They start pounding in May. Some don’t stop all year. Some are a trickle and some flow strong in all seasons. The waterfalls of Yosemite are huge and defy description or at times even images. The power of most is overwhelming and even in winter their majesty is breathtaking. By the time of our visit usually even Yosemite Falls has begun its awakening greeting us with a ring of ice surrounding the falls.

Another striking composition is both a sunset and sunrise opportunity. At Valley View, or Gates Of The Valley as it is know to some, the Merced River winds past this pristine setting shown here. As this twenty some degree F morning unfurled I found myself ankle deep in the river staring bleakly at an overcast heavily gray sky. Almost in desperation more so than inspiration I reached for a  wider angle lens in hopes that maybe the sky would lend some color, but I knew it was getting late. As I continued with this thought I mounted a Singh-Ray Color Intensifier filter and stood in silence in the cold, in the river, hoping for what, I didn’t know.

Now over twenty years later I remember all of this like it was yesterday. I said to myself ” I give up, it’s over, some days the candy bar and some days the wrapper” and I turned my back on my composition. As I looked back on the river bank where my photo backpack lay I was stunned to see that the reflection in the river was a bright red. I tuned back quickly and saw the image you see here! I was able to fire only two frames that morning before it was gone. The one here and one horizontal. That morning will always live with me as a practical demonstration of Yogi’s ……. it ain’t over ’til it’s over!

Canon EOS 1v, Canon 28-70 2.8, Singh-Ray Color Intensifier, Fujichrome Velvia 50, Gitzo tripod