The Yosemite National Park in Northern California is one of the most breathtaking places to see. It tells an an ancient story of the ice age, when icebergs literally cut into the mountains as they melted; creating unique valleys, hills, waterfalls, vegetation and shelter to an incredible variety of wildlife.
Whether you are going with family, alone to simply look and explore or to study the nature, you will most certainly will never be disappointed with your trip to Yosemite.
However, the people who will be most enthralled by the landscapes are ones looking to capture it all on their camera. If you know what you are doing, how and when to do it, you can be sure to capture some of the best shots of your life. This is true whether you are an amateur or professional photographer. Here, are some of the best kept secrets for shooting Yosemite National Park.
One of the least known facts about photographing any landscape in general (especially Yosemite) is that time of day (or night) when you shoot…can mean the difference between a mediocre and once in a lifetime kind of a shot.
To shoot Yosemite’s jagged cliffs, the best time is pre-dawn, mid-morning and late evening. Essentially at any time of the year, these are the optimal times to shoot. This, because of the way the sun orients itself against the cliffs and pine tree tops. The light, at these times of the day, is one to remember and certainly very unique to the area. Proper camera settings will capture the atmosphere at its best.
Probably the best lens to use for shooting landscapes at Yosemite are ones less than 200mm. These will serve you best from just about any location (unless you are shooting dangerous animals). Finally, optimal photography conditions for shooting at Yosemite, is in June and July. With these secrets in mind, you are sure to capture some breathtaking photos.