This is an amazing spectacle to witness. Lasting only about 15 minutes before the sun goes down, the lighting gradually grows in intensity and color for the last 5 minutes or so. It is often like seeing a narrow strip of lava flowing down the face of El Capitan. Don’t rule out other times of the day though. The back-lighting can be great on the waterfall in late afternoon as well.
Sometimes there is little water flowing down the rock, but from a position to the south, the selective light on the wet spot makes it look like the waterfall is there anyway!
Other times, if there’s clearly too much cloud cover or valley mist to allow light through, heading somewhere else for a more traditional landscape shot may be the ticket for that evening. You have to first anticipate where the best light will be, before you can be in the right place to react to the light as it develops.
Unfortunately most photographers seemed to have been waiting only for the direct light of the sun, so there was a pulse of traffic as they drove away, probably not seeing the sunset light that developed after the official sunset time. Folks, that’s how sunsets usually work! The best color is minutes AFTER the theoretical (zero degree horizon) sunset time. So stick around for at least 10 minutes “after sunset”, or even 15 or 20, just to be sure that you don’t miss that night’s color, whatever it may be.
1) Ferry Bend – Along the bank of the Merced River near the turnouts just East of the Cathedral Beach picnic area (which is closed for Winter). This location is described on page 24 of my 320-page guidebook “Photographing California Vol. 2 – South”.
This angle provides the composition that compresses the complete length of Horsetail Fall against the rock of El Capitan. You can zoom in for a composition with no sky, or use a wider focal length to include the profile of El Capitan. This seems to be the most crowded location in recent years, as photographers pack together to shoot through an opening in the trees.
This is arguably a more complete view of Horsetail Fall, showing a longer stretch of its descent, making it look longer and skinnier. The view of more of the vertical drop makes the water flow look skinnier, and seeing it all from a longer distance makes it look more abstract and lava-like. A portrait composition here would typically be shot at roughly 150-165mm.
For 2020 & 2021 Yosemite National Park has been closing off all parking and access along Southside Drive and the Merced River, so the standard shot hundreds of photographers pursue each day will not be available again this year.
Viewing Horsetail Fall in Late February
“Due to the popularity of the event, restrictions will be in effect from February 14 through 27, 2020 daily from noon to 7 pm. To view Horsetail Fall, park at Yosemite Falls parking (just west of Yosemite Valley Lodge) and walk 1.5 miles (each way) to the viewing area near El Capitan Picnic Area.” (full NPS release)
The full details for 2021 are posted to a Horsetail Fall page under Plan Your Visit:
To view Horsetail Fall, park at Yosemite Falls parking (just west of Yosemite Valley Lodge) and walk 1.5 miles (each way) to the viewing area near El Capitan Picnic Area. Vault toilets, along with trash and recycling dumpsters, are available at the picnic area. Northside Drive will have one lane closed to vehicles so pedestrians can walk on the road between the viewing area and Yosemite Falls parking. Bring warm clothes and a headlamp or flashlight. Parking, stopping, or unloading passengers will be prohibited between Camp 4 and El Capitan Crossover.
2) In the vicinity of the Cathedral picnic area on Northside Road in the valley, a 1.5 mile walk from the Yosemite Falls parking near Yosemite Lodge. This location is also described in “Photographing California Vol. 2 – South“.
This is more of a side view than the position on the south side of the Merced River, with the upper reaches of the waterfall against the sky. By showing less of the vertical drop, the flow of the water looks wider, and you see more of the rock face relief in detail. A focal length of about 100-120mm works well for a portrait orientation shot here. The landscape composition would be about 70-75mm, but it’s not as interesting (where I usually shoot) due to trees that intrude into the frame.
The more northern location is probably the more common and iconic shot you see, although I don’t mean to imply that’s better. It’s just another nice variation on a rare and amazing solar alignment event.
Plan on some dates, prepare yourself for the trip (carry chains), enjoy a winter trip to Yosemite, and consider Horsetail Fall to be possible icing on the cake! And expect to enjoy return trips to Yosemite in the winter if you don’t get the Horsetail Fall photo that you want on the first one. Seriously, even when I lived in Sacramento, only 3 hours away, it was nearly impossible to predict when conditions would be great.
Life isn’t a destination, it’s the journey that occurs as you pursue your goals. Enjoy and make the most out of every moment.
If you want a little help maximizing your odds of success and anticipating the light to be in the right place while you are in the park, I update my annual list of Yosemite photography workshops here.
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fantastycznie!
Beautiful
Hey Jeff! Beautiful photo as always. Thank you. Have a great day.
Gorgeous image and thanks for the info!
Stunning shot of the gorgeous Firefall
光と陰の対照的な美しさ、
壮大な岩山に美しく流れる滝の風景を見せて頂きまして、ありがとうございます🎶
笑顔で楽しい日をお過ごしください。
心から感謝しています💕
This is really Amazing
Wooow!!
Amazing
Beautiful
+Pilar Allen That's very kind, thank you!