- El Capitan - 3000ft of sheer granite.
- Bridalveil Fall - A 620 ft. waterfall whipped by canyon winds.
- Cathedral Rocks: (2600 feet high.)
- Half Dome: 4737ft above the Valley floor.
- Just barely visible is Clouds Rest - an appropriate name for the far canyon wall.
- Merced River lies hidden beneath the rain forest canopy.
- so beautiful.... - Bahman Farzad
Winter Magic - Yosemite National Park, California
Best Viewed On Black | My Photostream on Black | Desktop Background
If you have chosen to enter Yosemite from the south entrance along Highway 41 you will first get a few fleeting glimpses around the bends of the Valley that will cause you to wonder if what you just saw was real. It seems too big, too distant. Surely your eyes are just playing tricks on you. The trees will quickly obscure your view and you will drive along directly into the face of the mountains via Yosemite's longest tunnel. Because it's such a long tunnel and you may begin to relax but grip the wheel tight as you approach the exit for the view you are about to see will wrench your eyes from the road in disbelief!
There is good reason for the flashing yellow light warning you to slow. Suddenly before you lies an impossibly massive scene of snow topped granite towers, soaring waterfalls and pristine forests. Possibly the most photographed icon of nature lies before you an impossible view simply called Inspiration Point though some refer to it as the tunnel view. A "U" shaped glacier valley lies a thousand feet below you. To the left of the image, the impressive, largest single piece of exposed granite called El Capitan is the most dominate object in Yosemite Valley. Early explorers, unable to believe their eyes, estimated the rock at only 900ft above the valley floor. They simply could not fathom it's real height. Modern measurements eventually put it well over three times that height at nearly 3000 feet above Yosemite Valley. To the right, a towering waterfall whipped by the blowing winds in the narrow canyon appropriately named Bridal Veil Falls. While not the tallest, it is definitely one of the more beautiful waterfalls in Yosemite. In the far distance, another seemingly impossible large chunk of granite cut in half by the glaciers appropriately named Half Dome rises above the valley. But it's not over yet, you have only begun the start of a dream like drive that will take you all the way up the valley past numerous waterfalls, the meandering Merced River and lead you to Yosemite Falls which will makes Bridal Veil Falls look like a tiny trickle of water. If you are a photographer, you could easily spend your day at the entrance as the scene will change by the minute, especially in winter, but push on, as there is much to see.
Winter and early spring in Yosemite are a quiet time and possibly the best for photography if you don't mind driving on cliff walls in the snow. The summer crowds have yet to arrive. The campgrounds are empty and except for a few cars driving though the valley the roads are clear. And though you may stick to the outhouse seats there are few drawbacks to visiting during this time of year provided you bring the proper gear for you and your car. If you can, plan your visits to coincide with the breaking of a winter storm. Yosemite staff are good at keeping the roads open and you have a good chance of getting the proper conditions for some stunning photography as the clouds break. I spent 5 years of my life living just outside the park. My only regret is that digital photography was only in its infancy at the time.
Darv
© Darvin Atkeson
darvin@comcast.net
LiquidMoonlight.com
Comments and faves
Piero..., Ga clicker, Visions Through My Lens, G Morrow, and 1508 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Piero... (42 months ago | reply)
Beautiful capture! I love it!
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Seen on my Flickr home page. ( ?² )
Piero... (42 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called ***Favorite colors and lights , and we'd love to have this added to the group!
maxxsmart (42 months ago | reply)
Wow!!!!!!! That has got to be one of the best I've seen from this spot.... Nice!
Seth Oliver Photographic Art (42 months ago | reply)
one of the most beautiful shots i've seen here....nice job sir!!!!!
1adamtwelve (42 months ago | reply)
Friggin' dyno-mite image!
David Couse (42 months ago | reply)
One of the nicest Yosemite shots I've seen.
swirey (42 months ago | reply)
oh my god dude! that is awesome!
Monroe Broadway - out for a while (42 months ago | reply)
Awesome capture!!!!!!!!!
HENRY1290 (42 months ago | reply)
excellent capture.
Visions Through My Lens (42 months ago | reply)
Magical!
Viewed from: The Beauty of California [Scenic Views]
G Morrow (42 months ago | reply)
Very nice!!
jennymunro (42 months ago | reply)
Lovely shot.
bearsgonebad (42 months ago | reply)
Wow! Absolutely breathtaking! Fabulous!!
E.
M. Lada (42 months ago | reply)
The World Through My Eyes
Facenorth (42 months ago | reply)
What an amazing shot!
The World Through My Eyes
Rusty Russ (42 months ago | reply)
WoW! What a wonderful place and fantastic shot.
matt.sellars (42 months ago | reply)
The World Through My Eyes
Sean Lara (42 months ago | reply)
This is an amazing photo!! What month did you shoot this at?
Shane Venem (42 months ago | reply)
Breathtaking shot.
Michael Frye (42 months ago | reply)
Beautiful - very well done.
Kathy (Arctic-Fox) (42 months ago | reply)
Stunning shot from inspiration point.. so glad you were able to share with us this beauty.
Raymond's Glass Eye (42 months ago | reply)
Fantastic work! The fog gives this scene a dream-like feel.
Pat Ulrich (42 months ago | reply)
this is such a fantastic image! beautiful verbal description as well!
efairhurst (42 months ago | reply)
exceptional!
☞Today's✿Addiction☜ (42 months ago | reply)
Wonderfully done!
BEAUTIFUL SHOT!!!
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Hark Lee Photography (42 months ago | reply)
Amazing shot, Darvin, this is exactly what I've been picturing for the winter shot at Tunnel View. Excellent work.
- Hark
Neil Young Photography (nyphotos.ca) (42 months ago | reply)
WOW! Darvin...this is absolutely magnificent!! Amazing!
Brilliant!
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[Only Land, Sky & Seascapes]
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artattackcat ~ Cat Kindsfather (42 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Holy Creations of NATURE ~Post 1 Award 2/NO People/NEW AWARDS!, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Gorgeous!! Been here many times and this is a spectacular capture!!
This Great Photographic Art was made by a Diamond Class Photographer!
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Jeanette Svensson (42 months ago | reply)
Wow, magical!!!!!!
~ paddypix ~ (42 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called MAGICAL! (Open for posting now!) AWARD 2, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Sublime!
You deserve "Another Diamond" on your Great Photo!
I have seen your Great Photographic Art in:
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_ njphoto [deleted] (42 months ago | reply)
awesome!
Fraggle Red (42 months ago | reply)
Fantastic shot.
Keartona (42 months ago | reply)
I've seen many shots of this view on flickr but this is up there with the best.
Saw this in the Top Photography Group / Strictly Invitational
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Please post a Medium size version of the image to the discussion thread below where it can be admired by the groups members as an outstanding example of photography.
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Keartona (42 months ago | reply)
Viewed on black it's like something from pure fantasy.
amnares (42 months ago | reply)
Preciosa foto!!!
Saludos
jebob (42 months ago | reply)
this is superb!! instant fav!!
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caruga2005 (42 months ago | reply)
bellissima
Dave Johnson photography (42 months ago | reply)
AND its all true.....you have to go to appreciate it...
Great winter shot.
_szimplansrac_mostly off (42 months ago | reply)
Oooh heavenly.
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mfellnerphoto (42 months ago | reply)
perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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baldwinm16 (42 months ago | reply)
One of the most incredible images of Yosemite I've ever seen!
Blanca Rosa / Zoila Stincer (42 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Gorgeous images, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Aida Villaronga (42 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called THE NATURES ~~GREEN PEACE~~ (POST1 AWARD3) ~Contest~, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
fantartsy JJ *2013 year of LOVE!* (42 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called * THE MASTERS OF LIGHT (post 1 ~ award 1), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
fantartsy JJ *2013 year of LOVE!* (42 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called ** The Envy of Photoshop & Photoart! [invited](post 1~award 1), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
jp51~ (42 months ago | reply)
Great shot!
Was seen in:
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iloverealestate (42 months ago | reply)
So very beautiful!
Beautiful Capture Award
G Covin (42 months ago | reply)
Great shot!
Was seen in:
Super Job ~@~ Expo Center
Fireshot2009 (42 months ago | reply)
Great shot, great place, great timing, and great photographer!
Nancy Violeta Velez (42 months ago | reply)
Great shot!
Was seen in:
Super Job ~@~ Expo Center