The Fall Firefall

[BlackRockArt]

Hi y'all

Earlier this week there were a few days of snowfall along the Eastern Sierra, some mountains got covered very well; I checked the road condtions to see Yosemite National Park are still open even though some routes require snow chains.

As soon as the snow stopped, I dashed to the Yosemite National Park, with my driving hours, I figured park rangers would have cleared most roads inside.

Sure enough I was not disappointed.

The valley floor was covered by almost one foot of snow, even better, the temperature stayed below 30F, so most snow stayed .

I waited till Thursday afternoon, when the Horsetail Fall started to flow, at 4:51pm the sun gradually moved to the position when the waterfall lit up with golden & warm orange hues.

Unlike during the Spring Firefall when half of the west coast swarm the Yosemite Valley, I & my student had the whole scene to ourselves. We marveled at the spectacular 15 min of wonderful nature light show.

Enjoy.

Oliver

 

[Kyle Jones]

Very nice - I was wondering if the temperatures would get warm enough to create some flow.

 

[AlanLichty]

Sweet - and better yet is having the place to yourself and your student.

 

[BlackRockArt]

Very nice - I was wondering if the temperatures would get warm enough to create some flow.

Kyle, I was looking around & wondered if you would come back, but it's a bit hard to see given everybody wrapped in thick jackets with hats & boots.

Oliver

 

[Rick Nantais]

Hi y'all

Earlier this week there were a few days of snowfall along the Eastern Sierra, some mountains got covered very well; I checked the road condtions to see Yosemite National Park are still open even though some routes require snow chains.

As soon as the snow stopped, I dashed to the Yosemite National Park, with my driving hours, I figured park rangers would have cleared most roads inside.

Sure enough I was not disappointed.

The valley floor was covered by almost one foot of snow, even better, the temperature stayed below 30F, so most snow stayed .

I waited till Thursday afternoon, when the Horsetail Fall started to flow, at 4:51pm the sun gradually moved to the position when the waterfall lit up with golden & warm orange hues.

Unlike during the Spring Firefall when half of the west coast swarm the Yosemite Valley, I & my student had the whole scene to ourselves. We marveled at the spectacular 15 min of wonderful nature light show.

Enjoy.

Oliver


View attachment 54042

Magnifique...

 

[BlackRockArt]

Sweet - and better yet is having the place to yourself and your student.

Thanks Alan, yes, in Februrary, you would have to walke 1.5 miles each way, waiting 4 hours in the forest to see it.

Yesterday I walked 5 min, found a spot next to the bon fire, setting up the camera to see it.

Oliver

 

[Kurt Harrigan]

Cool. I had never thought about anyone doing this before the solstice. Next year will probably be a cluster f***!!

 

[JimFox]

Awesome work Oliver! This is indeed a pretty rare sight to be captured. It seems like it's only every 2 or 3 years we see a photo or two of it. So congrats! This is really specatacular.

But a question. Where did you set up that you were next to a bon fire? Or did I take that too literal?

 

[JimFox]

Congrats on the Daily Featured Photo Oliver!

@BlackRockArt

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Very cool Oliver. I have only admired images of this location with this light, never ventured to capture it. Congrats of the feature.

 

[Jim Sanderson]

Very nice, looks like I missed a good day up there. Would have liked to driven up on Thursday also. You captured a beautiful shot of the falls.

 

[BlackRockArt]

Awesome work Oliver! This is indeed a pretty rare sight to be captured. It seems like it's only every 2 or 3 years we see a photo or two of it. So congrats! This is really specatacular.

But a question. Where did you set up that you were next to a bon fire? Or did I take that too literal?

Hi Jim.

Yes, I was lucky to capture the shot.

The park is very quiet, there are not many tourists, most photographers would hang around the popular spots, I went on a trail less travelled.

Yes, there were dozens of huge bon fires along the Northside Drive, like this:

Oliver

PS: I should have brough a bottle with me.

 

[BlackRockArt]

Congrats on the Daily Featured Photo Oliver!

@BlackRockArt

Thank you, Jim, it's a great pleasure to share the beautiful scenes of mother nature.

Very cool Oliver. I have only admired images of this location with this light, never ventured to capture it. Congrats of the feature.

Thanks Jameel, I got a lucky break to be there at the right time.

Very nice, looks like I missed a good day up there. Would have liked to driven up on Thursday also. You captured a beautiful shot of the falls.

Hi Jim. let's pray for more snow fall this winter. You will love the Yosemite covered in snow.

Oliver

 

[JimFox]

Hi Jim.

Yes, I was lucky to capture the shot.

The park is very quiet, there are not many tourists, most photographers would hang around the popular spots, I went on a trail less travelled.

Yes, there were dozens of huge bon fires along the Northside Drive, like this:

View attachment 54060


Oliver

PS: I should have brough a bottle with me.

That's pretty cool, I guess fire control with the burns. I looked again closer at your image so yeah the Northside drive gives that angle. Were you at the El Capitan Picnic Area?

 

[BlackRockArt]

That's pretty cool, I guess fire control with the burns. I looked again closer at your image so yeah the Northside drive gives that angle. Were you at the El Capitan Picnic Area?

Yes, the NPS are having more prescribed burns in the winter; I don't know for how long, my guess is, the park will close off Southside Drive again in 2023, so that leaves El Capitan Picnic area the only option.

In the spring, the smoke can be really thick, in Februrary I led three workshops for the firefall, the smoke blocked too much sun light. lol.

Oliver

 

[Ben Egbert]

Congrats Oliver, this is a very worthy featured post.

 

[Bob]

Absolutely gorgeous.

 

[MonikaC]

Wonderful! I've wondered about the Fall Firefall, and here it is! Maybe some year........