Photography is all about the light, and photographers know that finding the best light is key to taking amazing pictures. Most of the time, they are talking about sunrise and sunset. But occasionally, there will be a combination of subject, weather and light that only come together once in a great while. One of those subjects is Horsetail Falls in Yosemite National Park.
The Firefall, as it is known was made famous by landscape photographer Galen Rowell. Many photographers have tried to emulate his work, but few have succeeded. It takes a combination of weather, location and angle of the sun for everything to come together. At the right time of day on a few weeks of the year, the setting sun strikes the falls in such a way as to make them glow red.
The first and most important factor is that Horsetail Falls has to be flowing. This only happens when the snow above El Capitan is melting from late January through March. Also, there needs to have been enough snow and it melting quickly enough to get a flow of water through the falls.
Next, the sun has to be in the right position, which occurs in a narrow window from January through February. The light is at its best in the last week of February. Just before sunset, the sun’s rays provide that reddish golden glow. Of course, you also need fairly clear skies so the sun can reach the falls, and no low clouds or fog blocking the view.
The most popular location from which to view and shoot the falls is the El Capitan picnic area which is located between Yosemite Lodge and El Capitan. The picnic area is accessible from Northside Drive, which is one way going west from Yosemite Lodge toward El Capitan. There is a small clearing close by that gives a view of the falls. Just follow the crowd of photographers. You will want to arrive at least two hours before sunset to find a parking spot. There is not another location with a view of the falls that also offers parking. This is also a shot where a tripod is highly recommended as you want to continue shooting as the light begins to fail.
A glowing red shot of Horsetail Falls in Yosemite National Park is one of those once in a lifetime shots that photographers everywhere dream of.
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