the yosemite valley only gets snow a few times a year. some years more than others. when it snows, you have to go!
I have a bit of an advantage knowing when the valley will get snow but knowledge and opportunity are two different things sometimes. if it snows in the middle of the week, i can't get there. my monday-friday job is still my first priority.
a nice cold system developed on february 28-march 1 and it was going to bring waves of snow down below 4000' (the valley floor sits at 4000'). i knew this might be my only opportunity this season to shoot yosemite covered in a blanket of white.
i left work after the late news on friday and drove 4 hours to the park. it was snowing all the way from mariposa to the valley. driving around the park at 4am in the snow was a beautiful experience. there were only a few people out and most of them were driving plows.
there was a night shot that i had in mind and was so happy it worked out. 'yosemite chapel' is the final product. some have commented that i was lucky that there are no footprints on the path the the chapel... well that's an advantage of shooting at 4am!
the details of that photo: Nikon D850 iso 1000 24mm f5.6 13 seconds.
saturday was a mostly cloudy day and most of the photos that ill post from that day will be black and white. sunday was brilliant blue and those will be color.
yosemite has so much to offer all year but winter is my favorite. i hope you enjoy the photos.
