According to one of the signs in the park, Yosemite has the highest concentration of waterfalls anywhere in the world, including the tallest one in North America and fifth in the world, Yosemite Falls with a total drop of 2,425′. There’re also Horsetail Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Vernal, Nevada, and a host of others, some ephemeral. And we mustn’t forget all the cascades tumbling down and around boulders on steep mountain sides and the iconic Merced River that runs through Yosemite Valley. In short, there is no shortage of water, at least in spring and winter. One of the ironies of all this is that one needs to be careful in Yosemite and conserve water a good portion of the year. The old quote holds true, “Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to spare.”

We were lucky, however, since we had buckets of rain fall our first night in the park. There has been more rain since then. Horsetail Falls and other ephemeral ones have reappeared because of the rain melting the snow in the high country. The meadows are saturated, and the Merced and its tributaries flow strongly. The opportunities for those who love photographing water are boundless.

It might be a quiet scene along a bend in the river…

…Or the way the early-morning light on Oaks, Cedars, and cliffs cast a riot of color around rocks and snow batches in Yosemite Creek.

In one of the creek branches below Bridalveil Falls, light reflects off the water cascading over a coppery ledge.

In the post-sunset glow in the valley, wonderful shapes appear in a meadow pool.

Errant droplets catch the light as they escape the smooth flow over rocks in the stream coming out of Nevada and Vernal Falls.

One of the signature treats of an early-morning walk is the rainbow coming off a waterfall.

So, the next time you go out and photograph water, capture its changing personality. Show its different moods and colors. Savor its beauty. There is something about water that has long captivated the soul of the human psyche.

In the next blog, expect another series from Yosemite National Park. Meanwhile…

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