Valley View Yosemite
Valley View is one of the classic Yosemite stops, offering a wide framing of the valley with El Capitan rising on the left, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Fall on the right, and the Merced River curving through the foreground. The river is the key element here; walk down to the water's edge to use it as a leading line pulling the eye into the scene, or look for reflections on calm mornings when the water is still. A wide angle lens in the 16-24mm range works well to capture the full sweep of the valley walls. Early morning light is ideal, with soft golden tones hitting the granite faces before crowds arrive. Parking is limited at the small pullout along Northside Drive heading toward the valley entrance, so arriving early is both a photographic and practical advantage. (Yosemite Valley, California, United States)
