FAQ regarding [Horsetail Falls]:
When is the best time to photograph the [firefalls]?
When the sun is shining on them at sunset.
Variations on this question include a request for “peek color”. From the end of January through the first few days of March, the setting sun illuminates the granite wall to the east of [El Capitan]. That’s if clouds are not in the way. If the falls are flowing, you can get brilliant silver light on the water, all the way to a deep cherry red. I don’t know what causes the color differences.
Will there be water coming over the falls on (insert date)?
I don’t know.
The falls are feed only by snow melt. There is no lake above El Capitan. The watershed for this ephemeral fall is large, and it takes a day or two for meltwater to reach the edge. So it takes two things for water to be flowing: Snow on the mountain, and warm, sunny weather a day or two before you shoot. Since I don’t know how warm it is at the watershed above Horsetail Falls on any given day, I don’t know how much snow has melted, or how much water will be coming over the edge.
Is the weather going to be clear enough tonight?
This is the $100K question. I won’t know until it happens, or doesn’t.
Weather reports are pretty much useless for Yosemite Valley. I’ve noticed this year that clouds tend to come in during the late afternoon, but they are high enough elevation that at sunset, the sun shines under the cloudbank at the last minute, illuminating the wall. Sometimes mist will rise and obscure the falls.
Where is the best place to be to shoot the falls?
My personal favorite is the El Capitan picnic area.
This is a matter of personal preference. The one thing to keep in mind is that you want to be to the east of the falls because you want the water backlit as much as possible to get the glowing effect. That can limit good shooting spots. I have seen some stunning shots of the falls from the south side of the Merced River, and also from the south rim, specifically Sentinel Dome. I’ve heard of one photographer using a very long lens from the top of Vernal Falls, but I haven’t seen the image he took. To the south of the falls, such as at the El Capitan bridge, you won’t get that glowing water. You must go east!
Are they going to open [Northside Drive] soon?
Your best source of information is NPS. I hope so, because it makes life so much easier to drive to my shooting location than to slog through 2′ of snow.
You’re not being a lot of help here, Edie. What can you tell us?
Hey, I’m only human!
Seriously, I can understand your concerns. Most photographers do not have the luxury of living in Yosemite like I do, and they are concerned that they will spend a lot of money to come up and not get the shot they hope and dream of. This is my advice;
Come anyway. Yosemite is a photographer’s dream. You might not get the shot of water the color of lava coming over Horsetail Falls, but there’s lots here to shoot.
Take chances. Sure, it’s a mile walk over the El Cap crossover to the picnic area. It may very well be cold and gray, but there is that chance you’ll see the golden rays of the sun slip beneath those clouds and put on one hell of a show. Besides, the more people we get trudging out there, the easier it will be the next night because the snow is all packed down.
Come prepared. Think about your comfort and safety. Supply yourself accordingly.
Finally, shooting Horsetail falls is a crapshoot, a gamble. Sure, you might not get the shot after walking all that way. But you sure as hell won’t get it if you’re stuck in your room at [Yosemite Lodge]. The question is, is the effort worth it? I say yes, it is.