El Capitan reflected in the Merced River, Yosemite National Park

 While visiting Yosemite National Park to photograph the "firefall effect", we stood on a bridge over the Merced River and noticed El Capitan's reflection in the still water. The sun was setting and the shadow of El Capitan's "nose" was already moving across the eastern wall towards Horsetail Fall. Unfortunately, Horsetail Fall was dry this year, 2022, so the firefall didn't have the drama that we were hoping for, but this image helped make up for it.

The image was actually two images captured with a Samsung 152 smartphone and merged together to create a larger image. ISO 100, f 2.2, 1/100 sec, 13 mm equivalent focal length

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

El Capitan and the Big Dipper, May 2018, Yosemite National Park, California

A shot of El Capitan with the Big Dipper in the night sky.  El Cap is lit up by a nearly full moon.  Bob and Rick were camped at Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley in May 2018 when they decided to take a drive around the Valley enjoying seeing the key landmarks lit up by the nearly full moon.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

El Capitan and the Big Dipper by moonlight, May 2018

 Bob was looking through his photos when he happened upon this photo that he took of El Capitan by moonlight.  The Big Dipper is in the upper left of the image.  He took this picture in May 2018.

El Capitan is one of the largest granite cliffs in the world and is a draw for rock climbers from around the world.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

El Capitan just after sunset, Yosemite National Park, California

El Capitan reflected in the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park. This picture was taken just after sunset with calm winds. We spent the afternoon cross-country skiing out of Badger Pass and went through part of the valley on our way out of the park. Right now, everyone has to leave the park by 5PM.

Settings were f1.7, 1/33 sec, ISO 244, 4.74mm, in a Motorola z4 smartphone.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

 

The Yosemite firefall effect with a dry Horsetail Falls, February 23, 2020

The 2020 Yosemite firefall as seen from the El Capitan Picnic Area in Yosemite Valley.  After a very wet and snowy winter last winter, the 2019 to 2020 winter has turned very dry.  Horsetail Falls had no water in it, but the sun still put its slit of reddish setting sun light on the spot where it would've been.  This photo is from February 23rd 2020.  Clouds on the western horizon toyed with us off and on blocking and then unblocking the setting sun's light, but ultimately obscured the sun when the peak of redness should have happened.

This photo was about the best we got of the setting sun's light on the eastern flank of El Capitan.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Yosemite firefall with avalanche, El Capitan and Horsetail Falls

Yosemite has become famous for what's called the firefall effect.  In mid to late February the setting sun's last rays of light turn red and shine on the eastern flank of El Capitan right on a spot where an ephemeral waterfall is flowing, provided there's enough runoff from its small 40-acre watershed.  Of course, the effect also requires a clear horizon in the West.

This image, taken on February 16, 2019, shows the spot on El Capitan where the setting sun's reddening light shines during this time of year.  Although the Horsetail Falls' watershed had lots of snow in it, the weather had been cold enough that not a lot of it was melting off and flowing into the waterfall.  Some water was flowing in the fall, but there were also some spots where snow and ice was stuck on this cliff and would occasionally break off and avalanche.  In the vertical stripe of red above, the separate dash of red on the right near the bottom is actually an avalanche catching the setting sun's burning light.

We didn't catch this image with our still cameras.  This is actually a still frame from the video we shot of the firefall.  We didn't see this avalanche when it happened, but we saw it on our video clips after we left.  From our spot on the south side of the Merced River, we could hear an occasional avalanche, but by the time we heard them, they were done with, since the sound took so long to reach us.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

El Capitan facing the sunset, Yosemite National Park

As a winter storm was clearing over the Sierra Nevada, in Yosemite National Park, the massive El Capitan faces the setting sun. This time of year, may people visit Yosemite in order to see the "firefall" of the red light of the setting sun causing the the waters of Horsetail Fall to glow and appear to be on fire. Unfortunately, there's no water in the waterfall this year due to a very dry winter. So in this image, we decided we should concentrate on El Capitan and the dramatic-looking sunset. We set ourselves up along the Four-Mile Trail on Yosemite Valley's south side for this picture. We had to leave the trail and go up a little bit of the slope to get a clear view.

This view might also illustrate why Horsetail Fall is a temporary waterfall. The drainage basin that supplies the water for the fall is just the eastern slope of El Capitan. You can see that basin at the upper right of this picture. So without much rainfall or melting snow to feed it, there is no waterfall.

If you enjoy this and other photos in our Robinson Twins online photo gallery, please Follow us.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

El Capitan and a leafless oak in silhouette, Yosemite

April showers in Yosemite led to this formation of clouds that has the peak of El Capitan looming above and below the clouds, while the lower cloud provides the proper background for a bare oak tree's silhouette. This picture was originally taken in April of 1984 with slide film, specifically Kodachrome. Rick stood in El Capitan Meadow to get this photo.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

National Trails Day, June 3, 2017

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Horsetail Falls in Yosemite showing the firefall effect.

In Yosemite, a rare event called the "firefall effect" happens for about two weeks, one week on either side of February 18th, along the eastern ridge of El Capitan. The sun sets at such an angle that the cliff of this eastern ridge is lit up by the setting sun, which can glow red when the conditions are right. A seasonal waterfall named Horsetail Falls can catch this red light and take on a glowing appearance to the point where it can appear to be on fire or like a lava flow.

This image was taken on February 12, 2017, around 5:30 PM. The light from the setting sun turned a shade of pink but never turned fully red. Actually getting a deep red sunset works out better when there is more dust in the air. The whole state of California has had many storms this season and the air has been pretty well cleared of dust for now.

This picture is one that I took on February 16, 2007, ten years ago. This was my first attempt to capture this event after I had learned about it.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

The Tunnel View of Yosemite Valley

This is the famous Tunnel View of Yosemite Valley.  El Capitan, the largest granite monolith in the world, is to the left, Bridal Veil Falls and the Cathedral Rocks are on the right, and Half Dome is tucked into the back with Clouds Rest, 1,000 feet higher, beyond.  Visitors can get this view by driving up to the Wawona Tunnel and turning off at the viewpoint, or, if coming in from the south, driving through the tunnel and turning off immediately after it ends. The tunnel is about a mile long and you're expected to turn on your car's headlights while you're inside it. Don't be surprised if someone else in the tunnel starts honking their car's horn. Some drivers like to hear the echo of their horn.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Yosemite's "Gateway" from the west to east from Tunnel View area

Yosemite Valley's "Gateway" is the Cathedral Rocks to the south and El Capitan to the north. This view was taken from the Tunnel View looking eastward from above the valley floor. Below the Cathedral Rocks is Bridalveil Falls. Beyond them is Sentinel Dome, in this photo it is covered in snow and showing above the lowest of the Cathedral Rocks. Beyond Sentinel Dome, is Half Dome, Yosemite's most famous land mark. Then, beyond Half Dome, in the center of the photo, is Clouds Rest. It's covered in snow and has a long north-facing slope. Clouds Rest is actually 1000 feet higher in elevation than Half Dome.

We drove to Yosemite from Fresno, California and parked at the popular Tunnel View turnout. However, Rick knows some locations around there that the typical tourist doesn't go to, allowing for a view that's not so common. This image is the combination of 4 images combined in the computer to get much more resolution, as well. The day was sunny despite being in February.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Yosemite's "Gateway" from the east, looking west

Yosemite Valley's "Gateway" is the Cathedral Rocks to the south and El Capitan to the north. This view was taken from the Four Mile Trail looking westward about 300 meters (1000 feet) above the valley floor. During the winter, the Four Mile Trail is often closed due to snow, but this winter of 2014, California is in the middle of a drought. We hiked 1.5 miles up the trail, but got this image after about 1 mile. If ordering this image, choose a 2:1 format.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!