I try to get into Yosemite Valley each Spring, usually in May since that is when Yosemite’s waterfalls are at their most impressive. This year I spent a couple days photographing and hiking in early May. The dogwood bloom was peaking and, while I am not a wildflower photographer, I took a few images of them for posterity seeing as they were so nice. But the true motivation for me was, as always, making several hikes under blue skies and puffy clouds. Enjoying Spring in Yosemite requires that one skillfully avoid traffic and crowds, but fortunately during a lifetime in California I’ve learned a few things about how to negotiate an increasingly crowded Yosemite Valley, and I managed to hike around to nearly all my favorite spots over two long days. Chief among them was a requisite quickie jaunt up the Mist Trail (best in May, bring your poncho). I came away with a handful of nice images. They are not the usual moody sunset/sunrise views that most landscape photographers are after; I prefer to depict Yosemite in midday since that’s when the hiking is best! Canvas and face-mounted acrylic prints are available, with each of the following photographs available up to 60″ in the long dimension. Cheers, and thanks for looking!
Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring, viewed from the Mist Trail
Image ID: 34539
Location: Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Bridalveil Falls at sunset, with clouds and blue sky in the background. Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite drops 620 feet (188 m) from a hanging valley to the floor of Yosemite Valley.
Image ID: 34540
Location: Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Half Dome and Clouds Rest, Sunset, Yosemite National Park
Image ID: 34541
Location: Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Yosemite Valley Tunnel View, Storm clouds at sunset, Yosemite National Park
Image ID: 34542
Location: Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Cathedral Rocks at sunrise, reflected in a spring meadow flooded by the Merced River.
Image ID: 34546
Location: Cathedral Rocks, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Yosemite Falls rises above the Merced River, viewed from the Swinging Bridge. The 2425′ falls is the tallest in North America
Image ID: 34547
Location: Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Upper Yosemite Falls near peak flow in spring. Yosemite Falls, at 2425 feet tall (730m) is the tallest waterfall in North America and fifth tallest in the world
Image ID: 34550
Location: Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Mountain dogwood, or Pacific dogwood, blooming in spring in Yosemite Valley
Image ID: 34551
Location: Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Black Oaks below El Capitan, Quercus kelloggii, El Capitan meadow, Yosemite Valley
Image ID: 34557
Location: Yosemite National Park, California, USA
