kaethe Posted March 4, 2017 Share #1 Posted March 4, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Horsetail Falls, in Yosemite National Park on the east face of El Capitan, is a very unassuming, almost trickle of a fall for 50 weeks out of the year. However in the latter part of February if (big IF) California has had good snowfall, and the skies to the west are clear and the sun is out, and the wind is blowing the falls from the face of the wall, as the sun sets, if you view from the east on either side of the river the falls capture the sunlight and glow a beautiful fire-like orange, about 10 minutes before sunset. Every year thousands of photographers now flock to Yosemite in hopes of catching that magical 10 minutes. We go camping every winter in February, and have been fortunate to photograph this many times, as well as see it fade at the last second when a cloud blocks the sunlight. It is a challenge to frame the falls through the trees, and many photographers are there at 1300 in hopes of catching the 1730ish sunset. It is the greatest gathering of phone cameras to high end camera gear and 200mm glass on tripods, carefully balanced with legs intertwined on the riverbanks. When the sunset starts, there is only the sound of a thousand shutters. This year I shot with the m10 and an old R 200mm VIII 2.8, slight crop to remove an annoying tree branch on the right. The second shot is taken just before the sunset starts, and the last image is after the sunset has left the wall, approximately a 10 minute window for the three. kaethe Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/269993-horsetail-falls-firefall-yosemite-national-park/?do=findComment&comment=3226425'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 4, 2017 Posted March 4, 2017 Hi kaethe, Take a look here Horsetail Falls "Firefall" Yosemite National Park. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MarkP Posted March 4, 2017 Share #2 Posted March 4, 2017 The first photo is extraordinary Kaethe. It looks like a furnace in there I would not have believed it was real if you hadn't explained the scene. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted March 4, 2017 Share #3 Posted March 4, 2017 Unbelievable! Wonder what legend/ritual the Indians had for this very special phenomenon, can't imagine they hadn't if they knew it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaethe Posted March 4, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted March 4, 2017 Thank you everyone for your "thanks". Galen Rowell, photographer and climber, was considered the first to document this event, and I attended his seminar in the late 70's when he discussed the scientific explanation and the capturing the event, so I have been hooked for many years and never tire of seeing it. @otto.f: I have wondered that myself, I do not know where the winter villages were, as that would influence whether they saw it. kaethe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy Posted March 4, 2017 Share #5 Posted March 4, 2017 So many photographs to see in so many foto forums and sometimes you think there cannot be anything surprising - and then suddenly and unexpected there is such a great photo. Breathtaking, thx for sharing..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted March 4, 2017 Share #6 Posted March 4, 2017 Stunning kaethe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
war Posted March 4, 2017 Share #7 Posted March 4, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Most impressive. Thanks for your persistence and great skill. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalifornier Posted March 5, 2017 Share #8 Posted March 5, 2017 Wow! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likaleica Posted March 5, 2017 Share #9 Posted March 5, 2017 Incredible! What a reward for all your years of perseverance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted March 5, 2017 Share #10 Posted March 5, 2017 What a remarkable natural event! Your images and the in-depth explanation are fascinating. I admire your tenacity and your bravery, the very thought of those massed photographers does my head in, I could not line up with such a crowd for anything.....so thank you for making this vicarious enjoyment possible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iduna Posted March 13, 2017 Share #11 Posted March 13, 2017 very cinematic, inspiring and beautiful and magic! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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