Eloquent Images by Gary Hart
Insight, information, and inspiration for the inquisitive nature photographer
Silent Night
Silent Night, Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View
Sony a7R II
Sony/Zeiss 16-35 f/4
20 seconds
F/5.6
ISO 1250
One perk of being a photographer is the opportunity to experience normally crowded locations in relative peace. That’s because the best nature photography usually happens at most people’s least favorite time to be outside: crazy weather and after dark. A couple of weeks ago in Yosemite I got the opportunity to enjoy both.
After spending a snowy Sunday guiding a couple around Yosemite Valley in a snowstorm, I dropped them back at (the hotel formerly known as) The Ahwahnee with nothing but the drive home on my mind. But winding through the valley in the fading twilight I saw signs of clearing skies and made a snap decision to check out the scene at Tunnel View.
I found the vista at Tunnel View gloriously empty. By the time I’d set up my camera and tripod the darkness was nearly complete, but as my eyes adjusted I could make out large, black holes in the once solid clouds overhead. Soon stars dotted the blackness above El Capitan and the white stripe of Bridalveil Fall. Each time light from the waxing gibbous moon slipped through the shifting clouds, the entire landscape lit up as if someone had flipped a switch.
Because the best parts of the view were in a narrow strip starting with the snow-glazed trees beneath me and continuing through the scene and up into the star-studded sky, I opted for a vertical composition. To include as much foreground and sky as possible, I went nearly as wide as my 16-35 lens would allow, more or less centering El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall to give the snow and stars equal billing.
Being completely comfortable with my a7RII’s high ISO performance, I didn’t stress the 1250 ISO that allowed me to stop down to a slightly sharper f/5.6 (virtually every lens is a little sharper stopped down from its largest aperture). Night focus with the Sony a7RII is extremely easy, easier than any camera I’ve ever used that isn’t an a7S/a7SII. Often I manually focus on the stars and use focus peaking* to tell me I’m sharp; in this case I back-button auto-focused on the contrast between the moonlit snow and dark granite near Bridalveil Fall. I chose a long enough shutter speed to capture motion blur in the rapidly moving clouds, knowing the potential for visible star streaking was minimized by my extremely wide focal length.
My favorite thing about that evening? The 20 seconds my shutter was open, when I didn’t have anything to do but stand there and enjoy the view in glorious silence.
* Focus peaking is a mirrorless feature that highlights in the viewfinder the in-focus areas of your scene.
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Eloquent Images by Gary Hart 
I know you did this just to make me feel bad. The road was closed and we could not get to Tunnel View. Then you post this! I am considering taking up heavy drinking or something as a result.
Dan Blackburn
Sorry, Dan. Yeah, Yosemite has had lots of road problems this very wet winter. Things may not be back to normal there until summer.
You are a wizard with the camera.
Thank you, Sabry.
Gorgeous night time shots, Gary! Last minute decisions to stop for a few shots are sometimes the best,( as you have shown here! ).
Thanks, Arlene. Yes, it pays to keep your options open. 🙂
One question: What do you mean by “focus peaking”?
Focus peaking is a mirrorless feature that highlights in the viewfinder the in-focus areas of your scene.
I must start hanging around in the park after sunset at Valley View!!!
Good plan (though note that this is Tunnel View, which would also be a good plan).
I don’t know if ethereal is the correct word or not but I feel that mellow sensation laced with excitement here. I also love the beautiful “V” shape that is formed by the clouds just at the moment you composed it…. I KNOW. You planned it.
Learning from a master is an easy phrase to utter….it is a truthful one to all who benefit from your actions and lessons.
This is just wonderful sir!
dj
Another stunning image Gary. And in your favorite place. It is beautiful.
Thank you, Rhonda. Yeah, sometimes I need to pinch myself when I stop and think of my good fortune.