Taft Point
Taft Point is a dramatic granite promontory on the south rim of Yosemite Valley, offering sheer vertical drops of over 2,000 feet and a set of deep rock fissures that cut straight down into the cliff face. The fissures are one of the most distinctive compositional elements in the park; position yourself carefully to frame them in the foreground with El Capitan or Yosemite Falls filling the background, giving your image a strong sense of depth and scale. Sunset is the most rewarding time to shoot, when warm light bathes El Capitan directly across the valley. The 2.2-mile trail from Sentinel Dome trailhead is well-maintained but ends at an unfenced edge, so watch your footing near the drop. A wide-angle lens in the 16-24mm range works best for capturing both the fissures up close and the expansive valley below. (Yosemite Valley, California, United States)
