Half Dome over the Merced River
From a rocky bank along the Merced River, you get one of Yosemite's most rewarding compositions: Half Dome rising in the distance, framed by valley walls and reflected in the calm water below. The key is working the foreground, using the river's surface for reflections and the smooth stones and gentle current as leading elements that pull the eye toward the dome. A wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range works well here, letting you include both the water and the full sweep of the scene. Early morning is the best time to visit, when the light is soft, the crowds are minimal, and the river is most likely to be still enough for clean reflections. Parking near Stoneman Bridge gives you easy access, and you can move up and down the bank to fine-tune your framing depending on water levels and the season. (Yosemite Valley, California, United States)
