High above the Yosemite Valley floor there is a spectacular view of Bridalveil Falls. The thing that makes it so special is that you can literally follow a rainbow for over an hour.
The rainbow starts at the base of the falls, providing a splash of color at the bottom of the 620 foot shaft of water. As the sun moves the rainbow rises along the water, lighting it with a full spectrum of colors. Finally, a few minutes before the sun disappears below the ridge the rock faces is bathed in warm light and the falls take on a golden glow. This final shot is my favorite. To me, everything about Spring in Yosemite comes together in this image – huge water, a giant granite face, and phenomenal light.
This view of Lower Yosemite Falls provides a different view of the famous landmark. The small rainbow in the bottom left is caused by spray from the falls – spray that caused me to wipe my camera off after every single photograph.
Even after the light is gone for the day, Yosemite’s waterfalls are an intriguing subject. My friend (and incredible photographer) Michael Frye and I collaborated on this image of Wildcat falls. Shot long after the sun had set, the cascade is lit with handheld lights. To see Michael’s stunning night time images, check out his portfolio at http://www.michaelfrye.com/port/night/night1.html
As well as waterfalls, Spring is a time for vivid color in Yosemite. I’ll be posting again in a few days with images of Spring color.
Great stuff Jon! The Wildcat Fall photo turned out well.