After striking out the first night in Yosemite Valley, hoping to see and photograph Yosemite Valley's Firefall, I decided to make the most of the five-day personal-assignment in Yosemite National Park. My thought was simple, Firefall is roughly 30-40 minutes at the end of the day, which leaves 23.5 hours to photograph other places around Yosemite. Why not maximize that time?
Waking up before the sun, the headlights of the van led me through the dark to more iconic locations in Yosemite Valley. Most notably, Hanging Valley View.
Getting to Hanging Valley View requires you to drive almost the complete circle around Valley Loop Drive and has a gorgeous view looking back at Bridalveil Fall and El Cap. Located at a bend in the Merced River, creating an eddy of calm water, Hanging Valley View sometimes has a reflection. My dream was a solar flare reflected in the calm water with sunrise.
Hopping out of the van, I had the whole place to myself. Snapping images left and right during blue hour, something quickly became obvious. I wasn't going to be able to snap a "unique" image here from land. Thankfully, I had my water-housing for my camera in the van. The only thing, it was 22F outside. That is cold. Am I crazy enough to hop in the water at that temp? Maybe.
Debating with myself for a little while, I kept snapping frames along the river bank, hoping something would come out. Nothing. I knew what I had to do.
Taking a deep breath and accepting what I had to do, my feet led me back to the van and I began setting up my camera. Changing the settings, locking the latches, swapping to the Tamron 17-28mm lens set at 17mm, double checking the seal, and spitting on the lens, it was time. Mentally preparing to plunge into the frigid winter water with board shorts on, wielding my camera in its water-housing, took more than I want to admit, but I went in, one foot after the other.
Waist-deep in the water, I wandered around, trying to get the autofocus to lock onto Bridalveil Fall. Nothing. My settings were off and the exposure was too dark. The underwater section just looked black. Why am I doing this? I asked myself.
People started to show up along the bank and they took video of me. I was feeling awkward. I just wanted to create something new, not become a meme. But, I had come this far, so I might as well finish.
Splashing my way back to shore, I grabbed my towel to dry the water housing, open it up, and brighten the exposure. Another deep breath and avoiding a few people on the bank who wanted to talk with me, I plunged back into the water.
"You must love ice baths," somebody shouted.
This made me laugh as I crouched in the water, letting half the dome get covered in the water and the other half showcasing the sky and landscape. SNAP, SNAP, SNAP.