Beginning Storm

The Yosemite snow of January 19-22 brought marvelous and varied conditions of all descriptions. Here, on the afternoon of the 19th, the storm was getting underway in earnest before breaking for a period and revealing Bridal Veil Fall and Cathedral Rocks that had, moments before, been shrouded in cloud.

Many elements work together to make this a pleasing image for me. The leading lines of granite and trees bring the eye from top right down to the fall in lower left. The valley mist suggests that it is not mist at all but rather a pool of water emanating from the output of Bridal Veil fall.

The "normal" view from this position at Tunnel View usually includes El Capitan on the left, making for a fairly static depiction. Here, I wanted to emphasize the sweeping grandeur of the place by aiming for a more dynamic, sweeping flow of the scene.