Firefall
Horsetail Falls, Yosemite NP
FIREFALL
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF FIREFALL
For a short window of about two weeks each year from mid to late February the setting sun’s light illuminates the wispy Horsetail Falls on the east face of El Capitan. This phenomenon was first photographed by Galen Rowell in 1973 and has since evolved into an annual frenzy that now resembles a tailgate party. However, it is a remarkable natural phenomenon that is fascinating to see if you’re willing to brave the crowds and the potential disappointment that often occurs because there’s several factors that must be present for this display to manifest itself.
There must be significant snowpack accumulated atop of El Capitan to provide the snow needed to create the waterfall. Then during the two week period the setting sun is aligned with the falls, it must be warm enough for the snow to melt and the falls to run and there cannot be any clouds that block the sun’s rays (which is often the case in the afternoon during this time of year). Finally the atmosphere itself must be clear enough to prevent any haze from blocking the sun’s light.
Photos and location summary by Don Metz
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH FIREFALL SUMMARY
There are several locations to view and shoot the Firefall phenomenon. In this summary, we provide 3 different locations: 1) The classic location popularized by Galen Rowell, 2) an alternate location (southside) between the Cathedral Beach picnic area and the Swinging Bridge along the banks of the Merced River and 3) a viewpoint along the Four Mile trail. The first two locations are easy (right off the road) and the last location is about 3/4 of a mile up the Four Mile trail which may be snow covered and might require micro-spikes or sturdy hiking boots.
The Classic viewing location is the closest to the falls and offers the most diversity in terms of focal length. From this location you can capture more expansive images that include the surrounding face of El Capitan and the sky (especially if there are interesting clouds and color) to tight close-up photos of the falls or sections of the falls. Sometimes low clouds will develop below the rim that offer some interesting compositions and high winds can create some very interesting effects as the waterfall spray is dispersed and lights up in the air and across the face of El Capitan.
Generally, focal lengths from 100mm to 300mm are used at this location. Use of a polarizer is recommended to mitigate the glare that can occur from the sunlight shining on the water. A neutral density filter may also be useful as you experiment with different exposure lengths depending on how silky and diffuse you want the water to appear.
The Southside viewing location has a similar perspective as the Classic, but from a further distance. The view of the rim is expanded so that you can actually see the snow and the incline of the terrain atop of El Capitan, although you have more trees to workaround or try to incorporate as a frame depending on your focal length. Since you are located further
Recommended lenses for the different locations:
Classic viewing location - 100 to 200mm depending on the composition and how much of the area surrounding the waterfall you want to include.
Southside viewing location - 150mm to 300mm depending on the composition. Since this may be a long exposure capture, make sure your tripod and ball head are locked down to prevent any vibrations from impacting the exposure.
Four mile trail viewing location - 200mm or greater. This composition does not lend itself to a tight focus on the falls, rather it is more about capturing the falls within the broader context of El Capitan. If you want to carry a super-telephoto lens up the trail you could certainly get a tight composition, but these types of lenses don't lend themselves to long exposures.
The shot shown above was taken at the Classic viewing location with a 70-200mm lens (image shot at 200mm).
4,025 Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
