No Water Fall, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

This is Bridalveil Fall, which is one of the most prominent waterfalls in the Yosemite National Park. Much to my disappointment, the place was bone dry and not a drop of water. I'm just wondering if this is the sign of times with global warming in the horizon. Anyway, Wikipedia describes the place as follows;

"Bridalveil Fall is 620 feet (188 m) tall and flows year round. The glaciers that carved Yosemite Valley left many hanging valleys which spawned the waterfalls that pour into the valley. All of the waterways that fed these falls carved the hanging valleys into steep cascades with the exception of Bridalveil Fall. Bridalveil still leaps into the valley from the edge of precipice, although that edge has moved back into an alcove from the original edge of the valley. Note that while Yosemite Falls seem to also fall into this category, the original course took the Yosemite Creek down a gorge to the west of its current location. The primary source of Bridalveil Falls is Ostrander Lake, some 10 miles to the south.

When the wind blows briskly, the waterfall will appear to be falling sideways. During lesser water flow the falls often don't reach the ground. Because of this, the Ahwahneechee Native Americans called this waterfall Pohono, which means Spirit of the Puffing Wind."

paura, japiey, gunbud, dareco, zhelach, Photo65Net, ChrisJ, pablominto, jhm, snunney, Budapestman, jlbrthnn, gracious, danos, muscovado, papagolf21, belido, feather, jaywalker, pboehringer, Angshu, Scharan, Benedict, Charo heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

bracasha75 (24591) 2007-12-14 16:42

Hello Renier
No meter ,the nature in area is beautiful but she could be beter that fall is there
Very well done
TFS
Cheers,Braca

paura (25802) 2007-12-14 17:31

Renier,
Uma fotografia com uma abordagem muito interessante desse ambiente selvagem. Essas pedras todas em excelente profundidade são um lindo elemento.

Abraço

Paulo

gunbud (34066) 2007-12-14 20:03

Hi Renier,
Very dramatic capture of this grand falls in unnatural flux. The long dry spell in the US west has had some profound effects on the ecology of that area. The abscents of water exposes the shear rock wall that renders great details to your lens. Very good colors with excellent sharpness to this image.
Regards, Tom

dareco (17136) 2007-12-14 20:17

A very beautiful image!! I love the colors and detail of the rocks. Excellent pov. TFS

zhelach (3626) 2007-12-14 22:39

Hello Renier!
Good shot! Very good colors and sharpness!
Interesting note!
TFS, regards, Zorica

Photo65Net (43144) 2007-12-14 22:40

Renier,
You composed it nicely, with great use of the FG rocks.
Overall a pleasant one, even if the white sky is a concern for me.
Regards,
JB.

ChrisJ (171822) 2007-12-15 1:09

Hi Renier

I recall Ansel Adams shots of this same spot. The minimalist colour would lend itself well to a b&w conversion. Good sharpness & graphism, with an excellent pov up the valley. Tfs!

pablominto (53746) 2007-12-15 1:11

Hello Renier,
This is a view I can see around my place too, but then often due to some hydro-electric power plant "stealing" the water!
This is probably caused by a dry period but it looks no better for that, the beauty of the image sufferes any way...
Good documentary photograph!
Greetings,
Pablo -

jhm (211736) 2007-12-15 1:38

Hello Renier,

You create a very good composition with the different colours of the rocks.
We see to the both edges the green trees as frame, this gives a excellent picture, sharpness and clarity are superb.
Thanks for sharing.

I wish you a nice weekend,
John.

snunney (130967) 2007-12-15 1:41

Hello Renier,
A nice capture of this dry river bed; I like the point of view and the contrast between vegetation and hard rock. Good natural tones and very good clarity.

Budapestman (82620) 2007-12-15 2:33

Hi Reiner,
Great impression for this place with spendid composition. I like the spectacular rocks and the effective POV, the different colours are very nice. Well done! Have a nice weekend
George

japiey (10163) 2007-12-15 3:37

Hi Renier,

You did a good shot.
Now the world can learn about the place well.
Maybe soon, there will be waters flowing...and you can take images to entertain our hearts.....
Expecting that soon:)

jean paul

Gustaw (21670) 2007-12-15 3:54

Hi, my friend!
Very interesting nature, I like your oryginal composition. Good colours and light. I like your all rocks. It must be interesting place!
Marek

jlbrthnn (76043) 2007-12-15 5:15

Hello Renier
Your image is at the same time beautiful and despairing, but it is not your fault in particular, but that of all the humanity which saws the branch on which it is. Where let us go, towards which desolation? Excel work quite carried out.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

jplebrun (21208) 2007-12-15 6:06

Hi Renier
belle composition de cette chute de pierre bien cadré de chaque côté par des arbres, beau travail.
Amicalement
Jean-Pierre

gracious (20025) 2007-12-15 8:56

Hello Renier,
The rich and warm colouration on the rock pattern is amazing and beautifully captured!
great pov with total sharpness, vivid colour and so much details in the shot!
very well done and TFS
also with a useful notes
Tony

Clementi (52514) 2007-12-15 13:50

Ciao Renier ,
The wather ?????
it is fantastic one falled without water. futurist photo .
we hope not, but this reappears....
Giorgio

carper (96) 2007-12-16 1:02

it's a very nice one of this fall without water Renier,
very nice details of the rocks, good colours and fine contrast, very nice photojob here, i like it, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

danos (110407) 2007-12-16 1:09

Hello Renier,
unfortunately the global warming is antes portas.I visited two waterfalls in Greece but also these did not have a drop of water.With the falling waters i believe the place would be marvellous and fascinating.Informative your note too.

Have a nice weekend,Danos

muscovado (1572) 2007-12-16 1:46

Bai Ren,
It reminded me of Maria Cristina falls. The water falling was disappointingly like a trickle when i visited... they dam it! You still managed to capture the beauty sans the waterfall. Nindot!
Maayong Pasko kanimo bai!
Czaldy

papagolf21 (152607) 2007-12-16 1:46

Bonjour, mon ami Renier,
Voilà une photographie très difficile à réaliser, et pourtant le résultat est stupéfiant quant à la qualité. La profondeur de champ a été choisie avec soin et le sujet est très intéressant. Il existe un effet de relief étonnant.
Une très bonne et très intéressante prise de vue.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jonathan_hart (21276) 2007-12-16 2:09

hi Renier
well composed vertical framing, good depth, i looks nice without the water, but it's a bit disquieting
regards
jo

jurek1951 (42198) 2007-12-16 4:05

Hi Renier,

Nice view of this interesting place.Excellent colors and sharpness. Very good note.
Georg

PixelTerror (0) 2007-12-17 1:51

HI Renier,
If I remember well I have seen that one a number of times already on TE, often posted by Peter Böhringer, and there was water falling, so what happened here ??? If there is no falling water by the beginning of november then there must be a serious problem somewhere. You got the right pov but everybody can understand why you were dsappointed.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

belido (19934) 2007-12-17 3:53

Hi Renier,

long time that I don't check your gallery but I see that you still keep your particular technique. I like a lot this view even without water. Perhaps the lack of water created another atmosphere, different than what it would be with it. It must be an advice of nature. What's happening with our world? I like the context of your post too. Very fine job!
Regards,
Carlos
PS: thanks for your words on my last post.

molla (7129) 2007-12-17 5:56 [Comment]

Show Comment

nisko (2642) 2007-12-17 6:16

hi renier,
the clifs seem very impressive,i think the water falling from there would be a very nice view..
i hope no water just cause not the right time for it and not beacause of the gloabal warming..
kind regards,
thodoris

feather (51130) 2007-12-17 6:53

I can understand your disappointment about the lack of water. I expect early spring would be the best time to go. It has given you the opportunity to capture all the details in the rocks, although it is unfortunate there is no detail in the sky. That's the thing about travelling we have to take the conditions as they are.
Kath

jaywalker (16105) 2007-12-17 12:05

Hi Renier, Much of the worlds whether is changing & at a fast rate, it is estimated that 30% of the worlds population is being affected drastically by global warming on a daily basis, in 30 years time this figure will rise to 100% if something is not done now, there are many obvious little signs & maybe this is one, it is an important photo &, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

Hellas (7123) 2007-12-17 23:24

This image represents the cruel reality. Our planet suffers from the global warming. We all have to do something for this!
Thank you very much for reminding us the most important warning.
My warmest wishes,
Athanasios.

UnTrained (0) 2007-12-18 1:32

Hi Renier,
a very rocky view upwards with good contrasts. I like the good textures of different colour on the rock and the good deep view.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

cunejo200 (7281) 2007-12-18 4:47

Oops I missed this! I have been busy with Christmas activities. Too bad about the absence of water. This could very well be global warming; last summer was perhaps one of the dryest and an ordinance was passed in my county prohibiting the watering of lawns. Well captured, there is good depth and the image is well metered. Greetings! Danilo

pboehringer (770) 2007-12-19 13:45

Renier,
now I'm really getting angry at you. First I thought that you went to San Francisco, had some days there for the meeting and than back to New Zealand. Well, with this shot here the whole thing changes completely. You were just 60 miles away from my house. Meeting would have been so easy. I could have showed you around places that still gives a better view during this dry season at Yosemite. Anyway, interesting to see how someone from far away approaches this place when there isn't any water. Spring is the real glorious moment!
Cheers, Peter

Scharan (14144) 2007-12-20 14:51

Olá Renier

Uma bela foto, gosto das tonalidades desse verde azulado das pedras, um charme. Ótimo olhar e textura.
GA
Vera

Angshu (56760) 2007-12-21 2:27

Hello Renier
A surprising view of a waterfall which is bone dry. The lack of water is something, which maybe alarming due to global warming. I can understand your disappointment about this place very well. Even the sky did not do you any favours that day. But, the colours are fine & so is the contrast & sharpness.
Regards
Angshu

Benedict (7076) 2007-12-25 9:20

kawasan is better, huh? i should (must) book a tour trip here in the summer!
merry christmas, renier!
benedict

Charo (51290) 2007-12-25 11:09

Hola Renier,
Impresionante paisaje rocoso. Lástima que la cascada no lleva agua, sería todo un espéctaculo. Excelente profundidad y colores.
Cordialmente
Charo

oreyd (437) 2008-05-11 18:38

Dude, your picture was taken n November in California... normally the last rains are in May... so it is really quite normal to see little water in the Sierras... it should be even worse this year, as we had even less rain this year. None the less this is very good picture, and tells a story of a natural side of Yosemite, that fe think about...

Ireneparalegal (0) 2008-06-12 21:42

Beautiful pic of Bridalveil Falls. I have to say though the comments abt global warming may be a slight exaggeration. I just visited Yosemite a month ago and let me tell you, the falls were spectacular. They were flowing with such intensity. You have to realize that in the Summer, the water will trickle and eventually dry up. It is common knowledge that to see Yosemite at its best, is to see it in winter or spring. By mid-summer, the falls begin to dry. It has been like this since I was a child. It is nature. Not global-warming.