A plea to the weather Gods in Yosemite

[Donald]

Ahead of my trip to Yosemite in 2016, I'm following the blog of Michael Frye, a professional living in and working mainly in Yosemite. He posted this picture which he took on November 15th, as the first snow arrived in the valley. It's from Tunnel View, one of the iconic locations in the park.

Please, please, please let this same scene exist when I am there next year. I wouldn't make his picture. I'd make my own. Just give me that mist.

[pnodrog]

What a moody photograph - not even spoiled by applying a dehaze filter. I can see why you want the misty atmosphere to be there when you visit - must be some wonderful B&W images hiding there somewhere.

[FootLoose]

Please, please, please let this same scene exist when I am there next year. I wouldn't make his picture. I'd make my own. Just give me that mist.

I hope you find a similar scene too, Donald. I would like to see it given the MacKenzie treatment.

[IzzieK]

We'll help you pray for a safe, wonderful and fun trip, Donald...hopefully you are taking care of that knee and exercising it daily so you can do the walks up and down those mountainous treks.

[Manfred M]

The weather gods can be fickle, as we both know. I'm sure you'll be able to get something good whether (weather?) or not they decide to cooperate.

[Mike Buckley]

You're going to be there about three weeks, so you'll probably experience just about every kind of weather that exists. The trick will be finding the weather you want from the viewpoint you want at the time you happen to be at that viewpoint, which will be part of the fun. My only fear is that you happen to have the extraordinarily bad luck of being there when there are forest fires.

[mknittle]

Ahead of my trip to Yosemite in 2016, I'm following the blog of Michael Frye, a professional living in and working mainly in Yosemite. He posted this picture which he took on November 15th, as the first snow arrived in the valley. It's from Tunnel View, one of the iconic locations in the park.

Please, please, please let this same scene exist when I am there next year. I wouldn't make his picture. I'd make my own. Just give me that mist.

When are you going? November is usually the start of the winter weather here and Yosemite is higher in elevation.

[Donald]

When are you going? November is usually the start of the winter weather here and Yosemite is higher in elevation.

It's September, Mark. I'll be there from September 7th to October 1st. It was a trade-off. Do I go when I know the Tioga Pass Road will be open or do I go later when there's more likelihood of storms? I want to go to the Eastern Sierra and Mono Lake, so the Pass road needs to be open.

[mknittle]

You're going to be there about three weeks, so you'll probably experience just about every kind of weather that exists. The trick will be finding the weather you want from the viewpoint you want at the time you happen to be at that viewpoint, which will be part of the fun. My only fear is that you happen to have the extraordinarily bad luck of being there when there are forest fires.

Fire season usually ends in mid to late October when we start to get hit and miss storms. We are a little over 100 miles north of the park.

[mknittle]

It's September, Mark. I'll be there from September 7th to October 1st. It was a trade-off. Do I go when I know the Tioga Pass Road will be open or do I go later when there's more likelihood of storms? I want to go to the Eastern Sierra and Mono Lake, so the Pass road needs to be open.

Yeah that is a long way to go just to see a road closed sign. September is usually when we start to get hit and miss rains not really storms just short showers. and we are lower and farther north.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I'd think about praying to the El Nino gods this winter and hoping they don't washout the road this year/beginning of next year. Predictions are that it is going to be a gully washer this winter.

[mknittle]

I'd think about praying to the El Nino gods this winter and hoping they don't washout the road this year/beginning of next year. Predictions are that it is going to be a gully washer this winter.

Beats the heck out of the drought we have been in

[Shadowman]

I tend to follow the Weather Channel wizards prior to a trip.

[Donald]

I tend to follow the Weather Channel wizards prior to a trip.

Our national MetOffice website and a good Tide Tables website (if you're shooting at the coast) are amongst this photographer's best friends.

[DanK]

Donald,

If you haven't already discovered it, you might find The Photographer's Ephemeris useful for planning the trip. It will give you all the information you need about early morning and late afternoon shots from any location whatever. It includes elevations, so you can even plan to be ready when the sun or moon is visible, behind a given mountain, or whatever.

Dan

[Donald]

Donald,

If you haven't already discovered it, you might find The Photographer's Ephemeris useful for planning the trip.

Thanks, Dan. Yes, I do use the PE. It is a great tool. I've already been going around Yosemite with it on the dates when I'll be there next year. There's a full moon on September 16th 2016 that, from Tunnel View, rises almost straight down the valley. However, advice (and Ansel Adams did the same thing for 'Moon and Half Dome') is not to shoot on the day of a full moon, but two or three days before it is full.

[Mike Buckley]

However, advice (and Ansel Adams did the same thing for 'Moon and Half Dome') is not to shoot on the day of a full moon, but two or three days before it is full.

Why?

[Donald]

Why?

Knew someone would ask that. I'll need to go and find the reason again. It made sense at the time I read it.

[Donald]

I'm still looking for the reference.

[Donald]

Phew! Because when it's full it's at its brightest and, because the light is hitting face-on, it's at it 'flattest'.