Yosemite February 2020

I think this was the most excited I have ever been about a photography trip - inspired by Ansel Adams, I have wanted to go to Yosemite for so many years. And Alex Honnold’s 2017 amazing documentary Free Solo which captures his ropeless ascent of El Capitan only made be more keen to visit Yosemite. In planning the trip, I opted for February so that I could photograph the park under snow and I also wanted to witness and photograph the phenomena of Horse Tail Falls where the waterfall glows orange at sunset - a rare sight that only happens in the last 2 weeks of February. It was discovered by a photographer called Galen Rowell back in 1973 - his photographs of it are legendary. But the falls need to be flowing with melting snow and the sky needs to be clear. What could possibly go wrong ? When I arrived in Yosemite on 17th February, there was no snow in the valley as it hadn’t snowed since early January - very unusual. Secondly as the snow had already melted, there was no water on Horse Tail Falls so that plan went out the window !

Anyway I had the privilege to be there for 5 days and Yosemite did not disappoint - it was spectacular ! Initially it was blue skies all the way and I was craving some clouds. I spent three sunsets at Tunnel View waiting for the right conditions and my patience paid off on the final evening - what a spectacle !

If you ever get a chance to travel to Yosemite - jump at it !