Firefall in Yosemite

**tgtaylor** · 22-Feb-2019, 11:36

Horsetail Fall is putting on a show in Yosemite:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/offbe...ark/vi-BBTQYb4

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/nation...506043811.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/scien...=.53654bf41168

About 24 seconds in on the first link shows one of the photographers with a 4x5 LF camera.

Note: Upper Pines campground is closed due to storm damage. Camp 4 is the only campground open right now.

Thomas

**Drew Wiley** · 22-Feb-2019, 12:26

Thanks, but I'd rather see a dragonfly on a twig somewhere in the backcountry in solitude rather than jostle in the herd to photograph the millionth Firefall shot.

**Vaughn** · 22-Feb-2019, 12:52

I have seen it once or twice or so. Got caught up in the parking frenzy at that end of the Valley one time...took me a while to figure out why there were so many cars parked where ever and lawn chairs in the meadow. I have photographs of the waterfall -- made a sweet little 2.25x3.25 platinum print with the 'firefall' way in the back. I posted it in the "Everything Else" thread.

I have a show in the Valley in April (4-person show) -- hope all is settled in the Valley by then. The reception in the 3rd week of April, so time for things to mellow out from the storm damage...depending on how the Spring floods are this year.

**Jerry Bodine** · 22-Feb-2019, 14:48

Originally Posted by Drew Wiley

Thanks, but I'd rather see a dragonfly on a twig somewhere in the backcountry in solitude rather than jostle in the herd to photograph the millionth Firefall shot.

+1
My dad (a fisherman) had a saying about crowds gathering shoulder-to-shoulder: "It's like opening day of trout season." It's an experience I've always avoided, since the one (and only) time I backpacked with a group and was pressured by others (not LFers) who wanted to move on rather than wait for nature to provide the precise moment to trip the shutter.

**Drew Wiley** · 22-Feb-2019, 22:34

If I'm backpacking with others, it's only one or two at the most, and they're well vetted about what LF photography involves. It generally goes very well, no matter what type of camera gear they personally prefer. But I don't like gear talk on the trail. Better things to do.

**Jerry Bodine** · 22-Feb-2019, 23:08

Originally Posted by Drew Wiley

If I'm backpacking with others, it's only one or two at the most, and they're well vetted about what LF photography involves...

After that one fiasco, my only companions were a Linhof LF user and a mutual friend (non-LFer) who was content simply to tag along quietly to enjoy the trip and help divvy up our load and share his sense of humor (he appreciated our mindset).

**Tin Can** · 23-Feb-2019, 02:02

Firefall phenom is uniquely ‘seen’ by humans. The ‘beasts’ do not participate.

I dislike crowds yet to be a bug on the wall to that magnificent effect would be best in person and fully experienced in the moment than capturing nature’s soul. Stilts!

Similarly during the recent Total Solar Eclipse I just stood in my front yard and enjoyed the event. I am very glad I did not setup my camera gear purchased just for the event.

My goal for the next one is to be in the forest and if I live that long I can do that very close to home.

**tgtaylor** · 23-Feb-2019, 10:02

I shot it once with a 400mm Takumar lens on the 67II. It wasn't running the previous day but just as we were leaving we saw the falls running and drove ovefr to get the very last parking spot inside the El Cap parking area. I set-up in the snow well back of the crowd for the perspective it offered for the lens but I only had one frame of Fuji Reala color negative left so waited for the optimum moment to trip the shutter. I didn't get the "lava" but I did capture an excellent "horsetail":

https://www.spiritsofsilver.com/yaho...0126_large.jpg

I'm after a 20x24" SG of Bridalveil, printed on FB paper, split-toned with selenium and gold, and mounted using TruVue Museum Glass for the wall. Going to cast a good $200 or so without factoring in the gas for the wall and I need a negative so I may see Vaughn when I'm in the Valley.

Thomas

**Vaughn** · 23-Feb-2019, 10:20

Originally Posted by tgtaylor

...I'm after a 20x24" SG of Bridalveil...Thomas

Hope to see you there! I have a couple images of BV Falls I like to put up on the wall occasionally -- hiking up the old Big Flat Road for an image across the Valley at BV has always been one of my favorite views.

A MF platinum of the 'firefall', and two carbons: the 'classic' roadside view and at the base of BV.