Photographing Yosemite: Digital Field Guide

2.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?

All of the Bridalveil Fall views are easily accessible, and each angle offers a unique image. Each vantage point calls for a different lens from very wide-angle to telephoto depending on your location.

Figure 2.6. Bridalveil Fall as seen from Tunnel View on a spring afternoon (see F on the map). Taken at 100 ISO, f/11, 1/125 second with a 24-105mm zoom lens at 100mm.

2.3.1. Equipment

Depending on your location, you can use a variety of lenses from wide-angle to telephoto to capture the beauty of Bridalveil Fall. Having the proper filters will also enhance and improve your photographic success rate.

2.3.1.1. Lenses

You can use a wide variety of focal length lenses to photograph Bridalveil Fall depending upon your location.

2.3.1.1.1. Bridalveil parking lot

When photographing from the parking lot, lenses from 28-200mm can be used. The 28mm lens enables you to anchor the bottom of your image with the trees in the foreground and still have plenty of room to capture the sky above the falls. As you extend your focal length, you crop the trees and the sky. By the time you get to 200mm, you will be filling the frame with just the fall as it leaps from the cliff and not even be able to photograph the bottom of the fall disappearing into the trees.

2.3.1.1.2. Bridalveil Fall viewpoint

From the Bridalveil Fall viewpoint, lenses in the 24-100mm range ...