Posted by Tim Visser on April 12, 2010 at 12:39 AM
I am a member but usually hang out in RMNP since I live in Colorado. I will be in California for a business trip and I am going to have a weekend available to shoot. I will be in the bay area April 30 - May 2. I have shot a few times in San Francisco and was thinking about heading to Yosemite to shoot over the weekend. I am not sure how much is accessible due to snow in Yosemite since it would be my first time there. I have also thought about going up to Napa Valley. I would be interested in your suggestions to shoot over the weekend in Yosemite or another destination. I need to be back in San Jose Sunday evening and do not want to waste a lot of time behind the windshield.
If you want a shorter drive, I would suggest skipping Yosemite and going to Pt. Reyes, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tamalpais or Edgewood Park. I have done postings on each of them and have information and contact numbers or web links for each on my blog. It depends in what you prefer shooting. For example Edgewood is good mainly for flowers. The other three all have good landscapes as well. If you are interested in driving further you might consider the Monterey Peninsula or Table Mt. Yosemite Valley is open but probably early for wildflowers, but good for waterfalls. The Sierra foothills have flowers and redbuds blooming. For current Yosemite conditions try this web address: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
It's a bit of a drive to Yosemite from the bay area, but I've done a weekender from Long Beach which is in So Cal. The first weekend in May last year had fabulous waterfalls, but rain and challenging shooting conditions. If you never been to Yosemite and do go be prepared to return, I'm hooked been 6 times in the last 3 years. You probably need to arrange lodgings first, but I'm sure you can work that all out on the web.
I would make the drive to Yosemite. It is a spectacular place under all conditions and for me would be worth the time behind the wheel. Tioga pass road will be closed, but you would not have enough time to explore there anyway. There is plenty to do in the valley. Pick up Michael Frye's book, The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite if you are not familiar with the place. It is an excellent primer to let you know some excellent vantage points and what time to be there. It will increase your efficiency if you want the classic spots. Or just wander if you want to get your own take on the place.
I heartily echo Harley's suggestion. The Valley will be spectacular!
--P
Posted by David Haynes on April 12, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Tim,
It all depends on what type of photography you are interested in. Like most people, I heartily recommend Yosemite. Most of the park will be closed until at least June because of snow but the valley floor, which lies at around 4000 feet, should be spectacular. It will be well worth the time behind the wheel IMHO. There will be lots, and lots of water. Be prepared to get a little bit wet if you want waterfall shots. I don't know how far the drive will be from the bay area but from So. California it is about 4 hours to the floor. If you have not booked any reservations for Yosemite you can probably forget about staying inside the park. It books a year in advance. But you can stay outside the park with little warning and have a fairly short drive to the floor each day. No more than an hour each way. If you love rolling green hills with oaks and lots of wineries you would love Napa nad the surrounding area. It's a shorter drive than Yosmite but Honestly, Yosemite in late April early May is a photographers dream. Hard to beat. You will want to return many times. Have agreat trip and look forward to your photos from the trip. Dave
Posted by Lon Overacker on April 12, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Tim,
I'll put in another vote for Yosemite. Sandy makes some great recommendations that you should consider if you really don't want the "windshield" time. It will take about 3.5 hrs from San Jose, depending on your route. My personal opinion is that the local, lesser known locations can be great, but I think require multiple visits to get to know the location, if that makes sense. Where as with Yosemite, you can go there once and not have a problem finding something to shoot.
As others have mentioned, be prepared for rain. Weather of course is unpredictable. Last year at the same time you are planning, it rained on and off the 3 days we were there. But as Harley eluded to, that doesn't mean photography is excluded, it actually means you have new opportunities!
If you go, I would recommend route Highway 140 thru Merced and Mariposa. Google Lodging in Mariposa and El Portal. OR see if you can get a cabin in Curry Village. Mariposa is about a 45min drive to the Valley floor. El Portal about 15-20 min.
Roads to the higher elevations like Glacier Pt. and Tioga Pass will NOT be open yet.
Have a great time.
Lon
Posted by Jay Knight on April 12, 2010 at 10:31 PM
All, thanks for the information you provided. I did call today and I will be able to get a room at the Yosemite View Lodge. I am just now starting to do research of where to shoot and I will pick up the book that Harley recommends. I did download the iphotoguide app for my iphone and am going through it. The big piece missing there is what time of year you can shoot some of those locations. Will a sedan be fine or should I get a SUV? I am looking forward to going to Yosemite for my first time. Any additional recommendations that you may have, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Tim
Posted by Lon Overacker on April 14, 2010 at 2:54 AM
Tim,
Cool. Hey, the iphone app is from our own Dan Baumbach (well, formerly CA, now in Colorado.) Also, I have a picture in Dan's App of Horsetail falls! Cool. And of course useless info.
No, you won't need an SUV. Sure, it could snow, but I'm 99.999 percent sure you won't need chains or even 4-wheel drive.
"The big piece missing there is what time of year you can shoot some of those locations."
Not sure what locations you're talking about. The ones listed in the iphone app? Mentioned in my previous message, Tioga Pass and the road to Glacier Point won't be open. Anything in the Valley you can get to and you should even be able to get to any of the Sequoia groves if that's a subject you're interested in.
In general, you can make your morning shoots in the eastern end of the Valley. Works well that way since you're staying at the lodge anyway. Morning in Cooks meadow is always nice. Short hikes to Mirror Lake and/or Happy Isles is also recommended. If you like invigorating hikes, try the Mist trail late afternoon for a chance at rainbow across Vernal Falls. Speaking of the falls, you can get rainbows near first light of Yosemite Falls from nearby vantage points and late in the afternoon, you can get rainbows at Bridal Veil Falls as viewed from either the parking lot or more enjoyably from Tunnel View.
So I mentioned mornings near the east end of the valley, afternoons are great towards the west end. I would highly recommend 1 sunset night at Gateway to the Valley, or Gates of the Valley. It's the last pullout as you drive out of the Valley. You could also try and get some last light on Half Dome at the end of the day too.
Tunnel View is a must stop, preferrably late in the afternoon. Mornings are great too if you have that changing weather and the possibilities of the classic "clearing storm" conditions. But in clear conditions, the sun is rising over the valley wall to the east and the contrast is so great that it makes for tough photography. At least in terms of grand scenics that is. Bridal Veil falls doesn't get sunlight until mid afternoon.
Just too many options. You could spend a day walking around the Yosemite lodge area, Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Village, Black oaks everywhere and of course the Infamous Elm Tree in Cooks meadow. Gotta get a pic of that. :-)
OR - You could just drive around the valley and stop every tenth of a mile. You won't even need any tips or recommendations.
Actually, seriously, if you want to avoid the crowds, one of the days, or a half day. just walk from Yosemite Lodge. Walk to Yosemite Falls (if you don't want to get your gear wet, don't go.) Walk towards the Merced from the Lodge, you can talk around the river, cross the Swinging bridge, and basically make a loop around the meadow. That would be a nice morning walk.
Park at the Stables or at the Ahwahnee hotel and walk to Mirror Lake.
Park at the Stabels and walk through the North Pines campground, look for dogwood along the way to Happy Isles
Park at Fern Spring (first pullout coming in to the valley) and walk. Great dogwood area. You can walk against traffic to Gates of the Valley (less than 1/4 mi), you can walk along the river, great river scenics with dogwood, or you can walk along the river heading west in to the valley from Fern springs.
In other words, find a spot where you can leave your car and then you can walk and photograph for hours at a time. When you're walking, the amount of people just seem more reasonable and more often than not you can find yourself alone quite easily.
Anyway, I need to stop. I'm getting depressed cause I'm not there. Have fun!
Lon
Posted by Steve Sieren on April 14, 2010 at 8:50 PM
Even with a plan you will stop every tenth of a mile in Yosemite
Posted by Tim Visser on April 16, 2010 at 12:29 AM
Lon,
Yes, I was referencing the iPhoto app. You are correct, having the time of year to shoot those locations is an essential piece of information that is missing.
Sounds like I will be getting some hiking in while I am there. That is good, I need the exercise. I have seen some photos of the falls with rainbows and hopefully, I will have an opportunity to get some of those. You have given me a lot of great information that will help me plan my first trip to the valley. I have also ordered Michael Frye's book that Harley recommended.
Steve, I am sure that is true...more I am reading the more that I will have to ensure that my route and time is used wisely.
If any of you will be in the area that weekend, let me know and we can hook up.
Discussion
11 repliesThanks,
Tim
Sandy
Natural History Wanderings
It's a bit of a drive to Yosemite from the bay area, but I've done a weekender from Long Beach which is in So Cal. The first weekend in May last year had fabulous waterfalls, but rain and challenging shooting conditions. If you never been to Yosemite and do go be prepared to return, I'm hooked been 6 times in the last 3 years. You probably need to arrange lodgings first, but I'm sure you can work that all out on the web.
Paul
It is hard to go wrong in Yosemite.
--P
It all depends on what type of photography you are interested in. Like most people, I heartily recommend Yosemite. Most of the park will be closed until at least June because of snow but the valley floor, which lies at around 4000 feet, should be spectacular. It will be well worth the time behind the wheel IMHO. There will be lots, and lots of water. Be prepared to get a little bit wet if you want waterfall shots. I don't know how far the drive will be from the bay area but from So. California it is about 4 hours to the floor. If you have not booked any reservations for Yosemite you can probably forget about staying inside the park. It books a year in advance. But you can stay outside the park with little warning and have a fairly short drive to the floor each day. No more than an hour each way. If you love rolling green hills with oaks and lots of wineries you would love Napa nad the surrounding area. It's a shorter drive than Yosmite but Honestly, Yosemite in late April early May is a photographers dream. Hard to beat. You will want to return many times. Have agreat trip and look forward to your photos from the trip. Dave
I'll put in another vote for Yosemite. Sandy makes some great recommendations that you should consider if you really don't want the "windshield" time. It will take about 3.5 hrs from San Jose, depending on your route. My personal opinion is that the local, lesser known locations can be great, but I think require multiple visits to get to know the location, if that makes sense. Where as with Yosemite, you can go there once and not have a problem finding something to shoot.
As others have mentioned, be prepared for rain. Weather of course is unpredictable. Last year at the same time you are planning, it rained on and off the 3 days we were there. But as Harley eluded to, that doesn't mean photography is excluded, it actually means you have new opportunities!
If you go, I would recommend route Highway 140 thru Merced and Mariposa. Google Lodging in Mariposa and El Portal. OR see if you can get a cabin in Curry Village. Mariposa is about a 45min drive to the Valley floor. El Portal about 15-20 min.
Roads to the higher elevations like Glacier Pt. and Tioga Pass will NOT be open yet.
Have a great time.
Lon
Thanks,
Tim
Cool. Hey, the iphone app is from our own Dan Baumbach (well, formerly CA, now in Colorado.) Also, I have a picture in Dan's App of Horsetail falls! Cool. And of course useless info.
No, you won't need an SUV. Sure, it could snow, but I'm 99.999 percent sure you won't need chains or even 4-wheel drive.
"The big piece missing there is what time of year you can shoot some of those locations."
Not sure what locations you're talking about. The ones listed in the iphone app? Mentioned in my previous message, Tioga Pass and the road to Glacier Point won't be open. Anything in the Valley you can get to and you should even be able to get to any of the Sequoia groves if that's a subject you're interested in.
In general, you can make your morning shoots in the eastern end of the Valley. Works well that way since you're staying at the lodge anyway. Morning in Cooks meadow is always nice. Short hikes to Mirror Lake and/or Happy Isles is also recommended. If you like invigorating hikes, try the Mist trail late afternoon for a chance at rainbow across Vernal Falls. Speaking of the falls, you can get rainbows near first light of Yosemite Falls from nearby vantage points and late in the afternoon, you can get rainbows at Bridal Veil Falls as viewed from either the parking lot or more enjoyably from Tunnel View.
So I mentioned mornings near the east end of the valley, afternoons are great towards the west end. I would highly recommend 1 sunset night at Gateway to the Valley, or Gates of the Valley. It's the last pullout as you drive out of the Valley. You could also try and get some last light on Half Dome at the end of the day too.
Tunnel View is a must stop, preferrably late in the afternoon. Mornings are great too if you have that changing weather and the possibilities of the classic "clearing storm" conditions. But in clear conditions, the sun is rising over the valley wall to the east and the contrast is so great that it makes for tough photography. At least in terms of grand scenics that is. Bridal Veil falls doesn't get sunlight until mid afternoon.
Just too many options. You could spend a day walking around the Yosemite lodge area, Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Village, Black oaks everywhere and of course the Infamous Elm Tree in Cooks meadow. Gotta get a pic of that. :-)
OR - You could just drive around the valley and stop every tenth of a mile. You won't even need any tips or recommendations.
Actually, seriously, if you want to avoid the crowds, one of the days, or a half day. just walk from Yosemite Lodge. Walk to Yosemite Falls (if you don't want to get your gear wet, don't go.) Walk towards the Merced from the Lodge, you can talk around the river, cross the Swinging bridge, and basically make a loop around the meadow. That would be a nice morning walk.
Park at the Stables or at the Ahwahnee hotel and walk to Mirror Lake.
Park at the Stabels and walk through the North Pines campground, look for dogwood along the way to Happy Isles
Park at Fern Spring (first pullout coming in to the valley) and walk. Great dogwood area. You can walk against traffic to Gates of the Valley (less than 1/4 mi), you can walk along the river, great river scenics with dogwood, or you can walk along the river heading west in to the valley from Fern springs.
In other words, find a spot where you can leave your car and then you can walk and photograph for hours at a time. When you're walking, the amount of people just seem more reasonable and more often than not you can find yourself alone quite easily.
Anyway, I need to stop. I'm getting depressed cause I'm not there. Have fun!
Lon
Yes, I was referencing the iPhoto app. You are correct, having the time of year to shoot those locations is an essential piece of information that is missing.
Sounds like I will be getting some hiking in while I am there. That is good, I need the exercise. I have seen some photos of the falls with rainbows and hopefully, I will have an opportunity to get some of those. You have given me a lot of great information that will help me plan my first trip to the valley. I have also ordered Michael Frye's book that Harley recommended.
Steve, I am sure that is true...more I am reading the more that I will have to ensure that my route and time is used wisely.
If any of you will be in the area that weekend, let me know and we can hook up.
Thanks,
Tim