Where to shoot at Yosemite

Other than Bridal Falls, does anyone have any good suggestions as to places to shoot while in

Yosemite? I'm goin to be there for a week (leaving this Thursday) and thought I'd seek a tip

or two. Thanks.

Go to the Ansel Adams gallery in the park and purchase the Photographers Guide to Yosemite by Michael Frye. It is a &9 book and has some great spots from easy access to tougher hikes. He also talks about the best places to shoot and the best times of day and season for each. Explore on your own but also use this book as a good starting guide. You could never run out of thins to shoot in Yosemite

Thomas

www.thomasbeaman.com

Karl, any photo guide of Yosemite will show you where to go to take the tunnel view and valley view shots. These two spots are where the classic shots are taken. The shots are way over done but if you're going to be there a week do them anyway. You won't be sorry.

 

If you're in very good hiking shape, hike from the valley floor up above Vernal and Nevada Falls. There are great shots to be had along the way but it's like walking up stairs for a few miles. Also, if you do that, take protection for your camera gear. There are spots along the trail where you cannot escape the spray from the falls.

 

If you're in EXCELLENT hiking shape then consider a hike from the valley floor up past Vernal and Nevada and then on up to the back side of Half Dome. There are cables on the back side that allow you to get to the top. Check first, though, they may not be in place yet. The cool part about sitting on Half Dome, aside from the sense of accomplishment, is that you can get unique shots of the valley that don't include Half Dome. You have to make it up Half Dome and back in one day and it's a full 16-hour hike but it is well worth it.

 

One of the most photographed dead trees in the world is at the top of a place called Sentinal Dome. It's a fun place to watch the sunset but be prepared with flashlights for the hike back to the car.

 

If the road is open, along the Tioga Pass Road up to Tenaya Lake and through Toualome (sp?) Meadows is full of photo opportunities.

 

Spend some time not looking at the big waterfalls and instead look for the little falls created in the streams in the valley floor.

 

Check out some hikes around the Wawona area as well.

 

Most of all, have a great time. You should be getting there just ahead of the major crowds.

By the way, the hike up to Half Dome, the last 2.5 miles up are pure hell. So pace yourself.

I was just in Yosemite two weeks ago and "Spring" was just starting. The dogwoods should be in their prime and the falls should be at their peaks. You should be able to find nice shots anywhere in the valley. Do some exploring, you will have plenty of time. I would definitely recommend the Vernal/Nevada Falls hike. Late afternoon to early evening is the best light on Nevada Falls with Vernal Falls being a little earlier. The Mirror Lake loop is also a nice hike and relatively flat. Make sure to take a polarizer. <a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose/now/tioga.htm">Tioga Road</a> will still be closed, so you will be more or less stuck in the valley. Head west on Hwy 140 for some nice views of the Merced River and some more waterfalls. Hope that helps.

Andrew<div></div>

Your coming at a most excellent time. The meadows are all flooded creating

wonderful reflections and the dogwoods are in bloom. Water is high!! If you slip in

the river you won't come out. Leidig Meadow and El Cap Meadows are beautiful. I

arrived this weekend for morning sessions where I had good back lighting. If you

have never hiked the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls this is the time. Also keep in mind that

HWY 140 along the Merced River is closed due to a Landslide outside the park.

 

www.yosemitecollection.com

I favorite area is in the Big Trees, especially that patch that's a way back off from the road. Do NOT miss the trees--they're the best thing in all of Californy.

 

 

Kent in SD

Tunnel View and Valley view are shot a lot but in my opinion can never be overdone. Yosemite changes each day. Every little cloud can make a difference in the quality of light. I could spend everyday shooting those spots and always come away with something special. So even if you were only going to be there 3 hours, I would recommend you shoot those views. Those views are famous for a reason.....they are amazing. Have a great trip.

I can recommend "PhotoSecrets Yosemite" by Andrew Hudson. ISBN: 0-9653087-0-7. It used to cost about $8 at the store in the park. It is packed with lots of good info and examples, and will fit nicely into your camera bag.

I am sorry, but I am afraid your question was completely misunderstood.

 

Or did you really want to plagiarize all the now trite shots taken by everybody else in the world thousands of times over dozens of years and published in hundreds of books?

 

How dull and tedious for vacation fun.

 

I think you should avoid all the suggested sites and trails and discover for and by yourself. It is a marvellous country around Yosemite! Come see!

 

But mass tourism is just stupid: you will be one dot (or better yet: pixel) in the crowd .. if you follow this advice; another pea in the pod, monkey-like uhhing and ahhing as sheep and cows do ..

 

Sorry if you like that enough to spoil your own path through life and miss your personal karma completely; and you own pictures to boot.

Well I hope that little rant made you feel big and better about yourself. Always good to grab an opportunity to call people stupid. Real helpful.

Yosemite is one of my all-time favorite places to photograph. Glacier Point allows you to

take great photos of Half Dome, but I don't know if the road up there is open yet. The

drive to Glacier Point from the Valley is long, but you can also make the Sentinel Dome

hike from the road leading up to Glacier Point. If you are in Yosemite for a week, sign up

for a photo tour via the Ansel Adams Gallery (you can get more info off the web and sign-

up in advance by phone); they are introductory, but they get you in the mood. Too bad

Tioga Pass is not open yet, that road is worth many rolls of film, and Mono Lake is

spectacular (and the gourmet cafe in the Mobil Station on the corner of Hwy 120 & 395 is

practically worth the drive). Maybe you could venture out to Wawona and the Mariposa

Grove of Giant Sequoias for some scenery. Back at the Valley, the hike to Mirror Lake is

short and pretty. All the falls should all be running well, so try for some of those rainbow

in the mist shots. The Ahwahnee Hotel is glorious (spoil yourself and have a meal there),

and very nice to photograph with the sun lighting up the arched rock formation behind it.

Take a day and drive to Hetch Hetchy. Don't worry about taking trite photos a million other

tourists have taken, they're all special and unique to you. Have fun, and watch out for

bears!

Yeah but at least he's gotten off the wooden tripod kick.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930238002

You need at least 2 filters, polarizer and a graduated ND filter. Might also consider a warming filter. Best shots are usually taken early and late. During mid afternoon the sun is harsh so you might want to play with flowers.

 

There is a burn area that is fantastic for B&W type of work, just outside of the Village. There are 2 barns there and you can have a blast going inside of them. Ask a ranger for directions. It's easy to get to.

For some added inspiration check out the Yosemite Marching Band video!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOzuu4qS-vI

Yikes Hugh! Bet that band sure freaked out all of the local wildlife!

hehe Well done! Thought I've seen everything in Yosemite. I was wrong.

<p>Frank, </p>

<p>What a rude and unhelpful response! I realize I'm reading this many years after the fact, but I hope you never give condescending advice like that to anyone again. Notice how in all of your criticism you never actually answered the question, never providing any actual suggestions for locations. </p>

<p>It always amazes me that people can take such a high and mighty approach to well photographed regions of the world - they are well photographed for a reason, and while many folks would love to see the off-the-beaten-path locations on their subsequent visits, there is a reason why Ansel Adams and so many after him chose the locations they did. And, just because someone has photographed a place before does not mean that it isn't beautiful when you can generate a beautiful image with your own camera.<br>

I am reading this in 2012 because I too am hoping to trek to Yosemite for my first time this year, and I too will hope to see some of the iconic locations I've only seen in those mass produced books and pictures all over the place, because I want to see what others have seen, and point my camera in the direction of beauty, and see what I can find, and what I can make, of the experience.</p>

<p>Thanks to all the others that actually had constructive things to say - I will certainly be using your information for my future plans!</p>