At 4,000 feet on the floor of Yosemite valley in the winter it can be an adventure! Storms arise and pass suddenly and usually quickly. Temperatures rise and fall just as quickly. Snow gathers and stays on the northern side and as quickly as it falls it can melt in the heart of the valley. The huge granite cliffs reflect light and help to warm the valley when what little direct sunlight bathes this historical and magical location in this season.

The trick is to be out when storms lift and photographic opportunities are optimum. On most visits we walk, talk about and photograph as much of the valley as our 5 days permit. The right place at the right time is everything! We follow in the footsteps of the masters!

In the featured image as the snow still fell but light began to reflect and make detail stand out, a study of the fresh snow momentarily presented a calm and pristine image. Finding a clear enough image at distance took a little time but was worth the effort of trekking through 6 inches of fresh snow over somewhat rough terrain.

Canon 1Ds MKll, Canon 300 f/2.8 IS, Singh-Ray drop-in Warming Polarizer, Gitzo tripod