vbnut wrote:
Beautiful! A buddy and I are working out a plan to go up there sometime next week to see the "big water". I was looking at the Yosemite Falls webcam today, and it was so foggy/misty the falls weren't visible at all. We're watching the forecast, so I hope we'll have some visibility.
Would you mind giving a hint of where you took #5 from (a PM is fine)? I don't remember seeing that perspective last time I was there (2019), would love to get a similar shot and maybe a video from that location.
It's across from the parking lot next to the restaurant and Starbucks. The very first parking. You used to be able to make a left to it, but roads are re-routed in the valley right now so you can't.You have to drive further and make a left at the later turn, then drive back to the first parking, walk to the other side of the road, and little bit to the right where there's a bus stop. You'll see what I'm talking about when you get there. It's crazy! There's lot's of one way roads there right now. Park rangers did that because of the huge number of cars. If you park on the side of the road, (and in many cases you can't anymore) you'll have a hard time getting back on the main loop road because there's just so much traffic, like on a freeway!
But, early in the morning and later around sunset time, most of that crowd is gone, so that's good.
This weekend should be stormy and rainy (with possible thunders and lightning etc.). I'm there too. I'm taking off on Saturday very early in the morning....
I was poking around Google maps as I recalled the slot through the trees for the pathway towards the falls but couldn't match things up perfectly. I'm hoping to avoid rain when I go but have been rained on quite a few times on various trips. The Memorial Day time frame trip we were on a horseback ride out of Wawona and got caught in a thunder and hail storm in the morning but things were fine later on. I think crowds will be a bigger problem than rain but it's something a lot of us want to see and maybe photograph, too.
Do you recall if the Valley View area was accessible. I'd like to do some comparison shots if posible.
Craig Gillette wrote:
I was poking around Google maps as I recalled the slot through the trees for the pathway towards the falls but couldn't match things up perfectly. I'm hoping to avoid rain when I go but have been rained on quite a few times on various trips. The Memorial Day time frame trip we were on a horseback ride out of Wawona and got caught in a thunder and hail storm in the morning but things were fine later on. I think crowds will be a bigger problem than rain but it's something a lot of us want to see and maybe photograph, too.
Do you recall if the Valley View area was accessible. I'd like to do some comparison shots if posible....Show more →
Yes it was. And, it was almost always empty. People want to shoot waterfalls and pools of water more than that view.... I guess.
Gregg B. wrote:
It's across from the parking lot next to the restaurant and Starbucks. The very first parking.
Thanks Gregg. I was up there Wednesday and found the spot. FWIW, google maps labels the location as "Yosemite Falls View".
I had a great time during my one-day visit, and as usual the place was incredibly beautiful and awe inspiring. I drove home exhausted after hiking the John Muir Trail to the top of Vernal Falls (I bypassed the Mist Trail due to the value of the camera gear in my backpack, and also because I left home in a hurry and didn't come prepared to get soaked) and a little further to the bridge between Vernal and Nevada Falls plus walking around the valley to see the other sights. The views of Vernal and Nevada Falls and the peaks in the background from the John Muir Trail were spectacular. For the most part the sky was either clear or completely overcast (in the late afternoon), so no "award winning" photos for me (maybe that's why most of yours didn't include the sky). Also, since I'm mostly a wildlife photographer, I don't have the right lenses for Yosemite and had to choose between a 10-22 and a 50/1.8, and at times (e.g. at Yosemite Falls View) the gap or the need to switch lenses was an impediment. My primary goal for this trip, however, was to experiment/learn about shooting video of the "big water", and I was able to accomplish that.
