Chasing the Golden Fuse: A Firefall Story

The "Firefall" is a fickle masterpiece. It requires a perfect alignment of Earth and Sun, a winter’s worth of snowmelt, and a sky clear of even the smallest cloud. But for the photographer, it requires something more: the hike.

My journey began with 4.8 miles of winding trail and a grueling 987-foot vertical ascent. On my back sat three Nikon bodies and a heavy arsenal of glass—from the wide-angle 14-24mm to the massive 600mm reach. Every step was a trade-off between physical exhaustion and the hunger for the perfect frame.

The Vantage Point

I finally reached my destination: a spectacular, secluded ridge poised 2.75 miles across the valley from El Capitan. The reward was a staggering 270-degree panorama. To my left, Bridalveil Fall swayed in the breeze; to my right, the iconic face of Half Dome stood sentinel; and straight ahead, the massive granite cathedral of El Capitan.

The Moment of Ignition

As the sun began its final descent behind the Three Brothers, the valley transformed. The harsh afternoon glare softened into a warm, liquid glow. I reached for my Nikkor 28-75mm, stopped down to $f/16$ to capture every ounce of detail from the foreground to the horizon.

Then, it happened.

The light hit Horsetail Fall at the perfect angle. What was moments ago a trickling stream of water became a vertical streak of liquid fire, burning bright yellow against the darkening stone. I clicked the shutter—a 1/6th-second exposure at ISO 100—capturing the valley as it gleamed with the day’s dying light.

The Descent

The fire eventually faded into the blue hour, leaving the valley in shadow. The 4.8-mile hike back in the pitch black should have felt long, but with the weight of those captured RAW files on my memory cards, the miles melted away. The "Elusive Firefall" had shown itself, and the effort was a small price to pay for a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest performances.

Please enjoy the view.

The shot below was taken with the 180-600Z Lens