actually on the same page. I do shoot early in the morning in the Valley, and I enjoy it a lot - and I'm absolutely positive that I have not exhausted the opportunities with that time of day in this location.

Perhaps I overreacted to your invention of the "ugly step sister" notion. I certainly don't believe that morning light in the valley is "ugly." (Heck, if I did think that I certainly wouldn't get up at 3:00 a.m. when I drive up there from the SF Bay Area - just so that I can arrive for the first light! ;-)

I think my point is perhaps best understood in the context of the OP's question. IIRC, the OP is going to the Valley for the first time and for only a single day. (Here, Edie's Muir quote comes to mind...) What to do?

To my mind, finding and photographing "sunrise" subjects in the Valley is a much less obvious task that shooting sunsets, especially if this is ones first visit. Heck, for a first time visitor I strongly recommend heading right up to Wawona Tunnel View - early - and taking it in. I know that those of us who shoot in the Valley regularly have seen that view frequently enough that we generally don't go there unless the conditions are truly stunning, but it is always stunning for the first-timer. More than once I've seen people virtually brought to tears upon coming out of the tunnel and being confronted with that familiar yet stunning scene.

In any case, I'm with you in knowing that there are lots of things to photograph in and around the valley at any time of the day, any day of the year, and in any conditions whatsoever!

Take care,

Dan

JimFox wrote:

I will say, and stand up here loud and clear and shout to the world in my best Edie imitation and state that sunrise in Yosemite Valley is every bit as good as sunset!

Jim

I Agree with you Jim, Sunrise is as as spectacular as sunset.
Here's the proof. (probably not a great one though.)

I will agree with Jim & Dan. I think it is time for a group hug
As far as morning in Yosemite, let me just say:

Well, we can have a group hug as long Sunny doesn't get in there and squeeze too tight...

Dan I agree we are on the same page. I just didn't want a new visitor to Yosemite get the idea from Phil's comments that he could just as well skip sunrise because there is nothing special to it. As you said, you can find beautiful shots throughout the day.

And Chikku and Dan S, great morning shots for sure!

Jim

And now I'll join the photographic group hug with a couple morning Valley photographs of my own. (And I don't post photos here often so, uh, well, something... :-)

Wow! I really appreciate the great photo's and ideas. If I can get a few images even close to the ones posted on this thread I'll be very pleased!

Tripod on order from B&H ... Manfrotto Bogen 190XB with a 486RC2 ballhead. Figured I'll pass on the photo class and put that towards the tripod. I've been meaning to get one, but I've never wanted to go through the effort of setting up, etc.

Being from the East Coast, I find myself up way before anyone else when I'm on the West Coast. So I'll be out by sunrise anyway looking for breakfast! (Hopefully won't look like breakfast myself to any bears up and about early themselves.) I'll drive around and see what opportunities present themselves.

Edie,

Never made it to King Richard's fair. Nice images! I guess you could say I physically grew up in RI, but had to move around a bit to grow up myself. I'm back in New England, MA now, so RI is close by. Jamestown is a fun spot to take the kids on a weekend day ... or Newport, Little Compton. My 15 year old daughter is becoming interested in photography ... she's an artist at heart (and a performer ... stage, dance, etc) ... I've lead a few "photography expeditions" with her and a few of her friends who have joined the school Photography Club ... nice to have something we can do together. Here she is:

In the spot light ... by accident, but I caught it!

Kum by ya, my lord, Kum by ya...

So, like, why don't we all meet up at Tunnel View one of these days? Sunrise, Summer Solstice? I'll bring coffee. Ya'll have to bring your own damn cups, though.

Be there or be obtuse.

Patriot: Purgatory Chasm up in Sutton, MA is a great spot to take your daughter for photography!