DJLee

Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls
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NIKON D810

settings

Aperture f/22 ISO 31 Shutter 3/1 Focal Length 260/10

upload_date

Nov, 2018

Views

498

Likes

+62

Awards

Contest Finalist in Everything Waterfalls Photo Contest

Peer Award

+30

Superb Composition

Absolute Masterpiece

Top Choice

Magnificent Capture

Outstanding Creativity

Superior Skill

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank month 1

Top 30 rank week 2

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 2

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank week 2

Top 10 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

Yosemite Valley, in Yosemite National Park on an early spring morning when the falls were full and the light just right.

Time

I took this shot in the early morning, just after the sun was rising over Half Dome. I was photographing Half Dome in a nearby meadow, looked behind me and saw that light was beginning to illuminate the lower Yosemite Falls. I decided to hike the relative short trail to the base of the falls to see if I could capture the beauty.

Lighting

The soft morning light was beginning to illuminate the waterfall and surrounding rocky face. To me, the scene was soft and romantic in this light. Even better, no one else was there and so I was able to experience a form of pristine solitude that is rare in the popular Yosemite Valley.

Equipment

I took this photo with my Nikon d810 and a 24-70 f/2.8 lens at 26mm. I used a long exposure (3/1) to capture the motion of the water and of course a tripod, which is essential for long-exposure shots and I think landscape photography in general.

Inspiration

The waterfall is amazing when full from the melting snow, a beautiful cascade flowing over rough and textured stone. But its beauty is enhanced by early morning light in the spring, and I wanted to capture the magical moment of being there, alone, before this magnificent creation of nature in the soft and romantic light of the moment.

Editing

I shoot in raw and all raw image require post-processing. For this image, I performed basic adjustments in Lightroom and photoshop (some curves adjustments, dodging and burning, sharpening, etc.)

In my camera bag

For a day of landscape shooting at various location, I carry one of my full frame Nikon cameras and three lenses: 14-24 mm f/2.8, 24-70 mm f/2.8, and 70-200 mm f/2.8. If I think there will be macro opportunities, I add a macro lens. The bag also includes extra batteries and memory cards, a remote shutter release, lens filters, lens cloths, camera and lens rain covers, an Allen wrench (to tighten or adjust tripod or L-bracket on camera), cell phone, and snack (usually some chocolate and nuts). All of this make the bag rather heavy but it is totally worth having what I need when on a hike I arrive at a spot I want to photograph.

Feedback

There is no way to photograph this waterfall from this location without getting soaking wet--so it is important to arrive with appropriate protection for your camera and lens and also with an abundance of extra large lens cloths. I did most of my camera setting before entering the spray, tested those settings, focus, and composition, did some minor adjustments, and then took a series of shots with those settings, one after the other, wiping the lens quickly in between each shot. I thought I might have to blend images to eliminate lens water spots, but lucked out with some clean shots.

See more amazing photos, follow DJLee

DJLee

DJLee

Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow DJLee

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