As some of you have seen, there is so much to photograph in Yosemite National Park aside from the iconic Half Dome and El Capitan, Yosemite and Bridalveil Falls, and other well-known and oft-depicted scenes. Over the last couple of weeks or so, we’ve shown you skies, water, and fog, all of which deal with the Magic of Light that we talk about so much in our workshops.

There are also patterns and textures … so many varieties to capture the eye. I’ve always been fascinated by them, so it was no surprise that I found quite a few in the park.

I was intrigued by a feathery conifer whose moisture-laden tips so effectively set it off against …

Those many years ago, when I was last in Yosemite National Park, I remember the fog. It is still one of the signature elements of this location, at least in winter. Since I haven’t been in Yosemite in the months overrun by the “Madding Crowd,” I can’t speak to spring, summer, and fall, but in winter, the fog is wonderful. It is playful as it swirls around. It creates mood, subdues colors, and adds an ethereal effect to many scenes.

It is found along the Merced River, contrasting a sharp foreground with …

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 …